Poly Viscose vs acryllic fabric question

[Sean_the_Kilted]

I have a question. Whats the difference between the Poly viscose tartan fabric (ie what USA kilts use) and Acryllic tartan fabric (ie what Stillwater kilts use)? I don't own a kilt made from either of those fabrics, but have heard good reviews. Could anyone who has both types or is familar with the materials let me know? Some possible comparision points: ease of wash, swing, heaviness, stain resistance, how well the pleats hold their edge, wrinkle factor, wool like feel, etc...

[cavscout]

Coincidentally, I started a thread with a similar question last night

http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...ad.php?t=28085

The 2nd Post in this thread will answer some of your questions
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...mparison+chart


This thread goes into great detail
http://www.xmarksthescot.com/forum/s...arison+acrylic

[Sean_the_Kilted]

Cav,
Thanks for the links. I guess I should read more of the other posts. Though I still wouldn't mind a comparison from someone if they want to do it.

[cavscout]

Not a problem Sean. The funny thing about searching is you have to know how to describe what you're looking for to the search engine. It took me several variations to figure out how to zero in on those threads.

We'll get some great feedback as the kiltmakers come on line this AM.

It drove me crazy as a child when I'd ask a teacher how to spell a word and she'd tell me to look it up in the dictionary. WELL, I NEED TO KNOW HOW TO SPELL IT TO LOOK IT UP!! Thanks Teach! Does knife have a silent 'K' on the front? I can't find filosofy. "To" and "Too" are right here but "Two" is not! Thanks again Teach, never mind, I got it, Thanks to Google

[Tattoo Bradley]

In a nutshell, and this is REALLY general.

Acrylic - Soft, sometimes furry/fuzzy, looser weave

P/V (at least the stuff from MM that Rocky and Pete use) - coarser than acrylic (not in a bad way,) tight weave, dense

[cavscout]

I missed something....Who's Pete?

[mddock58]

I missed something....Who's Pete?

Canadian Casual Kilts ........... Remember Him?

[cavscout]

Dooh, Thanks

[The Wizard of BC]

The links provided above are a good overall description of the qualities of the different fibers but, There is only one way in the field to determine what any particular fiber is made from and that is with a burn test.
This is what a forensics lab would use to determine unknown fiber content if hey do not have access to a spectrum analyzer or the set for the TV show.

This is the link to the table I am quoting below, for those interested.
http://craftydaisies.com/2007/04/04/fabric-burn-test/

How to determine fabric content by using the burn test.

Snip a piece of fabric equivalent to 1″ square.(If you've done a couple of these tests before or you have a good idea what your working with before hand it can be done with as little as one strand of fiber.)
Using a butane lighter and holding the fabric with a pair of tweezers ignite the fabric over a non-flammable surface in a well ventilated area.Examine the quality and color of the flame, the odor produced, and the quality of the resulting ash or cinder. Use this table to help determine your fabric’s content.

FABRIC
WOOL

FLAME QUALITY
orange color sputtery

ODOR
burning hair or feathers

ASH QUALITY
blackish turns to powder when crushed

COMMENTS
flame will self extinguish if flame source is removed no smoke

FABRIC
SILK

FLAME QUALITY
burns slowly

ODOR
burning hair or feathers

ASH QUALITY
grayish turns to powder when crushed

COMMENTS
burns more easily than wool but will self extinguish is flame source removed

FABRIC
COTTON

FLAME QUALITY
yellow to orange color steady flame

ODOR
burning paper or leaves

ASH QUALITY
grayish, fluffy

COMMENTS
slow burning ember

FABRIC
LINEN

FLAME QUALITY
yellow to orange color steady flame

ODOR
burning paper or leaves

ASH QUALITY
similar to cotton

COMMENTS
takes longer to ignite than cotton but otherwise very similar

FABRIC
RAYON (Viscous)

FLAME QUALITY
fast orange flame

ODOR
burning paper or leaves

ASH QUALITY
almost no ash

COMMENTS
ember will continue to glow after flame source removed

FABRIC
POLYESTER

FLAME QUALITY
orange flame, sputtery

ODOR
sweet or fruity smell

ASH QUALITY
hard shiny black bead

COMMENTS
black smoke

FABRIC
ACETATE

FLAME QUALITY
burns and melts,sizzly

ODOR
acidic or vinegary
hard black bead will continue to burn after flame source removed

FABRIC
NYLON

FLAME QUALITY
burns slowly and melts, blueish base and orange tip, no smoke

ODOR
burning celery

ASH QUALITY
hard grayish or brownish bead

COMMENTS
self extinguish if flame source removed

FABRIC
ACRYLIC

FLAME QUALITY
burns and melts, white-orange tip, no smoke

ODOR
acrid

ASH QUALITY
black hard crust

COMMENTS
will continue to burn after flame source removed


In short:If you only want to use a single strand of fiber from your kilt, smell is the best indicator of whether your kilt is made from, P/V or Acrylic.
P/V will have a smell like burning leaves & apples.
Acrylic will smell sharp and bitter like acid.


Because there is one other factor in determining what your next kilt will be made of, I am also including a rough estimate of the relative cost of the fibers on todays market.

Most expensive

1) Hemp
2) Silk
3) Wool
4) Linen
5) Cotton
6) Polyester
7) Rayon(Viscous)
8) Nylon
9) Acetate
10) Acrylic

Least expensive

[Colin]

I have only personaly seen two types of Polyviscose. The 8 oz Canadian tartans that Bear carries (Maybe Pete as well) and the 10 oz stuff produced by Marton Mills (used by Rocky, Pete, Bear, Scottishkilts,etc). I have not seen the 13oz PV produced by F&K, but given the level of wool I have seen from them, it should be quite nice.

I owned an arcylic kilt (like the ones produced by Stillwater) from Canada Kilt, and it was nothing like the PV I have come to know. Different feel, different look, and different hang. I have seen really nice arcylic kilts and I have some not so nice arcylic kilts. I do like that SWK advertises their Economy line as acrylic. I like to know what I am buying and not have to guess. When I got my acrylic kilt, the seller (I won't say maker) was asked what material and where the kilt was made. All I was told was "not wool" and "overseas, but not Scotland".

I think the term PV is thrown around, and ususally identified incorrectly, way too much in my opinion. I have no problem with a cheaper kilt being made in an alternative place or in an alternative fabric, but I still want an honest answer.

Acrylic kilts are warm, and quite soft, however I found they wrinkle fairly easily and that the hang just isn't as good as wool or PV. Having said that, you can get a nicely made acrylic kilt for very cheap $$$ that will serve you well without breaking the bank. Stillwater in particular has shown that they can offer a wide range of products in this material (and others) for a reasonable cost, while maintaining the features and design that their customers want.

I have owned 3 PV kilts from Bear and my son has 1 PV kilt from Pete (CCK). While these are more expensive than an arcylic kilt, the hang, the material, the feel, are more suited to my taste. My only complaint with PV was that at times it was quite thin. It will be interesting to se ehow Gordon's 13oz turns out, and the impressions of the 12oz Pete had made up from MM. For me personally, if the kilt isn't going to be a worsted wool, it's likely to be PV.