Cutting turnout fabric?

**Jerry** · 17th November 10, 03:49 AM

If you can't cut, it seems to me that it would be very difficult to pleat and sew. I would also guess that a finished kilt would be very heavy.

**Barb T** · 17th November 10, 04:32 AM

Good lord, how are you going to sew this stuff?!? Keep us posted!

**longhuntr74** · 17th November 10, 04:32 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry

If you can't cut, it seems to me that it would be very difficult to pleat and sew. I would also guess that a finished kilt would be very heavy.

If it's that heavy, I'm not sure it will make a very good kilt...how are you going to sew it? That being said, heat is your solution for cutting I think. Being in the Army and doing several modifications to tactical gear and the like, I use an old butter knife that I set on a stove burner and heat it up...and then melt/cut through the nylon. It gives a nice finished edge too. Just don't use a knife you ever want to use for anything else again...because it will be ruined!

**kc8ufv** · 17th November 10, 06:28 AM

Originally Posted by longhuntr74

If it's that heavy, I'm not sure it will make a very good kilt...how are you going to sew it? That being said, heat is your solution for cutting I think. Being in the Army and doing several modifications to tactical gear and the like, I use an old butter knife that I set on a stove burner and heat it up...and then melt/cut through the nylon. It gives a nice finished edge too. Just don't use a knife you ever want to use for anything else again...because it will be ruined!

That might work, but I have my doubts. That stuff is designed to easily withstand several hundred degrees for several minutes (a SCOTT pack gives them 20-30 minutes of air) and keep the inside to a (relatively) cool temperature. Temperatures in a burning building can easily reach 1000F

**Taygrd** · 17th November 10, 07:02 AM

Sounds like it has kevlar in it so it my be a PBI blend or the like. Post a pic of the fabric and I will see if the fabric can be identified since there are several out there. I think contacting the manufacturer is the best bet, or you can do an online search for companies that repair bunker gear and ask them. Cowboy Cleaners in San Antonio, TX is one.

**Foyt20** · 17th November 10, 07:34 AM

If the inside of the building is reaching 1000 degrees, the person inside the turnouts is probably cooking, and trying their darndest to get the heck out of the structure.

I would try contacting a turnout maker, and see if you can mark the fabric, and have them cut it for you.

Kevlar is a crazy material.

**techdragon** · 17th November 10, 08:06 AM

Originally Posted by Taygrd

Sounds like it has kevlar in it so it my be a PBI blend or the like. Post a pic of the fabric and I will see if the fabric can be identified since there are several out there. I think contacting the manufacturer is the best bet, or you can do an online search for companies that repair bunker gear and ask them. Cowboy Cleaners in San Antonio, TX is one.

I still have the tag from the fabric - Millenia 7.5oz. 60"w/ Super S.T.

Here is a poor cell phone photo of the damage to it as we tried to cut a scrap.
http://yfrog.com/n5lpjcij

**Whidbey78** · 17th November 10, 09:04 AM

You need a lightsaber.

There are scissors specially made for cutting kevlar blend fabrics. The lower blade is kind of serrated and actually holds the fabric while the upper blade does most of the cutting. I used them in the navy. We also had quilted nomex all over the aircraft flight station(and in our PPE which is horrible to deal with). I'd bet nomex is one of any number of materials in the fabric, but it cuts fairly easily...I have a harder time with cutting light cotton than I ever did with nomex. I don't miss wearing that stuff, that's for sure.

TenCate doesn't say what the blend is beside kevlar on their site.

There are several companies making shears for cutting kevlar based fabrics, and they aren't terribly expensive. The only problem is that other things in the fabric could be tough enough to ruin those shears too. I haven't kept up on advances in that area for about five years since I don't work with it anymore and I'm sure that there is some crazy super tough stuff out there.

**techdragon** · 17th November 10, 08:02 AM

Originally Posted by Jerry

If you can't cut, it seems to me that it would be very difficult to pleat and sew. I would also guess that a finished kilt would be very heavy.

Oddly enough... that isn't the case. The fabric itself is medium weight - definitely less thick, rigid and heavy than my heavy weight cotton. It has a nice movement to it and even a little swish. The physical weight of the five yards is about 2.5lbs.

I think it will pleat up nicely once I can figure out how to cut it effectively. I am going to call the manufacturer today to see what they suggest.

-Jeanie