Jonce, thank you.  I had somehow over the years become confused, thinking that nylon was a trade name for the general class of fibers called acrylic.  That is not true.  It is a trade name for polyamide fibers, and there are quite a few of those.  Acrylic fibers are quite different.  Thanks again for causing me to look this up and relearn a lesson from long ago.  David

---- Jonce Fancher <streetbugs@frontier.com> wrote:
> Sunbrella is a solution dyed Acrylic.
> Nylon is Nylon.
> Polyester is Polyester.
> Nylon will fade and if backed ( like a back pack) it can stop water.
> BUT does not like weather and will fade and stretch and shrink.
> Polyester will fade as well but is dimensionally stable will let
> water in unless backed.
> Cotton will swell and slow down water from coming in.
> BUT. Different finishes and treatments for each item can make it work
> for many applications. Fire Retard. UV Pigments, water repellency and
> many other treatments can be manufactured into the fabric to meet
> your needs. Almost all Fabric stores have NO CLUE what the fabric is
> made of and what it is designed to do. Most are imports and will not
> give you the wear, colorfastness, water repellency you may want.
> Also for the time to build a new canvas it is easier to just order
> one. I can make my own. Many years of sitting behind the machine BUT
> why reinvent the wheel.
> All in good fun!
> Jonce
>
>
> >Isn't _Sunbrella_ a polyester fabric?  Nylon (acrylic) gets eaten up
> >by the sun (UV), while polyester is pretty sturdy to UV.  mcneely
> >
> >---- Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM> wrote:
> > > Let me know how that goes. It will involve a lot more careful measuring
> > > than sewing (except for the zippers and flaps) and within my sewing
> > > abilities, but I was wondering how it was for being put away wet,
> > > breathability with a heater, etc.
> > >
> > > I'm talking about the really lightweight stuff, not Cordura, of course.
> > > Sunbrella, however hard it might be to work with, sounds like the only
> > > protection agains the burning sun, though.
> > >
> > > Jim
> > >
> > > On Mon, Apr 16, 2012 at 4:07 PM, Stephen Grisanti
> > <bike2vcu@yahoo.com>wrote:
> > >
> > > > Actually, my bride (the seamstress) is planning to do this when
> > our canvas
> > > > needs replacing.  She has already purchased the fabric and is
> > awaiting the
> > > > removal of ours in order to begin making her pattern.  I will need to
> > > > recheck the fabric she got but I believe it is ripstop.
> > > >
> > > > Stephen
> > > >
> > > > --- On *Mon, 4/16/12, Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>* wrote:
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > From: Jim Felder <jim.felder@GMAIL.COM>
> > > > Subject: Re: Canvas Replacement-I Regret Ever Buying This Van!!!!!!!!!!!!
> > > > To: vanagon@GERRY.VANAGON.COM
> > > > Date: Monday, April 16, 2012, 4:56 PM
> > > >
> > > >
> > > > Has anyone sewn one up out of ripstop nylon?
> > > >
> > > > Just wondering,
> > > >
> > > > Jim
> > > >
> > > >
> >
> >--
> >David McNeely
>

--
David McNeely