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Painting Cordura pack material?

9H_Cracka

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 15, 2005
2,796
10
WAY off base (COS CO)
Have any of you guys had success painting Cordura pack material with a spray bomb? Are you aware of any deterioration/damage issues with certain paints?

I painted a stock pack a few years ago and have been using it no problem but it is thicker stuff. Just wondering about backpacks.

Thanks!!
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

Well the masters have spoken:

"Update for Case #314 - "painting a pack"

We do not recommend painting your pack. We have no experience with how the paint will affect the Cordura fabric. Doing so will void your warranty.
Sincerely,

Andrew Crow
Mystery Ranch Backpacks
406.585.1428
[email protected]"
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

it won't hurt it, but i'm surprised they would drop you off warranty like that.

Talk to glen @ eberlstock and see what he says, i'm sure he's seen painted ones come back from iraq for service/repair.
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

RIT Clothing dye. I purchsed some at wal-mart in green,brown,and black, along with three little windex type spray bottles. The dye is in liquid or powder form. Mark your bottles with the approprite color cause with your naked eye its difficult to tell the diff.Works great on lighter colored absorbent materials or fabrics.
And it works enough on Cordura type materials to make subtle hues, or stains.If your starting with a light base color.
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

I am a custom gear maker.

Krylon sticks to nylon. Used it TONS on my own gear over the years, in Stan and on a bunch of other guys gear too.
I have painted cordura before and after sewing it. It is FINE.
Older Krylon was a temporary fix, it would start to rub and scrape here and there. No sweat, just touch it up. The solvents and propellants in it do not harm the cordura. (One fear a maker would have about your using it.)

I have not used it on cordura YET, but their Fusion line should bond to the cordura better than the old stuff. It does very well on other plastics.

Why they would void the warranty.
A company the size of Mystery Ranch, Kifaru, etc will want to protect themselves from liability from someone doing something nuts and trying to blame them. "All I did was wash it in gasoline and it blew me up when I lit a smoke."

With my TQ's I have to include a legal disclaimer saying "do not apply to neck or throat."

As said above, lite mists and let it dry in between misting. When you get what you want, let it sit in the sun for a few days. It will smell VERY STRONGLY of paint for a while. Just let it air out and the smell will go away.

Good luck with your project.
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

spray is better than brush though, if its too thick you'll have paint cracking off in chunks, shiny, loud and annoying.
 
Re: Painting Cordura pack material?

Understand that Cordura is frequently treated with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) finish. If this is the case with your pack I seriously doubt a water based dye like Rit is going to work.

I have painted rucks and drag bags for years. A light dusting of Krylon will not hurt it in the slightest. I am sure Mystery Ranch replied in CYA mode.