Has anybody ever "Ironed" their sails...?

[Squidd]

I've been playing around with some old sail material, making sail bags, duffel bags, and general repair and reinforcing on my sails...

In order to layout measure and cut my material I've been ironing it flat and smooth and it really seems to "crisp up" the material.. not burn, but reactivate the resin and tighten the weft and weave by flatening the threads...

I had read in the "Sailmakers Apprentice" that ironing is part of the original sailcloth preperation...

I'm thinking after repair and a good washing, I may iron the complete field of the sail to stiffen it up and bring it back to design shape and smoother airfoil rather than the wrinkly mess it is now...

I know Sail Care irons them as part of their referb process (large roller machines) but was wondering if anyone had taken the time to "hand iron" their sails into shape...?

[Squidd]

Here's a sail bag I made out of the "wrinkly" material above...

[Squidd]

Wow, 177 views and no opinions on ironing sails...??

Anybody ever thought of doing it...?

I don't think it can hurt, but don't want to cause any problems if it would...

[PaulinVictoria]

Obviously no-one has ironed their sails
I don't even iron shirts. Can't see how it would hurt as long as the temperature was set right.

[Squidd]

Yeah, I don't do shirts or underware either...

But I can't afford to toss them out and buy new every time they get wrinkly, which must be what everyone else is doing...

[SimonV]

why ?

[itsaboat]

Why not just send them to sail care? I was thinking about doing this with an old main that is pretty soft. I haven't gotten a quote yet, so it could wind up being cost prohibitive. The main difference that I see is that they clean and re-resin the sails in addition to ironing.

[Squidd]

Because sending them out to be cleaned and pressed rates right up there with throwing them out and buying new when there has to be economical alternatives...

Doesn't anyone "do it themselves" anymore or has this become a disposable economy with all kinds of disposable income...?

We're talking washing, drying (maybe some stich repair) and "somehow" smoothing out an "experianced" sail so a guy could get a couple more years out of it, and look good doing it...

itsaboat: not to pick on you but, it almost sounds like you would "toss and buy new" if it costs too much to have them cleaned and pressed...?? What if you had a low cost do it yourself alternative...wouldn't you be interested...???

[sawingknots]

i think you have way to much time on your hands up there in the land of snow and ice,i'm still grapling with to flake or stuff

[Squidd]

I have more time than money that's for sure...

Or at least more sense than dollars...