Seam Sealing still tacky

[Virginian]

A few months ago I seam sealed my Jimmy's Hudson tipi. I've never seam sealed before and I think I went a little overboard with the amount used. I diluted the silicon with paint thinner and it went on fine; I brushed it on. I left it up for a couple of days in 70-degree weather but it was still tacky so I took it down and spread it out in my basement. Long story short after a couple of weeks it was still tacky and I bagged it up. When I got it out this past weekend it was stuck to itself. No bad, but it was still tacky. I used it in adverse weather and it was waterproof but it is still tacky.

Will the tackiness dissipate over time? Is there anything that I can do to help it along? The only issue I have with it is dirt/mud sticks to it when it comes in contact. Did going overboard and putting too much cause the tackiness?

 

[Tod osier]

Silicone can go bad (get old and not cure). Caulk gun tubes do, anyway. They have a date on them. I had one case where I had that happen and I always test. To test... squirt out a blob and if it doesn’t skin over in just a few minutes watch it and make sure it does before you use it. I don’t know if this is your problem or what you used, but that is a concern with silicone caulk in a tube.

 

[Virginian]

Silicone can go bad (get old and not cure). Caulk gun tubes do, anyway. They have a date on them. I had one case where I had that happen and I always test. To test... squirt out a blob and if it doesn’t skin over in just a few minutes watch it and make sure it does before you use it. I don’t know if this is your problem or what you used, but that is a concern with silicone caulk in a tube.

This was a tube so that could have been the issue. I had just bought it but that doesn't mean anything. My gun broke so I had to squeeze it into a cup and then mix it. I just hate to think I messed up a new tent over something stupid like that. I wish I had tested it like you said

 

[RockChucker30]

It sounds like you went heavy with it. I think it'll be fine. As you use the tent fine dust will accumulate on any tacky seam sealer and the tackiness will go away. Corn starch or talc will speed that up if you want.

If it doesn't leak, don't overthink it.

 

[huntsman22]

rub a little dirt on it and look like a veteran camper.......grin

 

[*zap*]

You might have gotten the mix ratio wrong. What did you dilute it with?
Personally, for seams I would use pre made seam sealer in the small tubes. I re-did a fly that was stored damp with brush on silicone/mineral spirits and it took a while to get the mix correct. (cleaning all the old stuff off was the hardest part) I think I would up at 6or7 ms to 1 silicone from a caulk tube. Getting the amounts correct by volume is tricky because one is a liquid.
Anyway, in the end the fly came out very good but it took some trial and error.

Caulking is in fluid ounces which is on the tube and mineral spirits is in fluid ounces.....to determine how much silicone is one fl ounce measure tube contents in inches and figure out how many inches is one fl ounce....then dispense the desired amount vs the same fluid ounce amount of ms times the mix ratio.