How to get your jacket nice and toasty and dry

**p.dath** · 29th June 2009, 09:02

Road around to my girlfriends last night in the rain. When I got there my jacket was damp on the inside.

Tossed up what to do, then spotted a heated towel rail. My jacket fitted neatly over it.

This morning the jacket was nice and toasty warm. The main body sections were completely dry, although the sleeves where still a bit damp on the ends.

So my tip next time your jacket is wet through to the inside; hang it on a heated towel rail.

**CookMySock** · 29th June 2009, 09:29

uh, how did it get wet on the inside?

Steve

**Ragingrob** · 29th June 2009, 09:56

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

uh, how did it get wet on the inside?

Steve

I'd take a massively creative and hazardous guess and say that the jacket wasn't waterproof.

**Finn** · 29th June 2009, 09:57

Real men get their woman to come to them.

**The Pastor** · 29th June 2009, 09:59

i prefer the wrap your self in gladwrap aproach to staying dry in the rain!

**vifferman** · 29th June 2009, 11:32

Sounds like a good idea as a 'one-off', but heated towel rails wreck fabric after a while. One of ours has a timer, so it's OK. The others we modified by fitting some diodes in-line so the working voltage is reduced (naughty, but works well).

**Mschvs** · 29th June 2009, 11:43

Although my jacket is waterproof, if it's wet enough rain still manages to get in through the sleeves, and sometime down the neck if your helmet drips down there (if you're not going fast enough for it to fly off the back) but luckily mine has a lining which I can remove and it dries pretty damn fast!

**Mschvs** · 29th June 2009, 11:44

Originally Posted by vifferman

Sounds like a good idea as a 'one-off', but heated towel rails wreck fabric after a while. One of ours has a timer, so it's OK. The others we modified by fitting some diodes in-line so the working voltage is reduced (naughty, but works well).

I agree, direct heat too fast can damage materials, and I wouldn't want to risk it with the cost of my jacket!

**CookMySock** · 29th June 2009, 13:27

Originally Posted by vifferman

some diodes in-line so the working voltage is reduced

This is also a good trick for cheapo soldering irons that get left on all day. The diode chops half of the AC off dropping the power to a quarter. (Power=Voltage squared divided by Resistance.) Put an inline pushbutton lamp switch in the cord with the diode across it so you can select high or low.

Steve

**crazyhorse** · 29th June 2009, 13:42

Why not invest in a new jacket - one that won't get wet on the inside.

Or maybe you should find a girlfriend who lives closer......??? Or use a car! LOL

**p.dath** · 29th June 2009, 13:49

Originally Posted by DangerousBastard

uh, how did it get wet on the inside?

Steve

My jacket is real old, and after riding for about 30 minutes in the rain it penetrates through the jacket.

I'm planning on buying a nice jacket and pants from 1tonne, but don't have enough cash at the moment.

**vifferman** · 29th June 2009, 13:56

Originally Posted by p.dath

My jacket is real old, and after riding for about 30 minutes in the rain it penetrates through the jacket.

I'm planning on buying a nice jacket and pants from 1tonne, but don't have enough cash at the moment.

Go to the supermarket, and buy a spray can of Scotchgard - the green can for tents and outdoor use (about $10). Completely drench the jacket (especially the seams), leave it a while for the solvents to evaporate and repeat. If the fabric's starting to open up, it won't completely waterproof it, but it will encourage water to run off rather than try and soak in. If the fabric's still sound, it should keep you dry in all but the heaviest of downpours.

**p.dath** · 29th June 2009, 14:02

Originally Posted by vifferman

Go to the supermarket, and buy a spray can of Scotchgard - the green can for tents and outdoor use (about $10). Completely drench the jacket (especially the seams), leave it a while for the solvents to evaporate and repeat. If the fabric's starting to open up, it won't completely waterproof it, but it will encourage water to run off rather than try and soak in. If the fabric's still sound, it should keep you dry in all but the heaviest of downpours.

Thanks for the great tip!

**RT527** · 29th June 2009, 14:08

Originally Posted by vifferman

Go to the supermarket, and buy a spray can of Scotchgard - the green can for tents and outdoor use (about $10). Completely drench the jacket (especially the seams), leave it a while for the solvents to evaporate and repeat. If the fabric's starting to open up, it won't completely waterproof it, but it will encourage water to run off rather than try and soak in. If the fabric's still sound, it should keep you dry in all but the heaviest of downpours.

works well I did this to a work rain coat and when I take my coat off to store in the trucks side locker all i have to do is give it a couple of good shakes and the water comes off also it helps that the locker behind the drivers door has the exhaust running under it so its naturally warm inside after a 2 hour trip the coat is dry, as for my riding gear same thing it does work well.