Ok so it is about bags...

[bagchick]

I'm wondering if someone can suggest a forum I might ask a question about a non-Tom Bihn bag?

I have a 20 year old Eddie Bauer backpack I used to use going to college. (wow, I AM that old) It's still around, and the fabric and seams are quite sturdy so I don't really want to throw it out. That said, it must have had some kind of coating on the inside of the nylon (ballistic?). It's degraded and now is sticky and looks kinda like sweater balls (the fuzz that you get on old sweaters...or peeling skin from a sunburn that you've tried to rub off with a towel). It's gross to touch and I don't want to put my stuff or my hands into the bag.

Any suggestions for a solvent that might get rid of it entirely? I'm willing to risk damaging the bag since I consider it useless at this point. Or should I just give up on it and order a new Tom Bihn bag? It just doesn't feel environmentally friendly to discard a sturdy bag...

[backpack]

I'm wondering if someone can suggest a forum I might ask a question about a non-Tom Bihn bag?

I have a 20 year old Eddie Bauer backpack I used to use going to college. (wow, I AM that old) It's still around, and the fabric and seams are quite sturdy so I don't really want to throw it out. That said, it must have had some kind of coating on the inside of the nylon (ballistic?). It's degraded and now is sticky and looks kinda like sweater balls (the fuzz that you get on old sweaters...or peeling skin from a sunburn that you've tried to rub off with a towel). It's gross to touch and I don't want to put my stuff or my hands into the bag.

Any suggestions for a solvent that might get rid of it entirely? I'm willing to risk damaging the bag since I consider it useless at this point. Or should I just give up on it and order a new Tom Bihn bag? It just doesn't feel environmentally friendly to discard a sturdy bag...

I had one no name bag do the exact same thing to me.


That stuff sticks like crazy to anything and feel like some kind of glue derivative.
Don't put anything in the bag, you will have to throw out the item you put in.
Some washing machine have a warning not to wash anything with grease on it because it could be flammable and if your item is contaminated by that "glue" some chemicals in it might be flammable too.

I would not try to wash or remove the stuff with any other chemical, if I were you. You might get a chemical reaction that hurt your hands, oozes toxic fumes or even catch fire.

I don't know what the inside of their stuff is made off, you should call their 800 number. I doubt they will give you the exact composition of the stuff (proprietary and since the bag is old a potential for liability). If they want to take it back, use the opportunity but they should give you free shipping or something else in return.


The bag that was suffering from that glue disease was a small backpack which was one half of a set, the other being a huge hiking backpack, they were my husband's and got mildewed so they got "lost" in my last move.


I am very very eco conscious. I have used energy efficient light bulbs for 16 years and used public transportation as well as refillable pens all my life.

But chemical goo, no thanks.


If you really really want to keep the bag, use it to transport empty glass (and only glass) bottles and jars to the recycling center. The goo will wash off when pressure washed in the recycling plant.


That kind of "inconvenience" and made in China "quality" from other companies is what made my transition to all Tom Bihn bags, so easy.
I know what they are made of, how to care for them and where to get up to the minute info on my bags.


Go for a new Tom Bihn bag and you will be so delighted you will spend time in the forum trying to find out what the next "new stuff" is and when it is coming up.

[Darcy]

The quality of that fabric coating has improved a lot since 20 years ago - at least on the fabrics we use that are made in the U.S.

There's no way we know of to remove the gunky coating. You could try taking it to a dry cleaners and seeing what they say. Note that removing that gunky coating will remove whatever water-proof quality the bag has left: if you do manage to remove the coating, be sure to Nikwax the exterior of the bag.

[Seesul]

Actually, my sons computer backpack just gave up the ghost. It was purchased BTB, so we didn't know any better. The zipper just totally died. I can tell by looking at MY Tom Bihn, that that will NEVER happen (I have a background in textile construction and fabrics), which is why I purchased it in the first place.

I have the same dilemma as to what to do with it. I decided to just cut off and save ANYTHING re-usable. That way I will have a supply of buckles, straps, etc. If I can't use the parts, I know someone can and that way I don't have to store the whole thing around here. My mom always did that with buttons, etc., and now I have a collection in her memory that I plan to fill mason jar lamps with and give them to my sisters and keep one for myself to pass down to my son.

[Just]

LOL @ "BTB" - it took me a few seconds to figure that one out - Before Tom Bihn =D