View Poll Results: How are your patches sewn-on to your driving suit?

Patches are sewn on with nomex thread and are stitched BY HAND just through the OUTER layer

26.47%

Patches are sewn on with nomex and are stitched BY MACHINE through OUTER layer (suit disassembly)

Patches are sewn on with cotton thread and are stitched BY HAND through all layers of the suit

23.53%

Patches are sewn on with cotton thread and are stitched BY MACHINE through ALL layers

29.41%

Patches are sewn on with cotton thread and are stitched BY HAND through THE OUTER layer of the suit

20.59%

Voters: 34. You may not vote on this poll

The definitive thread: How are your patches sewn on to your driving suit?

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07-02-2009, 10:25 AM

#16

good hands

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The cotton thread makes sense since you probably want them to fall off. But that being said It would be kind of cool to have " Hoosier " permanently embedded in my chest.

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07-02-2009, 11:25 AM

#17

Mark in Baltimore

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Bryan Watts

When I was racing in series that required patches, I used cotton thread hand sewn though the outer layer (not shown in your list of options). I fail to see how some thin cotton thread burning away is a "safety" problem. If you are in the middle of a fire, the cotton thread holding your patches on is the absolute LEAST of your worries.

In the end, you're over thinking this.

Bob Rouleau added the fifth poll option. Thanks, Bob!

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07-02-2009, 11:30 AM

#18

multi21

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Larry Herman

Patches? We don't need no stinking patches!

You beat me to it. Thats the difference between being on the east coast vs. left

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07-02-2009, 11:30 AM

#19

gums

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Wait, now I get it; THREAD!

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07-02-2009, 11:41 AM

#20

Bryan Watts

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gums

more important is what you're wearing underneath, I think. I've been wearing microfiber shirts because they wick so nicely and keep me more comfortable than cotton, but I suspect it would just melt on me in a fire.

Switch to Carbon-X...it also wicks moisture and provides another layer of fire protection. Even a standard nomex T-shirt does a pretty good job of moving moisture away from your body. I'd rather not have low-temp melting fabric on underneath my suit. Would suck to survive the fire only to have a layer of plastic melted to my body while the medics try to treat my burns.

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07-02-2009, 11:51 AM

#21

gums

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Is Carbon X light?

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07-02-2009, 12:01 PM

#22

Larry Herman

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Veloce Raptor

Keep it in your pants, grandpa.

^^^^
With that avatar?

__________________
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07-02-2009, 12:13 PM

#23

kurt M

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Keep in mind that the level of protection we get from race suits is measured in very low number seconds. They do not work like fireman gear or stunt suits in the movies. By the time the patch catches fire and falls off from the thread burning through you are toast.

SFI Rating TPP Value Time to 2nd Degree Burn
3.2A/1... 3 Seconds
3.2A/3... 7 Seconds
3.2A/5... 10 Seconds
3.2A/10.. 19 Seconds
3.2A/15.. 30 Seconds
3.2A/20...40 Seconds

Last edited by kurt M; 07-02-2009 at 12:31 PM.

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07-02-2009, 12:25 PM

#24

Circuit Motorsports

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Quote:

Originally Posted by gums

Is Carbon X light?

I wear it here in VA/NC under a three layer suit.

I am totally sold on the stuff after seeing a side by side test with Nomex. While the nomex chars and comes apart the carbon-x maintains it's shape.

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07-02-2009, 12:27 PM

#25

Circuit Motorsports

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Quote:

Originally Posted by kurt M

Hence the reason I care more about the 'joints' where there is the least amount of protection. I'm very methodical about tucking the cuff of the pants into the boots and the cuff of the sleeves under the gloves.

I figure with my current 3 layer setup and carbonX undies I have about 10 seconds to 1st degree and 20 seconds to some second degrees and 30 seconds to a long stay in the burn unit.

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07-02-2009, 12:40 PM

#26

kurt M

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Quote:

Originally Posted by Circuit Motorsports

You have a good idea of the true protection. Most GOOD 3 layer suits are rated to the SFI 3.2A/5 or about 10 seconds to a second deg burn. Ten seconds can be a long or a very short time depending on the situation you are in. Suits are al just non burning insulation, more protection more heat resistance.

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07-02-2009, 01:35 PM

#27

M758

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How about all the water in cool suit. Does it boil if on fire?

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07-02-2009, 01:41 PM

#28

ew928

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Quote:

Originally Posted by M758

How about all the water in cool suit. Does it boil if on fire?

Wonderful.
Steam burn on top of the polyester patch wadding up into a hot plastic ball on the skin.

Those tubes of the coolsuit aren't low temp melt plastic, are they?

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07-02-2009, 01:42 PM

#29

analogmike

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I sew on velcro and velcro the patches on for different clubs.

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07-02-2009, 01:50 PM

#30

Bryan Watts

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Quote:

Originally Posted by ew928

Those tubes of the coolsuit aren't low temp melt plastic, are they?

They melt pretty quickly but probably not in the time it will take you to exit the car. They certainly don't melt instantly when exposed to heat the way a poly moisture wicking shirt does. That said, you still want them on the OUTSIDE of your cotton shirt. Or preferably, buy one of the nomex or carbon-x cool shirts.

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