Burn test - kilt materials

[Wompet]

Since this subject has come up a couple of times, the scientist in me wanted to test the flammability of certain materials commonly used to make kilts ... and the kilt-geek in me decided to share the results of this impromptu little test with all of you.

My one brother and I took six samples, applied an ignition source in turn, and saw how easily the flames were extinguished.
The test materials:

• wool sock (tightly shrunk weave) with poly-wool top
• wool sock (loose/regular weave - unshrunk)
• wool - Marton Mills 13 oz
• poly-viscose - Marton Mills 11 oz
• cotton duc 7 oz
• three woven strands from a light wool blanket

The video:


You'll notice the wool, even the tartan scrap, stops burning when the torch is removed. The heavier wool in the socks was discolored, but the ash rubbed right off.
The P/V keeps burning/melting, but can be blown out.
The cotton ... And I made two kilts out if that stuff ...

Oh, and the discoloration of the American Heritage was interesting:

Blue to green and white to orange on the unburnt side. Not a method I would recommend for altering your tartans, but pretty cool results.

[Kilted_John]

Interesting... Good to know...

-J

[McMurdo]

That shows it much better than the photos did, I notice you were not wearing an Acrylic kilt during the burn test, good thinking.

[Yaish]

I agree it is an interesting test, and it serves to remind everyone NOT to wear synthetics when dealing with open flames.

Don't get too worried though. The vast majority of the world goes around wearing flammable materials all day long and doesnt burst into flame.

I do prefer wool for my camping blankets though, precisely for that reason. Not only is it warm but I need not worry about sparks from the campfire.

[Wompet]

That shows it much better than the photos did, I notice you were not wearing an Acrylic kilt during the burn test, good thinking.

I don't own any acrylic kilts - even if flammability wasn't an issue, I don't like the feel of them. I was wearing the self-made Robertson kilt that scrap of P/V came from, though.

[McFarkus]

That's scary. I'm glad I spent the extra for the wool heavyweight kilts at SWK.

[sjrapid]

Scary indeed. But thanks for taking the time to do this and posting the results. Most informative.

best regards

[ccga3359]

Thanks gary, it must have been heart rendering to burn those tartans even for demonstrative purposes. Very interesting the results of cotton that went up quicker than I expected. We mustr also realize that your propane torch is burning at a very high temperature a candle or a cigarette burns at much lower temperature. In fact, in Canada cigarettes are now manufactured with paper that causes the cigarette to stop burning if not puffed regularly much like a cigar. My first fatality in the fire service was caused by a cigarette. The person`s clothes (could no longer distinguish male or female) and the covering of the couch they sat upon were completely burnt away. Regardless of the material our kilts are made off we should always be cognizant of heat sources not just open flame. having said that obviously the best material for kilts is wool (well nomex, then wool).

[gilmore]

...Oh, and the discoloration of the American Heritage was interesting:

Blue to green and white to orange on the unburnt side. Not a method I would recommend for altering your tartans, but pretty cool results.

You may have given the tartan manufacturers and kilt merchants another way to market tartans, in addition to modern, ancient, modern hunting, ancient hunting, weathered, weathered hunting, muted, and muted hunting: burnt. And of course ancient burnt, burnt modern hunting, burnt ancient hunting, burnt weathered, burnt muted, burnt muted hunting, burnt weathered hunting, etc. No doubt the last would have been worn by a highlander who burst into flame while hunting, fell into a peat bog, and lay there undiscovered for 400 years.

[Howard Clark]

I don't think cotton is all that big problem.

I work full time in my very own blacksmith shop. I play with fire alla time, and get burned regularly, on my arms, legs, face, etc..

I have several shop kilts made from cotton, and several made from wool. Both have had hot mill scale, hot grinding sparks, and liquid molten borax welding flux at about 2400f bounced off 'em. I can't see a hell of a lot of difference. Granted, the wool is a little less flammable, but it's not like you go up in a ball o fire wearing cotton, even if it is subject to some pretty intense heat, though I do make a point to not stand directly in the flame of the gas forge.

Wool is king, for many reasons, but cotton is not a sin, nor is it more dangerous in most (nearly all) situations. Synthetics, OTOH, just simply do NOT work in the shop, as kilts, shirts, pants, or much of anything else. But then that's a personal rant, and not really relative here.