Dental floss tensile strength?

G

Gadget54

Joined
Apr 19, 2002
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I have always had some in my pack in place of lots of twine or 550 cord.

Have any of you ever built a shelter with it?

How does it hold up over time?

I know you can stitch with it but how many uses are there?
I'd like to hear how practical it really is.

Gadget54
 
I am not sure of the exact tensile strength but it is up there. When layered many times, it can be very strong and stronger still when braided. As far as uses, small sample sizes from the dentist fit, when taken out of the dispenser, in my Project II. It also attracts animals believe it or not. Plus, extra cordage has many more uses that are impossible to list. Just like duct tape.
Kev
 
I don't know the tensile strength, but you can test this yourself, by hanging increasingly heavier weights from a strand until it breaks.
 
I don't know the tensile strength, but I used it to repair some boots. They were always falling apart before, now no problems. Although I don't wear them much anymore. I guess I'm babbling. I used the minty green waxed stuff.
 
The comment about it attracting animals is a useful one, especially if you're making snares or anything similar.

Other than that, though, I think you can get fishing line that will be a lot stronger and better made. It should also not attract animals, bugs, bears, etc., which could be even better if you don't want them attracted.

I know if I had to make a shelter or something and I didn't have thicker cord, I'd much rather have fishing line than dental floss.
 
FIshing line comes in this huge roll. If you take the Floss out of the box you have a very compact, 100 yd. roll. I was reading the 'mini-kits list' that some have posted and saw 30', 50' of cord.

I think floss is the way to go for emergency survival, I'm not talking permenant camp.

The attracting animals could be a problem if you have a squirrel sitting on your leantoo eatinig away.
 
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