While in Las Vegas I wore my modern Gordon flashes for the first time. Bought them from SportKilt. The bottoms were frayed. I've been taught since Boy Scouts to burn off loose threads with a match or lighter. So I did.

The threads flared on me. Fortunately, had the foresight to turn on some cold running water and stand near it when burning back the loose threads.

Now, I studied the burning properties of various fibers 44 years ago in my college textiles class, and I went through the new flame retardent laws for infants and children's wear back in the 50s and 60s, and I've burned back loose threads on garments - including kilts - for many years.....but this flare up startled me.

I got to thinking about the flamability of some of the fabrics we wrap around ourselves. Other threads have touched on how wool doesn't flare when it catches fire.

Dug up my old textiles textbook which correctly points out, " Flammability is dependent on the kind of fiber, type of fabric construction and weight, garment style, decorative features, finishes, and nature of the immediate environment." The book also points out that some fibers are dangerously flammable while others melt and are self-extinguishing. That heavy fabrics may be slow to ignite but once on fire will burn vigorously. Some fabrics with a brushed nap can flash burn.

What I realized is I DON'T KNOW the flammable properties of some of the fabrics I'm wearing. I feel pretty safe since I don't smoke myself, don't use space heaters, am seldom around campfires....but I have been around these things and others that can start a fire. And, what about the flare up of those threads on my Gordon flashes?

We have kilts made of various weights of wool, wool blends, acrylics, cotton, cotton poly, rayon poly, hemp...et.al.

Wool and acrylics can generate static electricity and cause sparks - maybe at times there shouldn't be a spark...gassing up...around a natural gas leak...

Fabrics that melt probably melt against skin if we're wearing them. Acrylics both flare up and melt when they burn...they're out, but then they're not out.

I had some SportKilt cotton poly swatches so I got the water running in the sink and used a lighter to set fire to a corner...the fabric burns well. Then took some of USA Kilts Poly Viscose and did the same thing...it burns, but not as fast or as large as the cotton poly.

I've burned back a lot of loose threads on my cotton Utilikilts - they burn as cotton is expected to, but if, like under the belt loops, they hit a bunch of other threads, the fire flares.

We also wear kilt hose of many assorted fabrics. Some of the Jacobite shirts are all polyesther. My favorite sporran is made from nylon.

The cut of a kilt lends itself to a fast burn if the hemline ignites, say from a campfire. What happens to kilted smokers who drop a hot ash in their lap while driving? Know I set some fires and burned holes in pants back when I was still smoking.

Anyway, posting this in the interest of getting and sharing some important information. Don't believe I've ever seen much about flamability of the fabrics we wear as kilts. Know there are firefighters on the board and people with the expertise to educate us.

Obviously, common sense is critical - but unexpected situations can, and do, arise.

Anyone have experience with this to share? Hopefully, there are no horror stories.

Thanks,

Ron