Water-proofing canvas

[RJ Howell]

I use 60/40 wax/oil mix for my camping canvas gear (packs and such). I heat it in an old crock pot (with a gallon can in it) and paint it on with a chip brush. Then heat the resulting ‘mess’ with a heat gun to soak it in. Works well.

You use beeswax or paraffin? Have you tried both? Notice any difference?

[Tomterrific]

I like this discussion about water proofing canvas. It is something I wanted to know more about. The little thing that bothers me is how flammable the canvas becomes.
It seems using more solvent would allow a thinner more even dose of wax/oil to soak into the canvas fibers. Low
I use mineral oil (baby oil) on my leather jackets and gloves with good results. I took a vintage motorcycle jacket and soaked it with mineral oil. I did it in the sun to warm the leather and it soaked up almost a pint of oil. Did not smell. Stays flexible.

Tt

[RJ Howell]

I like this discussion about water proofing canvas. It is something I wanted to know more about. The little thing that bothers me is how flammable the canvas becomes.
Tt

Main reason for trying the silicone mix is because I have the same concern. I have two test samples of cloth going. I'm using popsicle sticks as stirrers and with my touch can't get them to burn.. Liked that. The cloth on the other hand lit with either the silicone or wax mix. The silicone seemed to burn dirty (plenty of black smoke) where the wax was cleaner. Neither just jumped into flames, I had to hold the lighter to the edge. So would a spark/amber set it on flames? I guess it would under the right (wrong?) conditions.

I've adjusted my mix to 60/40 wax/oil as used by NB. Since it works well for him! I re-melted this morning and poured into a form to make a bar of sorts. Unlike NB, I will be rubbing the wax in (verses spreading melted) and like him using a heat gun to melt it in. I've done this with paraffin wax before and works well. I liquid form it uses a lot of wax and makes a fairly heavy build-up. Bottom line is if I think there's not enough wax, I can either re-melt and apply wet or just rub in some more. I like that part as well. I have about 75 sqft of material to cover. Be interesting to see how far this now 8oz wax/oil bar I have goes.

[NevadaBlue]

I use 60/40 wax/oil mix for my camping canvas gear (packs and such). I heat it in an old crock pot (with a gallon can in it) and paint it on with a chip brush. Then heat the resulting ‘mess’ with a heat gun to soak it in. Works well.

You use beeswax or paraffin? Have you tried both? Notice any difference?

I use paraffin. Bees wax is so expensive, I decided to try without it. It works well for me.

[Pmullen503]

Before you apply any coating you should season the canvas. That means setting the tent up, wetting it completely and then then letting it dry completely. The fibers swell and the canvas will shrink a bit. Then you can apply a waterproofing material if you want. The canvas alone will shed water but the wax helps it dry faster when it does get wet.

[RJ Howell]

I use 60/40 wax/oil mix for my camping canvas gear (packs and such). I heat it in an old crock pot (with a gallon can in it) and paint it on with a chip brush. Then heat the resulting ‘mess’ with a heat gun to soak it in. Works well.

You use beeswax or paraffin? Have you tried both? Notice any difference?

I use paraffin. Bees wax is so expensive, I decided to try without it. It works well for me.

Thank you for the first hand input!

[RJ Howell]

Before you apply any coating you should season the canvas. That means setting the tent up, wetting it completely and then then letting it dry completely. The fibers swell and the canvas will shrink a bit. Then you can apply a waterproofing material if you want. The canvas alone will shed water but the wax helps it dry faster when it does get wet.

Good advise! Thank you!
I was just out there working out the cuts to fit to the tailgate and was thinking that it needs to size/weather/shrink before I do anything to seal. My thought was if I sealed first, how would it shrink.. then if it did, what effect on the waterproofing will it have. I thought it fitting that you mentioned this, at the time you mentioned this.
I'm guessing every step through this..

So I guess that means I'm on the right track or we're both crazy..

Again thank you for your input!

[GPW]

What do people use on car convertible tops ???

[RJ Howell]

What do people use on car convertible tops ???

Good question!

My research showed most commercial products are silicone based. One that I found highly recommended was FabSil and is also silicone based. Seems it uses NAPHTHA versus Mineral Spirits to break down the silicone. Both are petroleum based.

Main issue I'm seeing with anything silicone based, is silicone doesn't stick to silicone. My fear is it's a once and done application. I don't know for certain.. Maybe the Naphtha or mineral spirits breaks it down again for a re-applcation. Again, guessing.

I'm sure there are other products used that are not silicone based, it was what I kept seeing that was recommended.

P.S. Guess I should answer my own question of if it can be re-applied. I have some more silicone mix and should attempt a re-coat. I should also try a Naphtha mix for S&G's

[Pmullen503]

Got any scraps of canvas to test?

[RJ Howell]

Got any scraps of canvas to test?

Doing just that!

I'll let you know what I learn.

The silicone mix and it 'did' re-apply. I only went 36hrs from the first coat though.. I coated a piece that I'll let dry for a week and retry again. I'm doing all these samples on HF canvas. Meaning bare canvas/wide weave. My duck cloth already has a coating/coloring of which I'm yet to learn of what?

[Modstock]

Car convertible tops have a rubber membrane. No need to water proof.


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[NevadaBlue]

Excellent thread.

Wax/boiled linseed oil is heavy. It works well, but continued folding will cause ‘leaks’ over time. (Heating again fixes this) Silicone precludes almost anything else once used.

So, how waterproof does this need to be? A plain cotton canvas tent (experience speaking) won’t leak if you DON’T TOUCH IT during a rain. Heavy rain can cause a little ‘splash through’ during the wetting period, but once the canvas is wet, it doesn’t leak. That is, IF it is sloped and doesn’t get touched, which affects the surface tension of the water and causes a leak.
So, if this part of the cover won’t touch anything, and is sloped, wax/BLO will work fine. Even bare canvas will probably work.
I think I would buy some real awning material and live with that. If cared for properly, I would bet it will last a LONG time.

[RJ Howell]

I tested out the canvas (duck cloth) without any waterproofing and now see what your saying. The cloth looks wet yet unless pooled or touched, doesn't leak. Didn't realize that before! Pretty cool! Thank you all!

I will still wax/oil because it will get touched (can't help myself I guess) probably while wifey use the restroom (can't help herself I guess).. Reality, I set the tent roof 3" above the hatch hinge, yet who knows what stretch will happen in a downpour.. and what that will do..

Test night at a secret spot (my back 5)..

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Way too close to light off the pile. Do like the app I picked up for leveling! Had it dead on inside the truck cab and found it slightly 'head-up' inside. Seems about right to me.

I've put my commercial camper back there, and my nephews there and it was one PTIA to do so. This is just one for the reasons to build this, so easy to put anywhere!
I have so many places I can and so many more to explore with this unit!
The fun has only started!

I have reasons for both units, this just adds to what we can do and explore!

[godskid]

FWIW: I used to use a can of deck sealant (Thompson's Waterseal) on my canvas re-enacting tents. Pour it on the canvas (not just a brush application) and let it hang in the garage until dry. This kept my tent mostly waterproof when raining ..... but it's true that there was a good slope on this canvas, since it was a tent. (Revolutionary War style). And we never camped for more that 2 days, then went home (and hung the tent in the garage to dry, if it had rained).