Avoiding the Shrinking feeling

[millstone]

I am about to get the canvas for my foamie. I am scared, however of the shrinkage that occurs.

Before I pull the trigger, a few questions:

1. Does it shrink more lengthwise, or width-wise? It looked like the shrinkage mike experienced was more lengthwise.
2. Surely it won't shrink as much as one foot, will it? I am purchasing 72" wide canvas for a 60" tall camper.
3. Since I'm applying the canvas to an assembled camper shell, is it even something I should be concerned about?

Thanks for the insight. Going with the 7 oz non-treated cotton canvas from Rose Brand.

Mark

[GPW]

Mark , the shrinkage problem would be an issue if the covering shrunk away from the seams ... a problem I didn't experience with my un shrunk Linen canvas... but then I left a generous overlap of each seam , just in case ... Didn't happen , the glue was brushed on a little at a time and the dry canvas smoothed over it from one end to the other , slightly stretching all along the way ... let everything dry thoroughly before priming (the next day) ... I think if the canvas itself was applied Wet , it might be more a problem ...
You can always do a test sample and make some measurements, before and after... throw it in the wash , which will remove any sizing ,and do any shrinking, leaves it wrinkled too so you may want to Iron it before applying... everybody wants Smooth , you gotta' Start with Smooth ...

7oz. cloth ... the more we think about it , the more I'd go with a really THICK canvas skin for the strength ... at least 10 oz. or 14 oz. even better ... the skin is the strength right ??? That PLUS the reinforcing strips in the critical locations ... doubling or even tripling the skin thickness and increasing the strength many fold at critical seams ...

[eaglesdare]

when we put our canvas on, we did not even give shrinkage a thought. since no one ever mentioned it, we never even thought about it. so we poured tb2 all over one section at a time (one wall, the other wall, the roof), then put the canvas up and cut off the extra and painters taped it down. i never noticed anywhere that it shrank (is that a word?). anyway, i never had a problem with that at all. i think once its on and taped down, you "should" be good to go. that is from my experience only.

so i personally think if you will be fine convering your shell.

[KCStudly]

'Shrank' is too a word! I use it all the time.

From Merriam Webster online:
shrank - past tense of shrink (Verb)Verb: 1. Become or make smaller in size or amount; contract or cause to contract.
2.(of clothes or material) Become smaller as a result of being immersed in water.

[mikeschn]

There was virtually no shrinkage on the width, maybe an inch or so.

But on the length the shrinkage was atrocious. Definitely more than a foot. I'd have to go back and look at my photos. But I would probably allow 2 foot on the length, and trim off the excess.

Mike...

edit: okay here is the post with the answer, and pictures... viewtopic.php?p=847106#p847106

Starting with 11', it shrank to 10' 2".

[S. Heisley]

.
Why take the chance? Knowing that some of you have had shrink issues, if I were covering a trailer with any kind of cloth other than fiberglass, I would preshrink it first.

Not the same; but, when I got my curtain material, it stated that it was "dry-clean only" (100% cotton). The lining material stated that it was "machine wash and dry" (also 100% cotton). I washed and dried pieces of both, measuring them before and after. The "dry-clean only" material didn't shrink but the "machine wash and dry" did!!! These days, you just can't trust manufacturers to produce the quality you expect.

You could just lay the canvas out on the garage floor (assuming you have one) or deck or patio on a warm day and spray it down with water and let it dry that way. If the material is too big to do it all at once, you could cut it into pieces that are slightly larger than you need and preshrink it one piece at a time. Use fans to dry it quicker. Otherwise, if you haven't already purchased your canvas, find out whose canvas didn't shrink and buy from the same manufacturer.

...Just my 2 cents.

[GPW]

It would seem that canvas glued down wouldn’t shrink that much once applied ... it’s glued down eh ??? Can’t really say as the canvas I used was a fine quality Artist Linen canvas (flax) which is much stronger stiffer than cotton ... Used "because I had it “ ... Looking now for a good Hemp canvas which is a strong tough fiber and shouldn’t shrink like cotton .... Have to put up some No Smoking signs though ... Hemp and all ... http://www.hartsfabric.com/hemp-canvas- ... abric61020

[eaglesdare]

perhaps the difference comes from being glued down and not being glued down? i just did another piece of canvas, glued and taped down, and there just wasn't any shrinkage at all. like i said on my build, once we convered the shell on the original foamie, i never noticed any shrinkage there, but again,it was glued and taped down. maybe that makes the difference.

[GPW]

Just a WAG , Thinking the lighter canvas would be more subject to shrinkage ... the heavy stuff really is pretty substantial and stable ... and ultimately may be better suited for a Skin ... the skin IS the Strength eh !!!

In all reality , one could forget the thin ply altogether and just use THICKER canvas...

[Wobbly Wheels]

Wasn't there some talk a while back of throwing the canvas in the washer to preshrink it ?

[pete42]

Wasn't there some talk a while back of throwing the canvas in the washer to preshrink it ?

I think that's whats Sharon suggested in her post,

I always wash new jeans before cutting and hemming them

it might be a good idea to wash what ever you are going to use but it does mean a large ironing job


pete

[millstone]

Sounds like when I cut the piece off the roll I should cut it about 12 to 16 inched longer than the wall. Then wet and line dry thoroughly.

Thanks! Mark

[S. Heisley]

Sounds like when I cut the piece off the roll I should cut it about 12 to 16 inched longer than the wall. Then wet and line dry thoroughly.

Thanks! Mark

I'd be a bit concerned about line drying. The hanging weight of the wet fibers might actually stretch it out more or distort the weave, sort of like a wet sweater, especially if it is loosely woven. I think I'd lay a selection of it flat, wet it, and leave it there to dry, measuring it before and after this process.

As others stated above, perhaps gluing the canvas to the trailer may keep it from moving or shrinking. You could always take a reasonably sized sample and test it first.

...2 cents more...guess I'm up to 4 cents.

[atahoekid]

...2 cents more...guess I'm up to 4 cents.

But your 4 cents is always appreciated. Your answers are well thought out and practical. And ALWAYS presented in a most tactful fashion. I've read your posts elsewhere on this forum and even when others around you are going nuts, you bring sensibility to the discussion. Thanks for being one of the class acts of this forum! Cheers!

[S. Heisley]

Gosh! Thanks, Mel. I try.