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General => General Discussion => Topic started by: grant110 on April 29, 2014, 05:17:13 PM

Title: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: grant110 on April 29, 2014, 05:17:13 PM
Hi All - Just bought the new camper.  I have done a bit of a forum search but to no avail.  Is there a preferred method - or need  - to further waterproof or prep canvas?  the camper comes with 14oz ripstop - yes its a chinese tent...  Any thoughts?

Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Daz100 on April 29, 2014, 05:31:41 PM
G'day Grant

set up the tent - then get the garden hose out and water it down - don't be shy - give it a good soaking, then let it dry off - after this hit it again


after you have wet it down - go inside of it and check for any leaks - water pooling on roof - you may need an extra spreader or two in some areas - depending on size of tent


I done mine two/three times over about two days


this will help close up any holes from stitching



Cheers daz
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Banjo16 on April 29, 2014, 06:46:35 PM
Did my Chinese 3 times but it's not rip stop.
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: ozstickman on April 29, 2014, 06:52:53 PM
I've done the wet n dry heaps of times but thinking of giving it a waterproofing spray as extra protection


Sent from my Ring-a-ding-a-ling
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Cruiser 105Tvan on April 29, 2014, 07:00:27 PM
Sounds like you got dudded Tareepato ;D >:D >:D >:D ;D Jus jokin.

Canvas needs to be thoroughly wet and shrunk to seal any imperfections, or needle holes from stitching.
Doesn't matter if ripstop or not.
There are products for sealing seams, most new tents shouldn't need them.
Canvas usually leaks if you allow water to sit and pool on the canvas. 
Causing a droop in the fabric that fills with water, and drips inside the tent.
There is usually a set of care instructions, attached to the tent or, with the tent when  purchased.
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Bird on April 30, 2014, 09:48:59 AM
Search for "seasoning canvas"
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: KingBilly on April 30, 2014, 10:17:30 AM
Canvas needs to be thoroughly wet and shrunk to seal any imperfections, or needle holes from stitching.

Agree, the whole idea of seasoning canvas is to get the cotton to shrink and close the needle holes in the seams.  May need to wet and dry a few times.  Good canvas will have been treated and should not leak elsewhere.

Doesn't matter if ripstop or not.

Some of the imported ripstop canvas is a blend of poly and cotton.  The poly will not shrink hence why they use this combination in clothes.  So seasoning will not be as effective on canvas which contains poly, the higher the poly content the less effective seasoning will be.  In nylon tents, to seal the seams, the manufacturers use a seam seal tape.

KB
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Cruiser 105Tvan on April 30, 2014, 12:31:41 PM
That's right, you cannot season nylon or polyester fabrics.
It's the Cotton part of the fabric that needs the treatment.
Cotton absorbs the proofing whereas the plastic type threads get coated.
By shrinking the Cotton, the weave of the fabric is pulled tighter and becomes more waterproof.The cotton swells with the moisture. 
As it dries the fabric pulls itself tighter together.
It's not noticeable, unless you actually measure it. 
It may take some number of wettings, rain showers over time, to make any difference.
Title: Re: "Prepping" Canvas
Post by: Azz on April 30, 2014, 12:47:17 PM
Most of the time Poly / Cotton thread is used, so you are also making the cotton component of the thread swell to fill the hole where the needle has pushed through the fabric.
The needle of course is bigger than the thread, as the thread passes through the needle.

There are very few 100% cotton canvases. Swag canvas is one.
The poly is the fabric dimensional stability and strength. It also last better in the weather than cotton.

Cotton gives the flexibility and a little stretch. Most canvas is 50 / 50 or very close to.

If you have a feel of striped annex walling, it feels stiffer than a plain roofing canvas as most walling is 100% poly.

So as others have said, by wetting your new canvas you are getting the canvas and thread (in most cases) to expand and fill the gap between the canvas & thread.

The humidity can be enough to stop leaks from new. I have had very few new annexes or campers leak in 25 years of making canvas stuff.
The worst I ever had was my own camper, it was like a sieve for the first few trips away.

I am personally not a huge fan of the poly cotton canvas used on campers these days. There are far stronger and lighter fabrics available.
These fabrics also pack much smaller. But like everything in life (and camping) its a compromise.  :D