[MR] Fwd: [HF] Canvas Tent Upkeep

[Alexandria Stratton]

Actually, before you put ANY kind of cleaner/sealer on the canvas, set it up and 
let the sun work on it. If it's been packed up for a while, it probably wouldn't 
hurt to give it a good soak with a garden hose (water only). Let it air-dry. 
After a day or two in the hot sun most of the mildew should be sun-bleached out, 
your tent will be aired out, and everything will be all nice & fresh. 

If you still have spots that REALLY bother you (it's not going to be spotless 
forever) then you can use something VERY mild like ivory dish soap diluted well 
with water, like a couple of teaspoons per gallon. It's really best not to use 
any kind of chemicals if you can help it. Do NOT use detergents. All that stuff 
will not only remove any protective finish on your canvas, but it will weaken 
the fibers. Let the sun do it's job, that's what it's there for. Among other 
things, of course. :)

To prevent mildew from forming, always make sure your tent is bone dry before 
you pack it up. Even the slightest bit of dampness can fester mildew. If you 
must pack it damp/wet, set it back up as soon as you get home to dry it out.

As for waterproofing...
Rain falls on the canvas. The fibers absorb the water and swell. This seals out 
the rain. Nature. Ain't it grand? If your tent is made with Sunforger canvas, 
know that the Sunforger is a finish applied in the factory to help with mildew 
resistance, etc. Over the years it will wear off. If you use cleaners or scrub 
spots on the canvas, you will remove the finish. That being said, Use the garden 
hose again. Simulate a good heavy downpour and saturate the tent. This is how 
you can tell if and where it leaks. 

If you have leaks, they are most commonly at the seams, where the needle holes 
are. A bit of seam sealer purchased anywhere you find camping supplies will 
work. If you have major leaks elsewhere, then you may want to consider treating 
the whole tent with Canvak. http://www.seattlefabrics.com/waterproofing.html  is 
one supplier.

The easiest and most efficient way I have found to apply this to large areas is 
with a garden sprayer.

Remember that canvas is not actually water-proof, but water-repellent. With a 
heavy-enough downpour, you will feel a mist inside your tent even if the canvas 
is brand-new. Generally speaking, we don't usually keep our tents up through 
hurricanes, but there's always the chance a big storm will come through at some 
point so it' good to know, so you don't panic.  :)

Hope this helps.

 -- Isabelle LaFar, 
making tents (sporadically) since 1996.
http://www.HouseBarra.com
Experience is what you get, when things go awry.





________________________________
From: Glynis Knibb (Glynis Gwynedd) <ylandra at gmail.com>
To: Merry Rose <Atlantia at atlantia.sca.org>; andrew.ladner at gmail.com
Sent: Wed, June 8, 2011 6:26:34 PM
Subject: [MR] Fwd: [HF] Canvas Tent Upkeep

Please reply to Ludwig (Andrew). Thanks!

Glynis Knibb
aka
~Lady Glynis Gwynedd
Barony of Highland Foorde
"Have you hugged a harp today?"
--
"Never argue with an idiot. People watching may not be able to tell
the difference."




---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Andrew Ladner <andrew.ladner at gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Jun 8, 2011 at 6:24 PM
Subject: [HF] Canvas Tent Upkeep
To: highland-foorde at atlantia.sca.org


With Pennsic and other summer camping coming up I have some care a
treatment of canvas questions.  I have a wall tent with some mold
(tiny black dots, not too numerous) and a need of new waterproofing.
I also have a wedge tent also in need of retreatment, but thankfully
with out any mold.   Both were originally treated for waterproofing,
fire-resistence, and mold-resistence.  I'm guessing all three could
stand to be re-applied.

My real question is what products do people suggest using, and from
where?  Also is pressure washing the wall tent and letting it dry in
the sun likely to be sufficient for the removal of mold?

-Ludwig Burmser

(-Andrew Ladner)

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