[MR] [HF] Canvas Tent Upkeep

[Alexandria Stratton]

Yes, Thompsons Water Seal changed their formula. I think it was sometime around 
1998. Thompsons was convenient because you could buy it in your local hardware 
store, but Canvak has always been highly recommended and is intended for canvas. 
I'm sure you could use it on an untreated wood deck, but it 
is definitely intended for canvas.

About the only way to get old water seal out of canvas is to wash it in hot 
water in the machine. This requires that pieces be small enough to fit the 
machine, and it will leave a gummy film that has to be cleaned out immediately. 
If you don't get the goo off the machine when it's still damp and pliable, it 
will dry rock-hard and you'll never get it out without a chisel, until you run 
another load of laundry. I do not recommend using a chisel on your washing 
machine...or my mother's...or running a load of laundry with that gunk!
 
-- Isabelle LaFar
http://www.HouseBarra.com
Experience is what you get, when things go awry.





________________________________
From: Gina Shelley <paintedwheel at hotmail.com>
To: atlantia at atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Thu, June 9, 2011 8:55:09 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] [HF] Canvas Tent Upkeep


I believe the formula of Thompson's may well have changed. Back when I first 
started going to Pennsic, I had a Coleman canvas tent I treated with Thompson's 
and it was GREAT. Several years ago, I hit the roof of the vardo with some 
Thompson's and felt the results were absolutely not what I had in mind. In fact, 
I felt like I'd made a huge mistake. 


Dulcy