[MR] Fire Proof - Re: Midwest Tent's Sale

[Alexandria Stratton]

I just read over the merchant pages/applications on the  Pennsic & Gulf Wars websites but didn't see anything to indicate the requirement. I would add, it's a small percentage of the SCA community that vends, and not all of your average campers attend Gulf Wars or Pennsic...and neither of those events are in Atlantia. Attending a big war is not the only opportunity a tent owner has to set up their kit....heaven help me, if it was, I probably wouldn't be playing SCA! lol

Getting back to the point though, if it's fire retardance one is worried about, one does not need to replace the whole tent; there are applications one can spray on. After a few rains they'll wash out and need to be reapplied, but it's easier and less expensive than buying a new tent. Unless site rules expressly require the treatment, I am a strong advocate for never putting ANY treatment of any kind on canvas unless it's absolutely necessary...for instance, if a pavilion has been 'rode hard & put up wet' for 20 years straight and the fibers are too bare to swell & keep out rain anymore. That rarely happens. My reluctance to add treatments is because once you start, you can never go back; you have to keep putting it on. 
Cotton canvas naturally repels rain. Any canvas, treated or not, will mist in a very heavy downpour. Add chemicals, and the fibers will not swell when they get wet, the canvas will cease to breathe, it will be heavy, and often will discolor beyond the sun's capability to bleach out stains. Factory treated canvas (like Sunforger treatment) is heavier than untreated, but modern science has found a way to retain the natural properties of the fabric. Short version: use sunforger or don't put anything on it at all. Oh, and about the flame thing..natural fiber=not as likely to burn anyway. Use basic common sense and fire safety, never pack up your tent when it's wet (or even a few drops of dew--if you must, then set it up to dry asap when you get home), and you'll keep your kit for years.

 

-- Isabelle LaFar, avid 'medieval' camper and occasional builder of pavilions
http://www.HouseBarra.com
Experience is what you get, when things go awry.



________________________________
From: Michael Houghton <herveus at gmail.com>
To: 
Cc: atlantia at seahorse.atlantia.sca.org
Sent: Sunday, November 13, 2011 10:44 AM
Subject: Re: [MR] Fire Proof - Re: Midwest Tent's Sale

Howdy!

On Sun, Nov 13, 2011 at 10:33 AM, Siegfried <siegfried at crossbows.biz> wrote:
> This is 'interesting'.  I've never heard of this, tho again, I've never
> been a merchant.  They put extra requirements upon the merchant tents
> than they do regular campers?   (For I've never yet heard of any SCA
> event east of the mississippi that has required fire-retardant canvas)
>
I've not seen it at any of the events we've done west of the Mississippi,
either. Nor have I heard any suggestion of it being the case at others
anywhere.

I'm inclined to call "baloney" on the claim, absent creditable sources to
back this up. I haven't been following the thread, so I'm unclear on who
actually tossed this gem into the discussion.

yours,
Herveus (who has set up canvas to sell out of in eight kingdoms -- three
west of the Mississippi -- and set up tables in at least five more)


-- 
Michael Houghton   | Herveus d'Ormonde
herveus at gmail.com         | White Wolf and the Phoenix
Bowie, MD, USA            | Tablet and Inkle bands, and other stuff
                          | http://whitewolfandphoenix.com
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