What makes canvas leak
Submitted: Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:38
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Member - Jimbo (VIC)
If something is up against the canvas walls in a camper, say a portable fabric wardrobe, when it is raining, will the
water seep through the canvas of the camper into whatever it is touching?
I remember as a kid if you touched the inside of an old canvas tent it let
water in. Have things changed? Is modern canvas waterproof?
Cheers,
Jim.
Reply By: Lone Wolf - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:47
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:47
Jim....
I think it's got something to do with both surface tension & capillary action.
Don't know exactly, but I thought that if I threw those words in, people might think I'm brainy!!
Meniscus also has a small roll to play.
Whoa!! ... on a roll now!!!
Really, it's a combination of all three, but the explanation is quite lengthy.
Just imagine if the little boy in Holland had of stuck his finger in a canvas dyke..... how much he would have swelled! Grin....
Cheers
Wolfie
AnswerID:
81188
Follow Up By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:58
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:58
Gees you're in fine from this morning, Wolfie!
Modern canvas (and old canvas, when it was new) is pretty waterproof. I think it's more to do with the condition of its waterproofing agents. I've got a 2nd hand (or 3rd or 4th or 5th...) canvas canopy on the back of our old Series III. It used to get 'wet' quite quickly in the rain.
A few months ago I gave it a couple of coats of Campout Products DRY PROOF treatment. Seems to be a wax disolved in turps. Applies best at around 20 C - much cooler and the wax starts to congeal and the solution goes cloudy, much hotter and the solvent dries out too quickly when brushing it on.
Now its quite waterproof again, even when small puddles form on the top, and most
water beads and runs off - highly recommended.
FollowupID:
340456
Follow Up By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:59
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 07:59
PS, that should have read "fine form this morning"
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340458
Reply By: Bros - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 08:08
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 08:08
Jimbo,
I have had my C/T erected outside since my last trip. It rained for a couple of days this week and i noticed that there was probably 2 cupfulls of
water on the vinyl floor.
The end of the bed had a wet patch (no jokes) about 3 inches on one end. The mattress had been removed. There was nothing against the walls anywhere except the end where the
water mark was, against the end of the bed. Noticed that some of the plastic zips leaked
water. It looks like a coat or two of
water proofing is in order.
Cheers,
Bros.
AnswerID:
81192
Follow Up By: Bros - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 08:11
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 08:11
Ian from Thermogard,
Where did you purchase the waterproofing compound.
Cheers,
Bros.
FollowupID:
340459
Follow Up By: Ian from Thermoguard Instruments - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 14:39
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 14:39
Campmart outlets in SE Qld sell it. The makers are Campout Products in
Brisbane. It doesn't seem to be listed on their website but I'm sure they'd tell you who stocks it if you sent 'em an email/phoned.
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Reply By: Rob! - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 09:06
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 09:06
Jimbo,
Whenever you get a new canvas tent don't forget to TOTALY soak it and then let it dry out in the sun. It makes the canvas shrink and tighten the weave making it more
water resitant.
I guess this would also apply if you haven't used the tent for some time.
R.
AnswerID:
81200
Follow Up By: Bonz (Vic) - Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 17:58
Friday, Oct 22, 2004 at 17:58
Rob, It works when the canvas is new to swell the fibres and tighten the weave increasing the waterproofness of the canvas, but not again after that. The only way to increase/improve or rewaterproof is with a product such as mentioned above
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Reply By: Peter 2 - Saturday, Oct 23, 2004 at 07:09
Saturday, Oct 23, 2004 at 07:09
Another thing that helps the moisture to wick through the canvas is plain old dirt.
Once a year in the warmer weather I put the camper and the tent up and scrub them with a handheld carwash brush on the end of the hose.
Pay particular attention to seams and corners. I do the inside too if they are really dirty.
You will find that this will restore the waterproofness(sp). Our tent is 25 y/o and the camper 16 and both are as good as new despite being used for months at a time outback. I haven't had to apply any waterproofing stuff to either of them.
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81307