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| Thread ID: 58747 | 2005-06-11 01:18:00 | Waterproofing a Tent | Winston001 (3612) | PC World Chat |
| Post ID | Timestamp | Content | User | ||
| 362840 | 2005-06-11 01:18:00 | Having just been to the Brass Monkey Rally, the short-comings of my tent's water resistance became apparent. Luckily it was only mist and frost. So I have an older 3 pole nylon igloo. 20 yrs old. Strong and better supported than current models. Most tramping tents are two pole only. I could buy an equivalent Fairydown or MSR but the $700+ price tag rather chokes for something which is used annually at present. Any thoughts on water-proofing? I could buy lots of silicon spray but it would be expensive and only lasts a year. Dip it in light machine oil? Nylon might not like that and it would be messy to use. Fat? Wax? :help: |
Winston001 (3612) | ||
| 362841 | 2005-06-11 01:49:00 | I find a nice motel room has excellent waterproofing. Went to a bike rally a couple of weeks ago, Grabbed a motel overlooking lake Taupo with a private spa pool in the unit, Mix that in with a dozen Export golds and some Hells Pizza and its all good.... |
Metla (12) | ||
| 362842 | 2005-06-11 01:58:00 | What about scotchgard (www.3m.com). I know it is expensive, but it works:) | 4bes (2848) | ||
| 362843 | 2005-06-11 02:04:00 | Yep, Scotchguard works for me, but you will have to redo every year. Oil or silicon may be better inside the tent if there's not much room :) After recently spending a night in a tin caravan with no sleeping bag up in the 'high country' -10 degrees I can recommend Metla's motel room/spa... but preferably not with him in it while you're trying to sleep/soak :D |
Shortcircuit (1666) | ||
| 362844 | 2005-06-11 03:09:00 | Those other compounds mentioned may be ok, but the best proofing for nylon, used over many years of tramping is Glendermids' "Wettex", it is also cheaper and goes a long way. Aerosol sprays are fairly expensive and not very good. The method of application is to dilute it 1 part Wettex to 4 parts mineral turps. Put up your tent ot flysheet stretched tightly, and brush the solution well into the nylon and allow to dry. A second stronger solution can be brushed onto seams and stitchings. Edit: Incidently one Wettex treatment will last several years. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 362845 | 2005-06-11 03:29:00 | How to Waterproof a Tent here ( . webguru . com/waterproof-tent-solution . htm" target="_blank">www . webguru . com) Saturate a tent in a solution of sulphate of zinc, sal-soda, and tartaric acid and it will withstand both light moisture and heavy rain . Dissolve 4 oz . sulphate of zinc in 10 gal . water; add 1/2 lb . sal-soda; stir well until dissolved, and add 1/2 oz . tartaric acid . Put the tent cover in this solution and let lie 24 hrs . Take out (do not wring it) and hang up to dry . --Grinnell's Hand Book on Painting . --------------------- ++ Linseed oil is an old remedy . ++ Check sporting goods stores . Scotch Guard and similar spray-ons have limited life, are expensive, and are only rain repellant . ++ Go to the Warehouse and get a large blue plastic/fibreglass tarp . Keep in the boot of the car at all times; also a smaller one ($4) is good; use when on picnics, for car repairs, etc . IF it rains, throw the large tarp over your tent, and have spare cord/rope and stakes to tie it down . You may want to use another one for the ground as well . |
Strommer (42) | ||
| 362846 | 2005-06-11 03:35:00 | LOL Steve, I would prefer the Wettex :) Linseed oil is ok for cotton/linen, that is the basis for an oily Black Japara, but is no good for nylon, and takes for ever and a day to even begin to dry. If you roll up the tent with the linseed oil still oily, it will stick together. |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 362847 | 2005-06-11 03:51:00 | Terry - I was going to add "that is only good for cotton or canvas", but wanted to see how long a PF1er would shoot at the Linseed idea. SIX MINUTES - good going !! :D | Strommer (42) | ||
| 362848 | 2005-06-11 04:17:00 | Right Steve, can't pull the wool over the eyes of an old hand :thumbs: For those that remember or even have the old black Barbour 'Thornproof' motorcycle toggs, they sell a linseed oil based cream dressing called strangely enough 'Barbour Thornproof Dressing' . This is ideal for turning dry proofed cotton parkas into oily parkas . Mind you, you'd be hard pushed to find a genuine black parka these days, it's all fancy coloured fashion wear jackets that dont even cover your bum in sports shops nowadays :( Barbour aquired the W . Backhouse parka manufacturing firm in Wanganui a few years ago, and their material quality improved by bounds . |
Terry Porritt (14) | ||
| 362849 | 2005-06-11 07:53:00 | Right Steve, can't pull the wool over the eyes of an old hand :thumbs: For those that remember or even have the old black Barbour 'Thornproof' motorcycle toggs, they sell a linseed oil based cream dressing called strangely enough 'Barbour Thornproof Dressing' . This is ideal for turning dry proofed cotton parkas into oily parkas . Mind you, you'd be hard pushed to find a genuine black parka these days, it's all fancy coloured fashion wear jackets that dont even cover your bum in sports shops nowadays :( Barbour aquired the W . Backhouse parka manufacturing firm in Wanganui a few years ago, and their material quality improved by bounds . I wouldn't be seen in anything else but a Barbour . Like Met, count me out of tents and give me the motel . Quite a boyscout is old 001 . |
Cicero (40) | ||
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