Waterproofing a canvas pack?

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go2ndAmend

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Mar 8, 2008
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I have a new canvas pack that I would like to waterproof. Does anyone have any experience in that regard? I don't want it to end up leaving an oily finish on all my gear or smelling like turpentine. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
 
grab a can of microwax from Filson or similar and start rubbing...........

but the best way is to use waterproof stuff sacks........
 
i recall a similar thread regarding the waterproofing of canvas. alot of people suggested thompson's water seal, although that might leave a smell that you don't want. i've been told that the smell dissipates after a while but i'm not a 100% sure on that since i haven't tried it myself.
 
Ive got some Filson Chaps-I use for hunting. I use their oil/wax for waterproofing-seems to help.
 
My brother used MapSeal on a large Alice pack and I saw water standing on/in the top flap like a bowl after a rainy night..thats nylon so I dont know if it would work on canvas the same way. He applied it and put the pack outside in the sun for about a day and there was no residual smell that I noticed. just a thought.
 
jca21 said:
i recall a similar thread regarding the waterproofing of canvas. alot of people suggested thompson's water seal, although that might leave a smell that you don't want. i've been told that the smell dissipates after a while but i'm not a 100% sure on that since i haven't tried it myself.
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I have tried an older version of the Thompson on a diamond fly that I made 20 years ago it worked fine but smelled very bad in the basement as it was drying out. Had to move it outside, can't be good for you. The fly still seems to work well. I poured the Thompson in a plastic tub and sponged it on as I rolled it around one of the poles. Worked well as the excess reworked into the bottem layers. Made the tarp heavy. I tried it again with a lightweight cotton tarp this summer that I thought I might use over a hammock. I rolled it into a tube and poured it on till saturated. Don't do this. It seems to filter it out and didn't look right. More wax or silicone on one side over the other. Hope this mistake helps someone. You might try some scotch guard. I think most treatments will leave a smell for awhile
 
go2ndAmend said:
I have a new canvas pack that I would like to waterproof. Does anyone have any experience in that regard? I don't want it to end up leaving an oily finish on all my gear or smelling like turpentine. Any tips or suggestions would be appreciated.
Click to expand...

I have a few old duluth packs that are not treated. They dry out alot faster. Just use some dry bags inside your pack. Ziplocks etc. You might consider a cover over your pack. Don't know what you are using.
 
Why don't you look at the formula that Geaorge Sears gives for waterproofing canvas in his book Woodcraft. It's an old tried and true method. You just need to make a brine of lime and alum and soak the pack. Then let it dry completely. It works well and doesn't leave the canvas as tacky nor does it pick up so much dirt from the stickiness. (This is how he does his canvas tarp but it works just as well for a pack) It says..."
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It does, however, need a little waterproofing; for which the following receipt will answer very well and add little or nothing to the weight: To 10 quarts of water add 10 ounces of lime and 4 ounces of alum; let it stand until clear; fold the cloth snugly and put it in another vessel, pour the solution on it, let it soak for 12 hours; then rinse in luke-warm rain water, stretch and dry in the sun and the shanty-tent is ready for use."
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From this page,....

http://www.zianet.com/jgray/nessmuk/woodcraft/chapter03.html


Here is the full Book

http://www.zianet.com/jgray/nessmuk/woodcraft/title_page.html
 
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I waterproofed my Kifaru with some generic spray-on waterproofing (Scotchguard maybe) that I picked up from a major sporting goods store here in Houston.

This works, TRUST ME. Follow the directions and let it air out. Simple, easy process. The odor (not strong) will go away very quickly and you'll have a very "waterproof" pack to work with. Just get of the dang internet and get it done!

My Kifaru is made of 1000 denier cordura... Canvas will probably work just the same.
 
Kiwi has a sprayon called camp-proof that works well. I usually camp-proof everything twice a year, fall and spring (When it is wet) but a microwax would do a much better job overall I believe. I love microwaxed canvas!
 
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