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Topic: Waterproofing Blacks Explorer tent.

Vintage Camper

via mobile 18/6/2019 at 4:50pm
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I have recently decided to relive some of my youth by camping In a cotton Blacks Explorer Major.

Other than a broken tent pole, which I’m hoping a cnc machinist friend can fix, the tent is in great condition!

However I did recently put it up in the garden to make sure all the kit is there and that the tent is still water proof. As suspected some re waterproofing is going to be required.

I was hoping to get some advice on what waterproofing I should buy for this particular tent.

Any cotton/canvas tent experts out there that may be able to share some info?

Thanks in advance,
John.

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Ewen c

via mobile 18/6/2019 at 9:29pm
Location: County Kildare Ireland EU.
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Did you give it a soaking with a hose spray and let it dry?
If it hasn't been used for a long time the fabric threads will have loosened and dried out. It will seem to be leaking but this is part of the weathering process.
Cotton tents waterproof by swelling the threads when wet. If you waterproof it you are getting rid of that natural waterproofing and breathability. You will then have to keep waterproofing. It ruins the tent in my opinion.

These links may help explain. As your tent has been stored for a long time, treat it as a new tent:

https://www.campingandcaravanningclub.co.uk/helpandadvice/gettingstarted/newtotent........

https://www.esvocampingshop.com/en/customer-service/extra-en/tent-canvas/?sl=en

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Caligula

18/6/2019 at 11:29pm
Location: Suffolk
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AS one who uses vintage cotton canvas all the time, indeed I have a version of the same tent; I would do as Ewen suggests initially, and if not satisfactory, I have had great success with a spray of Fabsil through a garden sprayer.
Although I take on board what Ewen has said, I must admit I've never had a problem in the longer term. I only do it if not waterproof and find a spray lasts several years.....

(In the case of the Explorer, do not spray the inner tent in any case, as it's not designed to be waterproof or used without the fly)

Vintage Camper

via mobile 30/6/2019 at 11:13am
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Thanks for the advise, I will take it all on board! :)

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Vintage Camper

via mobile 30/6/2019 at 11:13am
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Thanks for the links Ewan! :)

Vintage Camper

via mobile 30/6/2019 at 11:21am
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I had read in another post that all canvas tents come treated as standard from the factory, therefore further waterproofing does not ruin the surface, contradictory I have read that canvas doesn’t need waterproofing and that it will ruin it!

Also, I read that if I tested the canvas tent with water and dark patches start to appear, then these are problem areas that will need treating at some point.

As a newbie to canvas I am being slightly cautious, as I go away I’m a few weeks and don’t want to be caught in the lakes with a leaky tent.

Thanks for your advise,
John.

Murder within tent

30/7/2019 at 2:44pm
Location: Northamptonshire
Outfit: Old Canvas canvas and more canvas

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Modern tents might be treated - Vango Force 10 classics advertise this on their web pages, but if you have a vintage one then it would not have been treated when new (although who is to know what might have happened to it in the intervening years?)
If it remains untreated then let nature deal with it as nature intended.
Take one or two survival blankets - the metallized plastic crisp wrapper type things and a few clothes pegs with you and if you have a problem, fit them over the inner tent.

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