homemade canvas tents

[jrbaker90]

I have been think on making me a A frame tent but I am not sure if it could be done i talk to a guy at a civil war encampment and he made his out of painter canvas but I just wanted some advice thanks

 

[skunkskinner]

Just do it. I made this with painters canvas. several yeas back

 

[necchi]

The painters tarp works pretty good until there's a heavy rain, the weave just isn't tight eough to stop rain un-treated.

My first awning was a painters tarp, I washed it HOT, and machine dryed it HOT to shrink the weave, then treated it with Thompsens water seal and it worked great for a couple years

 

[jrbaker90]

Did you put a seam on it how did you put the door on and the streaks how did you do them I am sorry for all the questions thanks

 

[Black Hand]

I have been think on making me a A frame tent but I am not sure if it could be done i talk to a guy at a civil war encampment and he made his out of painter canvas but I just wanted some advice thanks

It can be done, but why would you want to? Lots of wedge tents available out there and some are fairly inexpensive.

 

[jrbaker90]

The one I want is over 200 and I like to have handmade equipment and I can make it a whole lot cheaper

 

[Black Hand]

The one I want is over 200 and I like to have handmade equipment and I can make it a whole lot cheaper

NO arguement there.

The question is: Is cheaper actually better in this case?
(Most) Canvas drop-cloth material is pretty useless for much other than low-stress applications. Been there, done that, had it rip....

If you are going to go at it, I would suggest buying decent canvas and using the canvas drop-cloth material as a floor.

 

[skunkskinner]

I just kinda folded the edges over and started stitching :idunno:

Nice thing about drop cloth is it is cheap stuff to learn with.

 

[jrbaker90]

That kind of what I was thinking about I found some 8 10 12 oz canvas and some of them have seams I don't do many reenactment a year so it wont use it much a year but I am not sure I know I could get from dixie gun work for for 155 but that's a really small one and the one I would make is a lot bigger thanks

 

[ohio ramrod]

WARNING , Necchi I also used to use Tompson's water seal on canvases with good reults. But the newer "safer" formula is mostly parrafin and is highly flamable even after drying! :surrender: I don't mean to act as a salesman but Canvac canvas treatment is much safer. :idunno:

 

[jamesthomas]

I bought about 6 of those drop cloths awhile ago to make me a tent also, where could I get some of the Canvac?.

 

[zimmerstutzen]

There are mail order art supply houses that sell both cotton and LINEN (historically correct) canvas that is very tight weave and almost water proof with out treatment. When I lived in DC I purchased several pieces of canvas (one was 84 inches x 144 inches) The name of the place was Utrecht, which also has a web site. As I recall, they can supply canvas up to 12 ft wide. (not much sewing necessary) I made a fly for my wall tent, camp shower, etc. It is far superior to "drop cloth" stuff.
http://www.utrechtart.com/dsp_view...ubclassID=131110&brandname=Utrecht Type CD-12

 

[Muskeg Stomper]

Home Made Queens Bluff Tent
This is just one of many threads that you'll find with a search for "canvas drop cloths". Your local Sherwin Williams store will have 12 oz painters drop cloths. Highly recommended instead of lighter material from Lowes or Home Depot.

 

[Black Hand]

Your local Sherwin Williams store will have 12 oz painters drop cloths. Highly recommended instead of lighter material from Lowes or Home Depot.

I will agree. I have several tarps that I bought from them that have shed torrential downpours without so much as a mist coming through right out of the package. Unless you live in a fair-weather state, drop-cloth material is useless for shedding rain. Makes a great sunshade though....