I hope I posted this in the right place, if not PLease correct me and move it accordingly.
Merry Christmas All!
First Off let me say that I am by no means intimating that I’m an expert on this subject, nor do I have any experience, other than this first adventure, on the subject matter. I spent countless hours reading about every post I could find on this site, other info on the web and some books. Here is what I experienced while making my first waterproof trekking tarp.
I went to the local big box home improvement store and bought a 10 oz. canvas tarp, 9' x 12’. I looked at the 8oz tarps and they were really porous looking compared to the 10oz.ones. I also got a gallon of boiled linseed oil and a gallon of mineral spirits. I have access to iron oxide powder for coloring and have plenty of that on hand.
I washed the tarp in hot water and dried it on high to shrink the fabric and close up the pores. I measured out the biggest square I could obtain now that the material had shrunk and cut it to size. Always remember the old adage, measure twice and cut once. I ended up with 8’ x 8’. I left the cut edge un-hemmed, it may fray some, but that’s to my liking. I found the center of the tarp and stitched in a 4” square of the canvas for reinforcement. I used heavy waxed cotton thread. Why the addition? Keep reading.
I mixed the linseed oil and mineral spirits 50/50, made about a gallon of the stuff and added in 2 cups of iron oxide. Stir real well, let it settle and then stir some more. WEAR OLD CLOTHES!! This stuff gets on everything that comes within 2 feet of it. I laid the tarp out on an old picnic table with the top side up and painted on the mixture. Keep stirring to keep the iron oxide from settling to the bottom. Brush it in and cover the entire surface. Make sure to cover the seams real good. Did I mention it gets on everything. Once the top was coated I flipped it over and coated the bottom side took it outside and hung it up between 2 poles to cure. I’ve read bout hanging it up first and then brushing in the mixture, but to me it seemed easier with a hard surface under the canvas.
While it was hanging I used one of those brushes for smoothing out wallpaper to help even out the coloring from the iron oxide. I just swept it across the surface of the tarp. Did I tell you that this stuff gets on everything?
I left it hanging in the yard for 2 days to cure. It still has a slight oily feel and little more pigment came off on my hands, since the weather report is calling for rain I moved it to our shed and plan on leaving it hang for a few weeks. There is good air circulation and its dry inside. The color came out great, kind of a mottled reddish black mixture.
When it has fully cured I plan on using some of the remaining canvas to make loops for the 4 corners and the center. I’ll treat the loops with the same mixture to protect and color them. I thought about sewing on rope loops, but the more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to use the treated canvas. I may need to watch the stitching where I sew in the top center loop and if there are any open pores, I’ll add in some hot wax to help seal them up.
I’ve been contemplating making my own tarp for a few months and finally decided to just do it. It was fun and to my estimation, well worth the time. The real test will be this spring when I get to use it! If you have been contemplating doing this I say go for it and remember to wear old clothes because it gets on everything.
Merry Christmas All!
First Off let me say that I am by no means intimating that I’m an expert on this subject, nor do I have any experience, other than this first adventure, on the subject matter. I spent countless hours reading about every post I could find on this site, other info on the web and some books. Here is what I experienced while making my first waterproof trekking tarp.
I went to the local big box home improvement store and bought a 10 oz. canvas tarp, 9' x 12’. I looked at the 8oz tarps and they were really porous looking compared to the 10oz.ones. I also got a gallon of boiled linseed oil and a gallon of mineral spirits. I have access to iron oxide powder for coloring and have plenty of that on hand.
I washed the tarp in hot water and dried it on high to shrink the fabric and close up the pores. I measured out the biggest square I could obtain now that the material had shrunk and cut it to size. Always remember the old adage, measure twice and cut once. I ended up with 8’ x 8’. I left the cut edge un-hemmed, it may fray some, but that’s to my liking. I found the center of the tarp and stitched in a 4” square of the canvas for reinforcement. I used heavy waxed cotton thread. Why the addition? Keep reading.
I mixed the linseed oil and mineral spirits 50/50, made about a gallon of the stuff and added in 2 cups of iron oxide. Stir real well, let it settle and then stir some more. WEAR OLD CLOTHES!! This stuff gets on everything that comes within 2 feet of it. I laid the tarp out on an old picnic table with the top side up and painted on the mixture. Keep stirring to keep the iron oxide from settling to the bottom. Brush it in and cover the entire surface. Make sure to cover the seams real good. Did I mention it gets on everything. Once the top was coated I flipped it over and coated the bottom side took it outside and hung it up between 2 poles to cure. I’ve read bout hanging it up first and then brushing in the mixture, but to me it seemed easier with a hard surface under the canvas.
While it was hanging I used one of those brushes for smoothing out wallpaper to help even out the coloring from the iron oxide. I just swept it across the surface of the tarp. Did I tell you that this stuff gets on everything?
I left it hanging in the yard for 2 days to cure. It still has a slight oily feel and little more pigment came off on my hands, since the weather report is calling for rain I moved it to our shed and plan on leaving it hang for a few weeks. There is good air circulation and its dry inside. The color came out great, kind of a mottled reddish black mixture.
When it has fully cured I plan on using some of the remaining canvas to make loops for the 4 corners and the center. I’ll treat the loops with the same mixture to protect and color them. I thought about sewing on rope loops, but the more I think about it, the more I’m inclined to use the treated canvas. I may need to watch the stitching where I sew in the top center loop and if there are any open pores, I’ll add in some hot wax to help seal them up.
I’ve been contemplating making my own tarp for a few months and finally decided to just do it. It was fun and to my estimation, well worth the time. The real test will be this spring when I get to use it! If you have been contemplating doing this I say go for it and remember to wear old clothes because it gets on everything.
