waterproofing

[bezoar]

i found a recipe in the old book woodcraft and camping by Nessmuk.
his recipe to make a tent is to do the following:

10 quarts water
10 ounces lime
4 ounces allum

Mix it together adn allow to stand until it is clear. Pour this onto the "strong cotton cloth" that has been bundled up snuggly into a large container allow the cloth to soak for 12 hours. When the twelve hours is up rinse with luke warm rain water and dry in the sun after stretching the cloth.

Supposed to make a good waterproofing for tents. Nessmuck wrote he would set his tent up on wood poles and tack adn nail the tent material down..

I am wondering if anyone here has any experience with this recipe adn if they would share it.

 

[BillinOregon]

I'm curious too. Milk and hydrated lime are of course the main constituents of "milk paints" that were so widely used in Colonial times. Dunno what the alum would do. I have a 12 X 15 canvas tarp I would like to treat with something ...

 

[bpbrs]

alum = fire proofing

it will also grab any invisible floaties in the water and settle out to the bottom.
will help set color when dying cloth or paper

Bill

 

[dougeee]

Would this be ammonium alum or pickling alum?