Repro 15cwt GS box cover

[Mike K]

for what its worth.. someone local to me uncovered a stash of 1942 108 wireless set canvas covers some years ago... they are stenciled in black ..in brand new condition ..made here somewhere . The canvas is a light yellowy beige colour .

I'm presently making a new top for my series 1 landy..been looking for the heavy 20 oz duck canvas they used originally.. no luck so far ..so I'm using cheap 16 oz stuff made in Pakistan ... its 60 bucks for a 12' X 9' ..don't know how it will last though .

I've got an old original 1952 top on loan ... its not exactly like a 1950 top, but close enough ... the colour you see in the pics is deceptive as it has faded to a yellow/browny natural cotton..the original 1952 colour is found inside the folded seams .. a rich emerald grass green colour ... the difference is remarkable
Mike

[Stewart Loy]

Gents,

Boob is correct - the waterprooferizing is a messy business that can be done to the OD cloth. The fabric comes with a bit of waterproofing on the thread - so it is 'water resistant'. If it is to be used extensivly out of doors it should be waterproof sprayed. The canvasmith does it just like you and I would - with a pump sprayer. It is a bit smelly, and she pays her foplks to do it, so the price is labour and materials. The tan cloth got that done at the factory, and needs no more.

I have not even thought of stencils - but they should be done prior to waterproofing. If it were me: I would get the tarp without the waterproof treatment, paint stencils, THEN spray the canvas with a commercial ( or homemade ) spray to waterproof. I googled a concoction of soya oil and turpentine that sounds like it would be waterproof and smelly! The sample tarp has black ink for the stencils.

The hold down rope is easier to find that the canvas lady says - check the internet. I may make some of the clips Mike and Grant have worked on.

The canvas shop is down for 2 weeks at Xmas, so production will likely wait for straps and clips and get underway in late January 2009.

Send PMs and get on the list.


Stewart

[Alex Blair (RIP)]

Stewart ..
How is the water proofing holding up on the tarp I gave you a few years ago..??
If it is still ok,I will share my method with you...for a pint of Ripple..

[Stewart Loy]

Alex,

That canvas sheet you gave me is still very waterproof - I use it to keep the T-16 drivers compartment dry when rainy parades send the convertible top gang running for cover. I am not scared to get my hair wet, but driving with wet pants gives me 'the creeps', as it were ...

That fabric is a bit thinner than this tarp stuff, but the same fluid would probably work as well.

The soya bean oil and turpentine spray on as suggestd on the WWW is a thing best done out of doors and off the truck. I suspect that the person doing the spraying would also become waterproof, and smell like a cheap Chinese buffet on a hot day!


Stewart

[guyvapeur]

Some time ago, I had to modify a tent for a buddy. I was concerned that the new canvas I used would shrink once sewn in and distort the lines of the tent.

I bought the 10 new yards of canvas and put it out on the outside clothes line. I left it there for a few rainy/sunny days. On removing the canvas , the shrinkage was noticeable but years later, the new pieces were still in line with the older canvas.... Pre-shrunk I guess you could say.

If memory serves me well, you may get different shrink ratios on canvas.
Depending on the weave, you may have more shrinking on the length than on the width....

Good Luck with your projects.

[guyvapeur]

I have played with a variety of canvases and inks to see what works the best.

I have not yet found the perfect ink/paint combo but.........I have had good success with black boot stain. You can purchase a plastic container with the sponge top that allows you to touch up the black on leather boots or belts.

Some stores also sell leather dye...... I like this because it is thicker than ink pads and does not bleed as much on the canvas.

[Bob Carriere]

Yes it has to be done outside...... we waterproofed old Scout tents with a mixture of parafyn wax disolved in naphta........ a similar mixture was sold at Canadian tire in the 50s......

A dangerous explosive mixture to make as you need heat to warm up/melt the parafin and you stir in the naphta......... we used a single burner electric counter top stove with a double boiler arrangement and a long extension cord to be away from the garage and house....... no smoking allowed. The tents were set up and we painted them inside and out with large 5 inch paint brushes..... doing the inside was fun as you would get dizzy and headachy all at once.... no beer needed.

With the right mixture the canvas would dry fast...and be very water tight.. and remarkably not sticky....... smelled for at least the first two camping trips......

Ah the good old days when nothing was toxic....wonder we are still alive!!!!

BooBee

PS...... I have about 100 pounds of parafyn blocks in the barn....just need the naptha.....and a few volunteers.......hihihi