Tarp water proofing

[WX]

I have yet to try this but it apparently works quite well.
Mix one tube of clear silicon in a container with mineral spirits (we call it turpentine, or turps).
stir for 5-6 minutes or until it is all dissolved. Then brush onto your tarp.
I will check on how much turps is needed.

[Hugh MacD]

Re: Tarp water proofing

Any chance the silicone might rub off on a finish? Sounds like it ought to work, though. I'll let you experiment

[kbowen]

Re: Tarp water proofing

My dad was a depression era 'make-do' guy who was also a chemistry teacher: So one day when I was a kid he comes home with some new stock cotton canvas tarps he intended for boat covers and he had stockpiled beeswax, paraffin wax, and a crazy mash of solvents like xylol, toluene, xylene, etc, etc. He mixed this bitches brew that dissolved the waxes and we proceeded to squeegee this gumbo on the tarps laid out on the driveway. The sun on the tarps dissolving all this nasty solvent stank like crazy and made the air shimmer like a mirage, but thankfully no one was smoking and we ended up with heavily waxed cotton canvas tarps that lasted for years. I am not recommending this for the VOC implications, but OTOH, those tarps probably decayed more-or-less organically wherever they finally ended up.

Ken

[Todd Bradshaw]

Re: Tarp water proofing

I've seen it before but haven't tried it as I like to keep anything containing silicone as far away from my boats (or anything else that might have a paint or varnish finish) as possible. Once you run into a fisheye problem during repainting or revarnishing caused by residual silicone (which is very difficult to wash off, or even sand off) you will understand why.

We use a mixture of paraffin, paraffin oil and solvent on the long chains on our recumbent trikes and it works very well and doesn't get grease all over you if you touch the chain. It also lasts a very long time. I spilled some on the driveway a couple of years ago and it is still there. I'd try that sort of thing on fabric long before I'd consider silicone.

[Corella]

Re: Tarp water proofing

Propspeed is essentially methylated silicones (similar to 'wet-area' silicone caulking) in suitable solvents (such as epoxy paint thinner). You might want to try this, but as with Todd, I keep silicones below the waterline...

[wizbang 13]

Re: Tarp water proofing

tarp...like , cotton tarp ?

[WX]

Re: Tarp water proofing

7 minutes 20 seconds in.

[pez_leon]

Re: Tarp water proofing

...a crazy mash of solvents like xylol, toluene, xylene, etc, etc. He mixed this bitches brew that dissolved the waxes ...

Ah, the good old days. You may find that a bit of heat accomplishes the same end less carconigenically:

https://buffalojackson.com/blogs/insight/how-to-wax-canvas-fabric-diy

[Etdbob]

Re: Tarp water proofing

Silicone sealant thinned with mineral spirits is the standard waterproofing and seam sealing goop for silnylon tents. Not sure I'd use it on canvas, but I bet it would work.

[WX]

Re: Tarp water proofing

Is there a mix ratio for this method?

[Breakaway]

Are we divided by the same language here?

In the US mineral spirits and turpentine are two different things? The former is a petroleum distillate and the latter made from pine resin.

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[Dave Hadfield]

Re: Tarp water proofing

And in England parrafin is lamp oil, while in North America it's candle wax.

[pcford]

Re: Tarp water proofing

I actually hate to post this but here's the facts:
You _want_ the fabric to be in its natural uncoated condition. Then, when it gets wet, the fibers will swell to provide a barrier. When dry air will be able to pass. Making the fabric nonporous would be like putting a sheet of plastic over your boat.

[WX]

Re: Tarp water proofing

Are we divided by the same language here?

In the US mineral spirits and turpentine are two different things? The former is a petroleum distillate and the latter made from pine resin.

Kevin


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

We talking mineral spirits (We call it turpentine in Australia).

[WX]

Re: Tarp water proofing

I actually hate to post this but here's the facts:
You _want_ the fabric to be in its natural uncoated condition. Then, when it gets wet, the fibers will swell to provide a barrier. When dry air will be able to pass. Making the fabric nonporous would be like putting a sheet of plastic over your boat.

It's to be used as a cockpit cover while camping.