Canvas done C15a

[TCLARK]

I just got my canvas back and am very pleased with it. I was lucky enough to get an original from a C8 cab 12 and we made an exact copy. I used 18 oz canvas duck cotton a bit hard to work with ,but period correct.
Now I have to find some proper period correct rope.
There are 7 windows all made like the original;also all
4 sides will roll up with straps to hold them up.
We put small velcro straps om the hoops in 6 places to hold
the roof securely if all 4 sides were rolled up.

I am thinking of dying this canvas to a light od color
Does anyone have suggestions on how to do that?
Thanks Terry

[Mike K]

Would be very difficult to lighten that canvas, but maybe bleach ? Remember the old days when white shirts were bleached or starched. Being all cotton you will have a chance , if it was a typical mix of cotton and poly , no chance.

That colour looks like typical canvas from the sub continent, India or Pakistan.

[Paul Dutton]

If it's the same material as used by the MOD here it will fade very quickly if left outside.
I bought a large canvas new, ex MOD, but was very green like that.
I just hung it outside in all weather (mainly rain here!!), and it faded nicely to a grey/olive drab. Still water proof and can be treated with clear tent proofer.
Looks good over the jeep, which lives outside.

[Wayne Hingley]

Looks great Terry! I agree with Paul about leaving it outside in the weather to fade a bit. Just remember to rotate it once in a while to ensure all surfaces get equal exposure.

[Paul Dutton]

Originally Posted by Wayne Hingley

Looks great Terry! I agree with Paul about leaving it outside in the weather to fade a bit. Just remember to rotate it once in a while to ensure all surfaces get equal exposure.

Yeah, forgot that bit. I used an old rotating washing line and also the frame of a hammock.

[TCLARK]

i have lots of canvas left so I may experiment with a bleach wash
Terry

[Bob Carriere]

In the old days the companies that sold the dye packages use to have a special bleach that could be used if one needed to totally redye some material...... not sure if it still exists......lots of old dye packages sold on Ebay but did not see the bleach packages listed.

I agree with the previous postings......sun bleach may be the most effective process.

Sure looks good....... no license Plates yet????

Did you ever figure out what the old numbers were on the doors???

Bob C

[Robert Bergeron]

Now that's a very nice truck !

[TCLARK]

I just took a piece of leftover canvas and gave it a dip in bleach. the strong bleach solution turned it brown but a 1percent solution made it very nice O D which would match the truck well. Now the questions pop up
How to put on a light bleach
Will it fade even more as it ages

Maybe I should leave well enough alone??

[Paul Dutton]

Every time you take it out it will start fading until It reaches a neutral limit. If bleaching you will need to get ALL bleach out of fabric otherwise it will keep fading and you will need to bleach it evenly . Plus the bleach could rot the canvas!
I can only tell you my method that is tried and tested. When get to a happy shade the canvas can then be waterproof to lock the colour.
I've seen canvas dyed before now, even painted with water based shed paint to good effect, but it either peels or looks blotchy if not evenly coated.
But always interested to learn.
Don't forget, even if you bleach it, it will still fade naturally.

[TCLARK]

Good advice Paul, I will let sun tan and see what happens!

[Larry Hayward]

When you decide to bleach the canvas with a very weak solution, get yourself an inexpensive childs paddling pool (that you can pump up with a foot pump) and fill it with the solution and then soak the canvas pushing it under the water perhaps with a clean broom. Leave in the solution for as long as you feel its working; presumably you experimented on the percentage of bleach and the time it took?

Actually it might be best to get a second pool ready to wash out the bleach from the canvas immediately afterwards, and dispose of the bleach in the other pool 'responsibly'.

I suggest a few washes in clean water to get rid of any remaining bleach.

This job may have to wait to you get a warm day!