Info needed: Painting canvas

[Matthew P]

Not the most recent issue of the MVPA magazine but the one before has an article where a guy dyed/painted his canvas top per the 1930's QM directions. Basically it was an oil based paint, paraffin wax and some thinner that was heated up in a pot and brushed on with a sponge.

Matt

[Bob Carriere]

Thanks Matt

The old time trick to waterproof a white cotton canvas tent was to mix 50/50 melted paraffin with naphtha...... and it works......but very dangerous...... paraffin has to be melted outside preferably on a small electric burner....no open flame.....than stir in the naphtha........ paint with a 4 inch paint brush.....

Working outside is fine but if you decide to do a second from the inside of the tent ........get prepared to get a good hangover from the fumes.....

I remember painting the inside of the barn before putting up the shelving.....sure brighten up the room....but we thinned out the aluminum paint with gasoline before spray painting.....and no mask..... did the job but never again......