Canvas, how do you dye it?

[Robin Craig]

Spring will come, so I am told.

I am wanting to tone down this civvy coloured canvas on my Land Rover 1 Tonne.

Any suggestions on dye choices or methods?

I do have a surplus chunk of the same material I can experiment with to my hearts content.

Somehow I think I am going to a coin operated laundrymat with big washers and a bunch of coins . . . . I have been told not to do it in ours at home


R

[rob love]

I have done a bit of that work, but I found you had to dye the material before sewing it, otherwise the seams would not take the dye. The material would stretch the seams a bit and you would have shadows of the lighter colour.

The dye I used required the water to be very very hot. Not sure a washing machine would do the same. Also not sure the next person to use the machine after you would be very happy to have all their unmentionables turn olive drab.

[cletrac (RIP)]

Somebody one time told me to spray it with really watered down latex paint. It's watered down enough that it takes three or so coats to colour it and you let it dry between coats. I never tried it but it sounds like it might work.

[Barry Churcher]

I know this isn't an answer to your question but I like the colour.
Barry

[Robin Craig]

"but I like the colour" Classic response Barry! Thanks for the chuckle, I take it well, but its not about you is it?

R

[Bob Carriere]

They have the old TinTex brand but the only remaining modern sutff is RIT.....

In some case you may need to use a special bleach to remove some of the tan color first or your resulting OD green will be off by the tan base color.

Dye before sewing is always preferrable.

I have dyed out side in boiling water in huge cauldrons over open fires as an 1812 re-enactor.

It is messy. You also need to do a final rinse with a "mordant" to lock the color in the fabric..... RIT instructions would be specific as what to use.

My big concern with a tarp, besides it size, is that it may have some form of chemical anti fungus or water repellant which will greatly limit the color penetration in the fabric. The amount of natural fabric versus poly whatever will also have a bearing on the outcome.

In a pinch if it comes out pink dye the whole thing black.

Looking forward to seeing the color of your hands when we meet next.

Cheers

[jack neville]

I imported some raw canvas fron the States for my Marmon Herrington 3A gun tractor and dyed it with a blended mix of Sundye from a company in Melbourne called Kraftcolour. Worked a treat, wasn't cheap but has weathered well after four years in the Aussie sun. It looked so good that everyone asked me where I bought the original canvas top. It could be painted on both sides but because I dyed the pieces before they were stitched, I made a large flat tray out of builders plastic with the edges raised by pieces of timber and just used a paint roller to coat it both sides and then hung it to dry.

[jeff davis]

I painted a tarp with Latex paint it seemed to work good .Downside is that it made the Canvas Stiff.

[cletrac (RIP)]

If you dilute the latex paint and apply more coats the canvas won't get stiff like that.