Preferred method of applying canvas treatment/Wall tent

[sndmn11]

That is a really good idea, covering the ridge pole. I figured on spending some time making it smooth.

Just remove any knots or lumps and put some throw away material in between wood and canvas. Save you a lot of effort that ultimately isn't really effective anyways.

 

[EdP]

My understanding is that a tight weave of canvas like Sunforger absorbs some water upon initial exposure and the cotton fibers swell, blocking water from penetrating. Any waterproof coating applied would interfere with how the canvas is intended to work. Perhaps as a canvas tent approaches end of life and begins to leak due to thinning of the fabric, a waterproff coating might extend it's life for a short while.

If you have a different understanding of how modern cotton tents work and why a coating would be needed, please explain it.

 

[sndmn11]

My understanding is that a tight weave of canvas like Sunforger absorbs some water upon initial exposure and the cotton fibers swell, blocking water from penetrating. Any waterproof coating applied would interfere with how the canvas is intended to work. Perhaps as a canvas tent approaches end of life and begins to leak due to thinning of the fabric, a waterproff coating might extend it's life for a short while.

If you have a different understanding of how modern cotton tents work and why a coating would be needed, please explain it.

The sunforger part is irrelevant, that's a treatment not a weave. An army duck canvas acts as you describe whether treated or not, army duck is a type of weave.

 

[EdP]

Sunforger is a tight weave canvas with a fire retardent treatment. Whether you buy Sunforger to ensure you get a tight weave canvas or some other product with the same weave charactistics doesn't matter in regard to water proofing treatments. The point is that with a tight weave canvas a water proofing treatment is not needed and is not recommended by the tent mfgs who use a tight weave canvas. I think your experience and mine and that of others using a similar product comfirms the recommendations of those mfgs.

 

[11boo]

I set it up(mostly) in the garage. Decided to not treat it, still in great shape.

 

[camelcluch]

I used something like this. $8