Russian plash palatka waterproofing.

[Mike8472]

I got myself one of these Russian canvas rain capes dirt cheap on ebay. In immaculate condition considering its 30 odd years old.

I understand originally they were treated with some form of waterproofing agent; now being as old as it is and being sat in a warehouse for decades I doubt it would stand up to much more than a light shower.
I am wanting to reproof it but am unsure of the best way to go with something like this. do I go for something like Nikwax/Grangers cotton proof type wash in treatments or do I go down the melting wax into the fabric route.


I have never waterproofed anything cotton before so I am unsure what is the best route to take.

If waxing does the fabric feel waxy/greasy to the tough and get a residue on skin clothing afterwards whenever you tough it? does it make the fabric hard and inflexible?

Nikwax/gangers route:- how durable is the treatment and how long does it realistically last?

Intended use is going to be when I'm at my campsites to wear whilst sat around and inactive as a windproof outer layer of insulation and being waterproof would be a bonus.
I like the idea of these better than a rustley poncho that blows around all over the place in the wind, and is at least semi-breathable compared to the poncho material.

What advice can you give me?

 

[Ogri the trog]

If the canvas is in good condition, I doubt it will need anything - when I first got mine, I hung them out in the garden for a few days of rain to see how they behaved - faultlessly - and have done so every time I have worn them since.

If I was were looking to proof them, I'd look at something like Nikwax Cotton Proof rather than wax which I think would increase the weight and have to be periodically re-done to maintain its effect.

Give it a try before you do something un-necessary.

ATB

Ogri the trog

 

[big_swede]

Nikwax cotton proof has to be applied regularly too. I would just use barbours wax. Lasts longer than any polymers...

 

[Mike8472]

The material is in very good condition and all the metal gromits are pristine no corrosion at all.

I was just thinking after being stored for decades in unknown conditions then the factory applied proofing might have deteriorated.

Does barbours wax leave the cotton ridgid/less pliable?

 

[Mike8472]

I think im going to have to get it in the shower when the wife goes out.

 

[Macaroon]

If you wax it, it'll weigh a ton............I'd take Ogri the trog's advice and try it before you do anything else.

 

[Inky]

I'd wax it personally with either greenland wax or barbour wax. Nikwax is not all that effective in my experience.

 

[Chiseller]

Give it a try before you do something un-necessary.

ATB

Ogri the trog

+1

I recently used altberg s Leder gris on my wax jacket and cap.....works as good as the Barbour wax withought the tackiness and effort.

Sent from my HTC One using Tapatalk

 

[madadam]

I now have the same dilemma.
Got a 1959 one and am wondering about wax or silicone.
I have had a Barbour stockman coat before and still have a new tin of wax, but always found it stinks after a couple of years, so am looking at fabsil. I have in the past used Screwfix silicone lubricant which was great on my suede hat and is less than £3 per tin

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[Erbswurst]

Don't use wax or other stuff which is made for different use and materials!

You must impregnate a tent sheed with a cotton tent impregnation!

It is possible to mix it yourself, but I never did it and unfortunately forgot how that must been mixed, and I can't reach my old books where I could look up the correct mixture.
Such stuff was written in boy scout books before the plastic tents were inventet.

Stuff like that here works well, but you could ask the cotton tent fabric maker TENCATE in Holland, what they currently recommend, than you have the answer of the best Europen Specialist for cotton tent fabrics in Europe.

Tell them, that the stuff must be fire resistant!!!!

This seller here sells cotton lavvus since decades. German boy scouts always light well sized fires in theyr tents, so that stuff should be OK.

https://www.fahrtenbedarf.de/cgi-bi...%E4gnierung:00000010!0,941175454580867,297150

https://www.fahrtenbedarf.de/cgi-bi...:,941175454580867,,,suchort=211000&asnlevel=2

As you see, there are a lot of people in Germany who impregnate cotton tents with secure and fire proof stuff and they do it since more than 100 years.

 

[Erbswurst]

Sorry, last video is about construction.

I wanted to show that here:

 

[Woody girl]

Just a word of caution about using fireproofing . I was listening to an item on radio 4 yesterday about the fireproofing of mattresses and sofa cushons. Apparently the chemicals are proving carcinogenic and the chemicals have even been found in babies bodies. Not trying to scaremonger but a sparkhole can be repaired easily. Cancer is a bit more difficult !
I know we get these sort of scares all the time (eggs/bacon/butter etc) we still have our bacon and eggs buttys but I wouldnt fireproof it.
Have you thought of fabsil as used on cotton tents? I imagine it would be easier to apply and possibly cheaper. I bought some for a cotton tent I have had for a couple of years but never needed to use it as the tent is fine without it. (Robens fairbanks). I do realise your fabric is much much older than mine obviously. I think trying it out in the shower should show any weakness so you would then know if it was nessasary to treat it.

 

[Erbswurst]

A cotton tent sheed which is treated well can easily survive more than 50 years of use and should be reimpregnated round about after 10 years of normal use, because the impregnation is washed out.

It's absolutely possible, that the impregnation is still in the fabric, if your tent sheed looks unused.

 

[Erbswurst]

They always find something somewhere in, and everything is horribly dangerous in theyr opinion.

One is payed to find it, the other is payed to write it in the news.

Since the WHO told us that meat from the barbeque is toxic, I stopped reading that bullshit.

 

[Janne]

Boric acid has been used for a very long time as a fire retardant.
I do not know how to mix it with a water repellant ( or which one) but I am sure Guugle can answer that!

Everything is dangerous in too large amounts.
Hospital admissions, even Death due to excessive ‘hydration’ with water is on the increase.
To be safe, drink more beer.

 

[Janne]

If you impregnate that Russki thick cotton, it will be:
1: Bullet proof
2: incredibly heavy.

 

[Erbswurst]

I think, burning clothing and tents are unpleasant and unhealthy if one is in it.

But it's just my privat impression.

I might be wrong.

 

[Nice65]

I think im going to have to get it in the shower when the wife goes out.

Well it is a Saturday

 

[Nice65]

If you wax it, it'll weigh a ton............I'd take Ogri the trog's advice and try it before you do anything else.

Me too. A decent canvas or cotton sometimes doesn’t even need waterproofing. Take Ventile for instance, or my belltent canvas. It swells and closes the fabric to water.

 

[GuestD]

I have never waterproofed anything cotton before so I am unsure what is the best route to take.

Before you do anything, try "weathering" it. Pitch it in the outdoors, if you can for a week or so. Then try a hose sprinkler on it. It may be ok.