I just finished my first tent which is a diamond fly. It's 12x12 and made of 12oz painter's tarp that I washed and put out in the sun to shrink before I started sewing on it. Today when I set it up, I set up the water sprinkler next to it to see if it would leak, and I had 1 leak in between the two poles where some wrinkles had formed. The wrinkles created channels for the water to pond in and eventually leak. After several attempts of adjusting the tent I couldn't get them out. I even tried adding stake points in between the corners and raising the center pole. I do plan on waterproofing it as it is set up, but will the wrinkles still be a problem? Or should I be happy with 1 leak from a non-treated tent?
Does anyone have a cheaper alternative to Canvak or know of any other place to get it other than Cabela's? It will take 4 gallons of the stuff to treat the 3 pieces of canvas I plan on using, which I would be spending twice as much for waterproofing as the tents themselves. I've heard of boiled linseed oil, but I don't know where to find it and might not use it if it rots the canvas anyways. I've also heard of the Thompsons trick, but I shy away from using it if it is really flammable once applied.
This is all in preparation for a family outing at the Blue Lick State Park Re-enactment in KY. The kids are really excited! Thanks for ya'lls help.
Does anyone have a cheaper alternative to Canvak or know of any other place to get it other than Cabela's? It will take 4 gallons of the stuff to treat the 3 pieces of canvas I plan on using, which I would be spending twice as much for waterproofing as the tents themselves. I've heard of boiled linseed oil, but I don't know where to find it and might not use it if it rots the canvas anyways. I've also heard of the Thompsons trick, but I shy away from using it if it is really flammable once applied.
This is all in preparation for a family outing at the Blue Lick State Park Re-enactment in KY. The kids are really excited! Thanks for ya'lls help.