help with seasoning canvas

[familycamper]

Hi everyone, just picked up our ft 2 weekends ago and I now have to season the canvas. Is there any tips on how to do this the best way, or do I just wet it any old way and let it dry out again a couple of times?

Thanks in advance

[speewa158]

Welcome to the new world of CTs , set it up in the backyard . Now hose it till its really wet then let it dry , then keep doing it . Thats a start . When you go away be prepaired to have some leaks on the frist couple of trips . If thats the worst that happens till you find your feet its a good thing . Enjoy 

[maurerless]

Okay, I get the seasoning process - I've done it myself on tents and will have to do it for the new CT soon.

What I don't understand is what seasoning actually does.

I'd always thought that the concept was to swell the fibres - especially the stitching in the seams. But if the canvas is sealed or impregnated with water repellent treatment, how does the water get into the canvas?
Would there be an advantage of using a soap of some kind, or will this ruin the canvas? (Before anyone gets the wrong idea, I'm just going to use rainwater - sans soap. Besides that it's what I have, the only other choice I have is bore water and I'm not sure about the effect of the extra minerals etc.)

And, if we let the canvas dry again, why doesn't the fibre shrink again when the water dries out? Is it possible that the fibres are moving just that little bit that "felts" them and makes the weave tighten or something?

(Yes, I know.... I think too much sometimes... )

Tony

[D4D]

It helps the holes made by the needle close up as the thread expands

[GS]

[gruesome]

You can also buy products to seal the stitching at camping and disposal stores, if they have not sealed properly, but you can also use surfboard wax as well, it can take a bit sometimes but is not really a problem as you are out using the camper, happy campng,
cheers Andy