ABOUT
OUR FABRIC:
Our products are
constructed of top
quality Grade A
canvases No Seconds
and No lesser
grades!
Shrinkage- All
tents made from
natural fibers, like
cotton, will shrink
and this will affect
the "finished size"
measurements of the
tent. The exact
amount of shrinkage
is impossible to
predict although the
Sunforager brand
treated canvas'
allow for 2%
shrinkage. The tent
must be wet down
thoroughly to allow
the fibers to swell
and shrink to a
tighter weave.
Sunforager Marine Finish Boatshrunk has two treatments for water repellence
and mildew resistance. The 10.10 oz weight and 12.65 oz weight refers to the
ounces of thread per square yard of material and we use 36" material in our tents
and tipis.
Sunforager Fire Resistant has the treatments for water repellence and
mildew resistance and an additional flame retardant quality which meets the flammability
standards of CPAI~84, an industry wide standard.
The word Marine in this product description means Marine Finish- a finish specifically
designed as the best available in water repellence and mildew resistance. Do
not confuse this with Marine Duck, a term often used for any duck sold to the
marine trade. Sunforager Marine Finish Boat Shrunk is the original FINISH to
offer the best in weathering qualities. Don't confuse with substitute ducks merely
called "Marine".
ABOUT OUR CONSTRUCTION:
Western Canvas has improved the hem to ensure the longevity of the canvas closest
to the ground by placing webbing reinforced spurred grommets with replaceable
ropes in the hem to stake the cover down. This added feature greatly diminished
the amount of moisture that can saturate the base of the cover causing the canvas
to mildew and rot. When the ropes rot you simply replace the ropes unlike the
more common webbing loops sewed directly into the hem.
For strength, all panel are sewn with a double lock-stitch (as opposed to looped
or zigzag stitches) and shingle style lap seam to aid in water run-off. All seams
are sewn with a Filco
thread, which is a
cotton shell wrapped
around a polyester
core for strength.
The outer cotton
shell will swell
when wet and fill
the needle hole to
provide maximum
protection from
leakage. All stress
areas are double
reinforced and all
ties are heavy
weight cotton
webbing.
Tent
Care & Maintenance
1) To increase
longevity of the
canvas, keep the
canvas dry.
If you live in a
high humidity or
rainfall climate,
periodically dry out
the canvas with a
heat source.
2)Do not take the
cover down or store
it away while it is
wet.
Moisture will cause
the canvas to mildew
which eventually
leads to the canvas
rotting.
3)Treat mildew areas
by scrubbing them
with a brush and a
bleach solution of
1/4 cup bleach in a
2 gallon bucket of
warm water. Let area
dry completely.
This will kill the
mildew and stop it
from spreading, but
will not take the
dis-coloration away.
This will also work
on your tipi poles
if you have mildew
showing up on them.
4)Keep canvas taut
at all times.
Make sure you guy
out the sides, the
front end and the
back end, and stake
down the bottom. If
you do not guy the
sides, the roof may
sag and water could
collect above the
eaves causing
leakage.
5)Treat canvas only
with approved canvas
preservatives.
We recommend Canvak
as it is
specifically made
for canvas.
Wind -
Intense winds can
cause extensive
damage to your
tents, and frames.
Be sure to set your
tent up using all
the stakes and ropes
provided, even if
using a freestanding
frame. Frequently
checking the stakes
and tightening the
guy ropes if they
loosen during
periods of high
winds will keep
things together.
Frequently check
poles for movement
and kick them out
regularly keeping
the canvas taught.
