Camping and woodcraft - Scoutmastercg.com

TENTS FOR SHIFTING CAMPS 73until every part is quite penetrated, and let soak overnight.In the morning, rinse well, stretch, and hang upto dry.A closely woven cloth should be used.This treatment fixes acetate of alumina in the fibers ofthe cloth. The final rinsing is to cleanse the fabric fromthe useless white powder of sulphate of lead that is depositedon it. Failures are usually due to using hardwater, or a less proportion of alum than here recommended,or to not dissolving the chemicals separately anddecanting off the clear liquor. When directions are followed,the cloth will be rain-proof and practically sparkproof,but not damp-proof if you use it as a ground-sheetto lie on, or if exposed to friction. After a good deal ofuse, the tent will need treating over again, as the mineraldeposit gradually washes out.Remember that cotton goods shrink considerably whensoaked.firstAlum and Soap.— Shave up about a pound of laundrysoap and dissolve it in 2 gallons of hot water. Soak thecloth in it, dry out thoroughly, and then soak in an alumsolution as above, and dry again.I have had no success with the alum and limemethod mentioned by " Nessmuk."Good waterproofing compounds can be purchasedteady-made from some tent-makers.The following recipes, although not suitable fortents, are useful for other articles of equipment, andare included here while on the subject of waterproofingcloth:Oiled Cloth.— For groupd-sheets to use under bedding:get some of the best grade of boiled linseed oil of areputable paint dealer. One quart will cover five or sixsquare yards of heavy sheeting. Pour it into a pan bigenough to dip your hand into. Lay out the cloth and rubthe oil into it between your palms, using just enough oilat a time to soak the cloth through, filling the pores, butleaving no surplus. Then stretch it in a barn or garret,or other dry shady place, for one week. Finish drying byhanging in the sunlight three or four days, fi .st one sideup, then the other.Flexible Celluloid Coating.—A flexible enamel suchas is used on fly lines for fishing is also useful for finishingseams in articles sewed up from waterproofed cloth.Get some old photographic films, soak them in hot water,and scrub off the gelatine surface with a small stiff brush.