DIY Guide: Crafting Your Own Oilcloth Tarp for Camping 

Agreed, I use beeswax on my cold weather gear...just not my summer time set up (get's a little sticky) But yeah, no need for heavier fabrics unless I'm looking to REALLY insulate. thanks

How do you add beeswax to it? Wont it just solidify if i pour it in the liquid or once the liquid cools?

@@bjellison905 Sort of. It will be more liquid than solid at 80 degrees fahrenheit and it will be more solid than liquid at 40 degrees fahrenheit. This type of surface treatment was typically used by warming it up to around 110 degrees fahrenheit and pouring it onto the wood and then burnishing it with a cloth until it's kind of gone away. Could take anywhere from 5 to 25 minutes depending on the conditions.

Lol, Thanks. I figure if folks take the time to watch and comment on my videos, the least I can to is be courteous enough to respond.

Very commendable for you to stick the course on your video and not abandon it. Much respect.

I figure if everyone is still watching I’ll keep answering as long as I can

Glad it was helpful!

Hi! What formula did you and your dad used back then?

my pleasure. If you're going to make one for him for Christmas, use Egyptian cotton with at least a 800 thread count. Also, look up Jay Hercules and Opossum Pouch Soft goods, he may be able to make you an affordable canvas tarp.

So nice of you. Glad you enjoyed the video.

my pleasure, thanks

Awesome

funny enough, I knew that when I recorded this video... mind went blank lol Thanks :)

Lol a guy told me that at work while I was pouring and I remember thinking, man why didn't I ever think of that. Ten years of painting and never once crossed my mind. Love youre videos sir thank you

lol, thanks!

It's a fun project and a great learning experience. Do it during the warmer weather and find a place where you can hang a high clothes line and you should be good to go. Thanks!

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica I'm certainly going to give it a try but I don't know how to send you a picture of my progress and like I said I'm going to do it when it warms up

oh yeah, nylon will melt real quick. At least the oil cloth you can repair if it gets a burn hole in it lol. Thanks

sounds like a good deal

Thanks, it can be pricey but, most of this stuff you can do on whatever budget suits your lifestyle.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica for sure. Don't have a budget to work from at the moment, but definitely gives me an idea as to what my options are, and how I can do things myself without breaking the bank, especially when it comes to being new to all of these outdoor/survival type of gear for camping and hiking trips where you can't carry your whole house with you 😅

Never too late! They can be heavy lol.

Interesting, i was actually just thinking about this, looking up ideas on how to make some water resistant fabrics for a project, and i wondered, how much weight would traditional Oil-clothing add? (Linseed-oil some pigment and turpentine) My other option was something similar i saw but someone used Silicone instead, all tho i think i prefer the more Traditional way. Nice to see you are still responding to comments 5 years later! :D@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica

thanks. Glad you liked it. I would suggest a better quality sheet. It worked, but would've been better with a tighter weave on the sheet.

Prepared Camping thanks. Glad it was helpful.

if you want to do it for a pack, I'd rub it down with beeswax after treating, makes it more water proof.

My pleasure

it really depends on how often you use it. A cheap bed sheet like this will likely wear out before you get the opportunity to retreat lol. However, after a few months of good use, if you notice some spots that need retreated, you simply retreat those spots, not necessarily the whole thing.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica Thank you for the swift response. I have watched a few vids on this and no one really talks about that or do a one nighter in the woods using it among the other do it your self items? I really appreciate this. I subscribed and liked some of you videos...so cool. I was a Scouter for about two years.

I believe I said you could, but I don't recommend it.

You did but, it needs to be stated not to. I had a few pieces out drying for 3 days and rain came in so i fold it up and put in barn. That night came out and was smoking glad I cought it before burned down barn. You recommended not to but, think people need to know the combustion of it if it can't breath. The video was great I just wish I was told about not folding it while wet do to could catch fire. genital man down the road took a rag covered in boiled linsen oil from sealing furniture and threw it in trash can and it catch fire and burned down his garage. Im no pro at all just passing on what I have learned of it in life.

I hear ya. A friend of mine put one that wasn't quite dry, folded on the front seat of his truck. Next day, truck seat was nearly gone and smoking. Thanks

no wax on traditional oil cloth. I wax my winter tarps, but my summer tarps get sticky when they have wax. Surprisingly, it repels water just fine without it. I've used electric burners too. Also, great tip on the pour spout, thanks

My bad...! Sorry Teach, should have finished the vid before commenting! Haha

lol, it's all good bro

Last time I tried this, the Thompsons never fully dried. It works by soaking deep into the wood and keeping it moist. So I dont think its good for a tarp.

It definitely can.

Thanks, we're not concerned with toxicity as we are making oil cloth tarps (most commercial coated tarps you purchase have toxic chemicals protecting them as well.) I would never use this treatment for water and food containers, but this treatment does keep bugs and moths from eating your tarp when it's stored. Thanks for the comment, great thing to point out!

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica how would you create a treatment for food and water containers, for all seasons?

it's a good project. Looking back, I'd likely use a tighter weave, although it did work. Give it a shot! Happy New Year man.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica you mentikn a tighter weave. What kind of material do you recommend to use? I've been considering paintera drop cloth, but can imagine it may get pretty heavy. Let me know what your thoughts are on material to use. Thanks man ill be checking out your other videos too. Happy new year

I would consider Egyptian cotton bed sheet with a really high thread count, or adding the traditional iron oxide to the solution to fill in the threads.

I did a motorcycle trek from north eastern U.S. to Alaska, I took a mylar grabber blanket and a hammock fly tarp with me. Good combination.

Just out of curiosity, how would they incorporate the rust into the liquid? Thank you.

you can buy a bag in powder form and stir it in or, try scraping it off metal, I'd buy the bag of iron oxide powder :)

You can, not necessary. This is oil cloth, not waxed canvas. This is for three season camping ( spring, summer, fall) waxed materials get very sticky in warmer weather and, as you said, much heavier.

that's an interesting take on the microfiber, I'll test it in multiple ways. thanks

I've used silicone and m.s. on small projects (bags, knees of my pants) but have been wanting to do a poncho with it. Its lighter than the oil cloth and softer/ more flexible.

do a video on it Justin, I'd love to see that process

I don't really do videos. I just mix it 50/50 or a little more mineral spirits if I want it thinner. I put it into a jar and shake it up, then just brush it on with a sponge brush. Just do a search on YT for silicone and mineral spirits.

right on man, thanks

My pleasure

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica I'm way up In Canada, and it would appear to me that enormous changes are coming to society, especially here. So things like being able to produce these items is going to be vital to thriving in the near future. I hope I'm wrong.

It’s been heading that way for a few decades. Hopefully people are realizing how self-reliance is critical. And if we’re wrong, no harm in owning these skills.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica I pray we are wrong, i truely do, but like you say, these skills will do nothing but benefit you, and no skill is a bad skill. All things are in God's hand's and if nothing else, it sure has been and should only continue to be increasingly interesting!

the smell of turpentine goes away after you let it breathe outside for a while. I've never noticed any discoloration, probably would if you were using a light colored cloth.

I know that, knew it then, and still did it wrong lol! Thanks

Try Canvak - Water Resistant Canvas Preservative. For the amount of oil and paint thinner you'd need to treat something as large as a Bell tent, I'd go with Canvak, it'll be cheaper and you can just spray it on. one gallon will cover 100 sq ft and you can get it on Amazon.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica than you for your quick reply, & information, now, how often will it need to be treated, with what you suggested or is it a 1 time deal for the life of the tent

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica i just googled canvak & it said it's not a water proofing product & its $55.00 a gallon

Approximately how much linseed oil & turpentine do you think it would take to do a 10×16 bell tent

I wouldn’t even know. Likely 10 times the amount I use in the video

It makes the solution spread out better and soak into the fibers of the fabric better.

showed one in another video, take a look at my channel

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica thanks!

nylon tarps will beat using oil cloth hands down. I just did this as an experiment and because a couple of my buddies asked me too. I will say, you won't get condensation build up on oil cloth, but then it won't last as long as nylon. As far as rolling it up, pretty simple, like rolling up a tshirt

Thanks. I’ll uploading new content soon. I’ve been building a porch and a chicken coop. Back to the woods soon!

I wouldn’t use oil cloth for that. It would deteriorate in the direct sun left out too long. I’d buy a car cover and Mylar window panels for the car and some sort of camper cover for the camper... it’s what they were made for.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica Sounds like that is what I need to do. Thanks.

thanks, glad you liked it. Appreciate the sub

Glad you enjoyed it

You can definitely use a hot plate, but as long as you keep the flame down, don’t bring it to a boil and do it in a well ventilated are, should be fine. Thanks Bert!

Bushman school my pleasure! Thanks for watching and feel free to "like" and share! :)

No, has to be 100% cotton

I have not. Never even knew there was such a thing...sounds like an experiment to be had :) thanks. I'd just make sure thread count is at least 400 and maybe test an area to see how well the solution soaks in.

Glad it was helpful!

could be the way they used to do it. This one worked out pretty good, but I would've liked warmer weather. Not sure I would hang it directly in the sun, the boiled linseed oil can ignite. Thanks

I live in South Alabama, on the coast...and I've never had anything combust. I have worn treated, canvas pants...similar to cardhardt...with treated leather welding chap, and treated boots...welding, and heavy duty burning...with a 4' torch, tearing down an old I.P. plant, in the summer with no power in the building. Standing on steel grates, with people cutting and welding over my head, next to...as well under me, periodically burned a few small slag holes on ankles of the pants, but never ignited. It's all preference I guess, my grand father taught me using turpentine, our cotton cloth, and wool would sort of dry rot maybe? Kinda like when your grandmother always attempts to bleach the yellow out of your long John's, and in short order you try to pull em up, and the elastic waste band comes off in your hand...you're left there with a very white, lone wasteland around your waste, no more long John's, only you, and short John's-son, and both of you are freezing.

I think it's worth testing

this was a few years ago, but I did actually give a small microfiber cloth a try. Turned into a rock lol Thanks

there are plenty of products out there. I've used SunGuard Uv Protectant on most of my outdoor furniture, awnings and such. Or 303 UV Protectant

nah, as long as you're careful it's fine. I have used that method to make fixin' wax. Thanks

once oil is dry (turpentine aids in drying) it's fine. Been done that way for centuries.

This video isn’t about better, it’s about making gear with a traditional method that is a transferable skill that can apply to many other things.

no

paint thinner is just a generic term for a lot of different things to thin paint, like mineral spirits. Turpentine, however, is made from live pine trees and has more resinous properties to it.

thanks

You don’t put these in the washer, it hardens the material a bit doing this treatment treat it like a delicate tarp.

It’s still around

Just a few ounces heavier than the bedsheet was originally

Boiled linseed oil is derived from flaxseed plants. Turpentine is an extract from coniferous trees. Add 100% cotton sheet and it's about as natural as you can get.

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica I mean can you walk out and gather ingredients and work them into something usable on your own? I’d love to see a Turpentine recipe. How did people long ago make it?

You would add the wax to the mixture

@@WoodcraftLeagueOfAmerica Thanks for the super fast reply! What kind of wax (or mixture of wax) would be good?

No problem. You would typically use beeswax

yeah, I mentioned that in the video

@IG: Gasunset28 YES !!!

how do you get the silicon tubes to be viscous enough....will the mineral spirits dissolve it?

Yes it will you brush it mix it place it in a bucket it will absorb it you can add more as needed paint drop cloths work well wash them in hot water let them dry . You can tie a rock or acorn on the corners the end anywhere rope twine Paracord ! This will make it waterproof not just repellant also use it on umbrellas too !

@@scottmcintosh2988 Thanks Scott my waxing efforts on canvas didn't hold up too good this weekend. Having read your suggestion I'm going to give it a try. The silicone/linseed oil mix (with the turps) seems like an interesting mix of old and new technologies.

? 1 gallon of mineral spirit

@@burning4902 did you try it? How did it go?

It worked as it should. If I were to do it again, may add iron oxide but for a mild weather solution worked fine.

no he said (a lot of times) it was a bed sheet, so no it's not knitted.

@@bobbobson4607 Jersey bed sheets are knitted and are like soft t-shirt fabric, yo

Emerald All the bed sheets I ever had or had seen were woven, not knitted.

Jersey makes some knitted sheets, much like their tshirt material

DD is great, I have two of them. But, yeah the curtain was likely not a tight enough weave. thanks

you can do that, I used what I had

really depends on use and what sort of weather it is put through. You always have to use your best judgement on reapplying, but I typically reapply in spots not necessarily the entire thing

plenty of folks have, just keep in mind the weave on a drop cloth is pretty wide. Wax coating a drop cloth works a bit better.

Yeah, I know. Thanks

Sorry! One Scout Master to another. You can show the scouts with a Styrofoam cup by pouring it holding the top into a cup versus holding it by the bottom wall pour into the cup very useful good job brother I support your videos thank you for what you do cheers

This took me 43 years to figure it out. Hahaha. Pass it to the young ones!!!!! Hahaha.

10 minutes is fine when I only have ten minutes of something to say. thanks for watching.

This is the most thorough oil cloth video I’ve seen. Thanks for this!

thanks, glad you enjoyed it.

GREAT INSTRUCTIONAL VIDEO

it works fine, thanks for the concern.

It actually worked for quite sometime without any extra stuff added. Now, this being an experiment, I'd still stick with my nylon tarps lol. As for that rooster, a fox got him not long after the making of this video...poor guy. Thanks for watching

There is no need to use our LORD'S name in vain. Thank you (Gordon's wife)

@@gordonbricker1670 There's no need for you to order other people around lol, get a life

sometimes :P

Thanks for watching

Some people like a longer video

David, can you throw a football through a tire swing too?

@@ogrebloodchief Absolutely

that's weird, I'll see what's going on with that. Thanks for letting me know.

you need ad remover! 10 bucks a month. easy viewing after that!

@Fanboys KillGames yup! i laugh at all you guys that think they kno better. wake up, boy!

I've found that the ads vary by device and time. There are some things I can only watch on this old, little tablet.

Fast forward to the end and re-watch

you're right, fills in spaces as well. As for the length of the video, it's as long as I wanted it to be. Thanks

We use red oxide dope on linen aircraft coverings to stop fungicidal growth, I like to put citronella in my jacket waterproofing as it does the same thing. Keep up the good work my friend, I enjoyed your video.