Intro to Painted Cloth 

This video is great! Thanks for showing the example of what it looks like if you don't use the sizing. It bleeds through really bad. I used the sizing and it made a huge difference in not bleeding through and waterproofing.

For rubberized cloth, would something like the brush-on flex-seal or other liquid rubber work? I've played around with it painting poke sacks and results are rather suprising. Keeps the fabric flexible and provides waterproofing. Haven't seen it used with reenactors but have seen it used on the bushcraft forums with good results.

Been watching your video for insight, thanks, just completed a test and found that if I use "Spar Urethane" to seal the Duck Canvas before I use the latex paint, it works. Spar Urethane is clear & UV resistant, usually use in on wood projects on my sailboat to waterproof, canvas darkened slightly when applied and canvas is still flexible.

Thanks 1st Sgt. I'm interested in this topic and have painted a few items with simply wall paper sizing and black semi gloss paint and was happy with the result.

Got some canvas items hotwashed and dyed, got 2-3 more to fixative today, then a bigass bucket to mineral spirits/silicone treat tarps in; gunna be an arduous time im sure. Latex paint, no wall size, 1 coat=light-moderate bleeding; if one coat is allowed to dry, i wonder how much bleeding to expect for the next? Will report back, having latex paint mixed to a decent olive color maybe today then coating the ground cloth with it; likely before any silicon treatment adventures. Definitely will report back. Not a civil war reenactor, but a will do for a ranger.

Very helpful. I have found the same thing using the traditional recipe. I used boiled linseed oil , pure turpentine and iron oxide for a colorant. I mixed 50/50 for the turps and linseed oi and the colorant to taste as it were. I looked at opacity to judge. When I moved the item, the black came off as described. So I guess I will leave it a while tot totally dry, then brush it off. I was thinking of using a sealer to prevent bleed off. The item I am making is a cavalry valise.

Good stuff guys, I'll be making a slew of civilian cloths of greens and reds. Just working on the pigments.

How does it hold up in a humid environment? Will it prevent mold and mildew?

highly informative. Tweeted to my 24k

Shhhh. Wall paper sizing on both sides, when dry mix 2:1 black semi gloss latex paint to BLO. It does take a while to dry. Looks great and has fooled several hardcore types.

Did a lot of experimentation with oil cloth last summer. Once it starts warming up I'm going round 2.

I know this is a year old. But I guess I missed it. What kind of cloth are you using.

Will an oil based paint be as safe as the latex you used for a ration bag or will that be just as hazardous as using the original recipe?

Just ordered the Second Vol of Roundball to Rimfire, should have it in a few days. Eventually will get all four volumes.

In 500 years historians will call the last half of the 20th century "the big blue tarp" period.

If you painted canvas with the rustoleum paint would it make a fairly waterproof ground sheet and how long did it take to dry? Thanks!!

Do you roll on the sizing or brush it? Does it matter?

Charles Goodyear called his process of coating fabrics with rubber "plating" or "enameling".

Hey man great video. I need to know more about the Ron Swanson Poster!

1st Sargent ... I have a repro Hathaway Portable Writing Desk where the painted cloth has become tacky/sticky. What would you suggest to fix this?

what if i put oil paint instead of latex?

Just got through hauling 40,000 lbs of lamp black out of Louisiana.

What state do you all really like recruit from?

I would try to make it but I think I would make my self sick ! ! ! !