Water proofing/protecting canvas from the elements
 

Just purchased a pair of these bags from a thrift store,they were marked as Donkey saddle bags.:)Going to use them on my bike, The leather straps matches the other leather accents wonderfully but with design of the bag itself looks like it will collect water and debri.
I don;t ride in the rain but still would like to preserve/protect the canvas and threading but how to go about this?Aerasol sprays results used in the past were dismal at best. Any suggestion?


http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/c...ps18fa7fbf.jpg

From above..
For obvious reasons, early mariners had the keenest interest in developing effective waterproofing methods. Sailors of the 16th century would apply fish oils to their sailcloths...

Next question- How do you oil a fish? :p

handsome bags!

Depending on the density of the weaving, the canvas may be waterproof without any treatment. My understanding is that the cotton fibers expand when wet, so the tiny pores in the weave close up. If the weave is dense enough to begin with, it'll resist water penetration

Some of my canvas saddlebags are naturally water resistant without a wax treatment. I have a Carradice bag on my bike and it will stay dry inside even after a day of steady rain.

Use a plastic bag (or plastic box) inside to prevent water from reaching your cargo.

Untreated canvas tents don't leak water,... until you touch them. Then you can develop a spot leak. Water can also soak through into anything touching the inside walls.

If you do not water proof the outside, the canvas will absorb water and become very heavy.

Treated or not, any water that gets inside will have a hard time getting back out.


If you insist on using them when it rains, look into water proofing materials like Nik Wax, Otter Wax or other non-greasy treatments.

I've waxed canvas before, with iron and blowdryer to melt it in. The resulting canvas is considerably darkened and to the touch feels, oddly enough, very waxy.

On the aerosol side, I've had good luck with Atsko Silicone Water Guard on lighter materials (windbreakers, tents) although I think an annual re-spray would be necessary for that. Upside is it doesn't change the appearance or feel of the cloth being treated.

Nice lookin' bags you found there :thumb:

Great answer, Southpaw,

And very true. However, if you decide to go the wax route, Michael K. I've got several tins of Filson wax treatment I'll never use.
Drop me a PM if interested. Pay for the shipping and it's yours.

The fabric top on roadsters and boats thrive in harsh conditions w/ 303 High Tech Fabric Guard:

"Restores lasting water repellency to marine canvas."

Works for me, although I use Nikwax or Scotchgaurd on my fabric motorcycle kit.

-Bandera

Thompson water seal. Have used it on several duffel bags over the years for camping. Would still recommend adding a heavy gauge (3-6 mil) plastic bag liner rolled over at the top for extra protection. If you want to go with wax there are several formulas on the internet related to canvas tents. Normally the wax is cut with a solvent.

Thanks everyone!Good information.

The canvas part of these has alot of wear to them compared to the rest which is in great condition. My hope with the wax is to help preserve the canvas and theading.It gets very damp here. ;)

Thanks #Rootboy ,very generous of you. I'll let you know soon.