All of our tents use Sunforger
marine boat shrunk canvas, a 100% cotton canvas that
is a staple among period tent makers. Unless
otherwise requested, all our tents use 36" wide,
10oz, colorless canvas. With excellent resistance
to mold and water, Sunforger canvas is your best bet
for period projects, and we sell canvas by
the yard for those making their own tents.
Because it is, quite simply, the world's best all-cotton canvas.
- Army “duck” canvas
– Sunforger is an Army duck canvas which eans its a closely woven, thick fabric with a high thread count. Duck canvas
is among the most durable fabrics used in consumer goods.
- 100% Cotton – The
prime reason this canvas is widely used among re-enactors
because its 100% cotton thread gives it a beautiful period
look unlike synthetic fabrics. Besides looking great, cotton
is functional – Its organic nature means the threads
in the canvas naturally tighten when wet to seal the weave. They loosen as they dry out, ensuring your tent does
what vinyl and synthetic fabrics can’t – breathe.
- Shrink resistance –
No cotton canvas is completely 100% shrink proof,
but Sunforger canvas is as close as you can get. Boat shrunk
means that the canvas is treated so that it will never shrink
more than 3% over its life. It is the smallest percentage
of shrinkage among any cotton canvas.
- Water resistance –
Sunforger canvas offers the best in water repellancy in a cotton cavnas.
In addition to cotton’s natural water resistance,
this canvas is finished with the best available treatment
in water repellency and mildew resistance.
- Mildew resistance –
The same treatment that gives Sunforger it’s water
repellant qualities also gives the canvas excellent performance
against mold and mildew. It resists rotting
and maintains good colorfastness in most conditions. Most discoloration can
be cleaned as outlined below
- Dry finish –
The treatment on Sunforger canvas is applied to each individual
thread before it even becomes canvas, ensuring an
even coating over the length of the canvas. Since
the treatment is dry, this means that the canvas stays
light, significantly more so than canvas treated with
liquid waterproofers.
Under
normal conditions and with proper care sunforger canvas
can last many years. The protective finish is
coated over each thread before it even becomes a piece of
canvas, and as such, should never need retreatment. Keep
in mind that this canvas is designed for nautical use: meaning
boats on sea for extended periods of time, in salt water.
In the nautical trade, it is known specifically for the
best in weathering qualities. Though we make no claims that
our tents are seaworthy, we know our canvas is.
Sunforger canvas is mildew resistant but may become dirty
after long periods of use. You can prevent this by always
storing your canvas in a dry place when not in use, and making
sure it is dry when put away. In the case of canvas which is left out for extended periods, you should make sure to keep dirt leaves and debris from accumulating on the surface on a frequent basis, so as to reduce any specific mildewing in that spot. Periodically flipping/rotating the canvas ensures even weathering. Should your canvas become discolored
or dirty, it can be cleaned with a soft brush and warm water.
Tougher stains may be cleaned with a very
diluted soapwater solution of at least 20 parts water
to 1 part soap. NEVER use chemicals,
bleach or harsh astringents on your canvas as it will remove
the protective finish. Avoid dragging your canvas on rough surfaces.
We offer 36" wide, 10 oz, colorless, marine
boat shrunk sunforger canvas and recommend this width for
all tents. Should you prefer, wider canvas is available. 36" is our preffered width for making tents, as this means more seams and therefore less sagging and increased
strength. If you would like a wider cut, please let us know,
we can order up to 60 inches wide.
We
also feature 12.63 oz Sunforger (same marine boatshrunk
treatment on a 25% thicker canvas) for the absolute best
in repellency and endurance. This is recommended for the
harshest of conditions or for extra performance above and
beyond normal wear and tear, and is the toughest cotton canvas
money can buy
"Colorless" is the defualt color for Sunforger, and is seen in the above
pictures and tents on our site, The canvas also comes in (left to
right in the adjacent picture), khaki, pearl gray, and suntan , but at an additional cost. Please note colors are approximate and may vary slightly from the actual product. If you are interested in colored sunforger, or to request samples, please contact us using the link below.
Should you prefer a wider variety of colors,
we also have a selection of synthetic and blended fabrics
that can meet your need. Please inquire should you need
other colors, we will be more than happy to send you samples
of any of our fabrics.
Please note - Shipping will
be billed separately based on your location, and whether
an in person pickup or event delivery can be scheduled
Warranty Information - Each
lot of Sunforger Canvas goes through rigoruous quailty
assurance procedures before it ever leaves the mill. In
the unlikely event of a defect, we will replace
any canvas found to be defective, as long as it is returned
to us in its original condition before any
cuts or alterations are made. Once the canvas has been
cut
or altered, we can take no responsibility for its condition. Please
inspect all your
canvas before making cuts or alterations to ensure its
quality.
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