Homemade oilcloth tent - from a dust sheet!
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- Опубліковано 9 чер 2024
- Before plastic tarps and even before waxed canvas there was oilcloth. An ancient technique of water proofing I've long wanted to have a go at. Something else I've long wanted to do is learn how to use my sewing machine. So when I stumbled across these tent plans - I had to give them a shot!
Links to the plans I used:
dankohn.info/~scouts/boys_life...
dankohn.info/~scouts/boys_life...
Chapters:
00:00 Sewing
12:55 Grommets
14:16 Waterproofing (oilcloth)
This is the first of four homemade camping projects, each will have it's own video. Once I've done them all I shall go on a little adventure (and film that as well!).
Homemade Camping Gear series playlist:
• Homemade oilcloth tent...
#MYOG Make Your Own Gear
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My website: maximusironthumper.co.uk/ - Авто та транспорт
When confronted by a problem in my own life I often think What Would Maximus Ironthumper Do.
As an American Eagle Scout, albeit 30 years after that particular Boy's life article, I'm pretty sure the vast majority of this style tents were in reality sewn by a harried housewife on her well-worn Singer machine for her Scoutmaster husband or Scout son. That being said, the ability to hand-sew made me quite a bit of money during summer camps and Jamborees.
Scouting went away from this sort of DIY approach when I was in, But my Nephew tells me that they're going back to the old approaches in lots of Troops.
How very random, and that's why I love this channel - every days a school day
Max, don't give up your day job ! Credit for trying to use the machine on camera and well done for not sewing your shirt to the dust cloth !
I just wanted to show you that in the back of the stem of the needle pole is a cut out slit, this is for cutting the threads, as you don't need scissors. Pull your work out of the back, lift it up and the two threads should fall into the tilted slot. Pull your work towards you and the threads will cut against the slot.
Also the front of the machine towards your left should open, (see the hinge on the back) push the front corner and inside should be a downwards facing light bulb. Switch that on and you will find it much easier to see where you are sewing... Best of Luck mate. xxx
"Just chuck it all in" hahahah! that was the best bit for me
In a strange coincidence, my father in law was an 'old school' painter and decorator and when he retired he gave my all his gear. Included were half a dozen drip sheets which were... Ta Dah - ex boy scout tents! Each is 12' x 8' with grommets at the corners and at each mid point along the sides. They are a very heavy, close weave canvass and extremely hard wearing. My f-i-l had them for close on 20 years and I've had them for another 10 years and they're still in excellent condition.
I've even used a couple of the best ones as garden tents for the kids!
I had a cheap Millets canvas tent back in the early 70s. It was fine in light rain, but in a downpour, it was like there was a fine mist descending. On the inside. ☔
Was a Scout in Queens New York in the late 1960s. Oddly enough our tents were surplus British WWI army 2 man pup tents. Oiled green canvas - heavy bastards - it was a bad day if you drew a short straw and had to pack one in and do a five mile hike into the deep snow of the Catskills
Thought you would be using tailors or dress making chalk to mark out!! Learned my trade in this stuff in the fifties and it came in handy making and repairing leather seats in the vintage car. Problem is we have bigger hands than the ladies when it comes to the sewing machine. Watching my late mother making double skinned silk lampshades in hours put me to shame. Super post, thank you.
This is absolutely fascinating. The little corners of history and technology that I had only the haziest knowledge of.
i love that you used your workmate to put your sowoning machine on
Are you taking us camping Max? ooooo, so excited.
I live in Italy, not Umbria but there’s pockets of clay here I’ve used to make pottery and tiles and a nice big pizza oven that is pure orange 🍊 red terracotta colour. Doesn’t require any filtering at all, absolutely lovely stuff.
This brings back memories of my mother making a fully functioning awning for our touring caravan so we could fit in all seven of us on holidays.
ive found if i mix 3 tubes of silicone clear bathroom and windows sealant, with 2 x1 litre bottles of white spirit , mix completely ,now you soak every thing to be water proofed like tent ,backpack ,for example ,once its been soaking for 10-15 minutes ,pull it out and hang to dry .Once white spirit evaporates it leaves the silicone in the fabric
@@BreatheScotland I paid about eight quid for a 50ml toothpaste tube of _"Seam Sealant,"_ then discovered I could have made a litre of the stuff using the silicone and white spirit recipe. Never again!
Hardest part of using a sewing machine is actually threading the sod! The route the thread takes from reel to needle is machine dependent but then comes the fun part of threading the bobbin holder and then getting the upper thread to pick up the bobbin thread. The sewing bit after that is fairly straightforward! (Obviously things do get way more technical with tensions, choice of foot and best type of stitch etc, but hopefully you get my drift!)
It's the tension that always screws up for my girlfriend and I.
Last year, NighthawkInLight did a similar sort of video on using silicone sealant and Naphtha to waterproof bedsheets for use as tarps, basically the same process as with the linseed oil & spirits, but a different waterproofing material, and he soaked his sheets rather than painted, meant to try it myself with some dustsheets, just never got around to it... :)
Made a bivvy bag out of waxed cotton, double stitched edges,then proofed it even more,bees wax and Barbour oil mixed to liquid,cooled to a flat bar. Great result.
Wow! I haven't heard the words "biivvy bag" for something like 40 years.
Love it Max! Looking forward to the results. As I boy I grew up reading all my uncles books from the 40’s and 50’s. Though typically of me I just daydreamed about doing the ‘boys own’ projects! Except for the bow. Which led to considerable consternation for my grandpa when mixed with his greenhouse 🤷🏻♂️
Gday Max .. so having watched all of your videos over the past few years, I have finally decided that I like your stuff .. absolutely pissed myself laughing at the "vivid urine yellow" statement .. cheers. Pots. Australia.
I love the way you dont take anything too seriously, always having a chuckle, and you seem to be able to turn your hand to many things, love your videos
9:30 No man, for a sewing novice you are actually nailing it... by all means carry on...
Jack of all trades mate , well done with sewing machine as most men wouldn't know how to even fit thread . Is there anything you cannot do ! Cheers and keep safe and healthy. Best wishes from Australia 🇦🇺 😊
I remember going camping in the sixties. We used ex army bell tents and straw filled sacks as matresses. There was no such thing as a sleeping bag, just a wool blanket (also army surplus) folded into a bag shape and held together with a large safety pin.
if that was the first time using a sewing machine im impressed and not a single swear word well done x
Woah I didn't know that about linseed oil and cloths 😮 every day is a school day.
Looks good 👍
Look forward to part two!
Damn dude! Over 100k! I remember when u 1st started! Congrats!
Back in the mid 70's I had a small haulage concern and used canvas tarps, I used to paint them each year with a special green paint, no idea what was in it but it smelt of chalk.
I did a similar project years ago and while it was a fun learning experience I ended up buying a Kelty Noah's tarp for less than I spent for a gallon of boiled linseed and mineral spirits and the tarp is actually water proof. I soaked mine in the liquid and it took forever to dry, was very heavy and stunk not to mention I wouldn't trust it anywhere near a campfire. I think I may have skipped a step or overlooked something, can't wait to see your results,
I’m off to cub camp next weekend and making my own tent never crossed my mind. I shall be sleeping in my 1970s canvas Marachel scooteriste tent, first used when I was a young boy. Good luck with your project.
I use to play around with stuff like this in the 80’s. I couldn’t afford a tent back then so an old bed sheet would do. No sewing involved just a pack of safety pins 🧷 Fantastic Max. Cheers Andy
I have an old canvas top on my 101 Landrover, cab only. It always leaked which is not great in the UK, tried various ways to seal it but none worked. I saw a UA-cam site whose method was equal parts White Spirit and Silicone Sealant well mixed and soaked or brushed on.
One tube of clear sealant and 500ml of Spirit during the hot July last year and it has not let a drop through. Your method looks good. Cheers
Great stuff, I’ve had in mind to waterproof some clothing this way so good to see how you did it. Is there a reason that you did not just dip the whole cloth into the bucket instead of painting it? Could it be for a more even distribution? Great video, thanks. 😊
Wow interested to see how the old scouts stuff stacks up
Nice work Max. I had a short stint working at a boat building business whilst I was on JSA between jobs. I found it interesting but very different from the metal working, welding and fabrication background I'm used to. The hardest thing I found was the way the fabrics stretched in a certain way but not the other also everything being softer than what I'm used to. There was some foam work too that was also tough to get along with. I'm glad I'm back in m
Engineering now but it was definitely an interesting experience. I picked up some good skills from there however a lot of experienced guys with lots of years under the belts.
Max, I think most posh fabrics, destined for clothing, bedding etc are pre-shrunk to give consistency and tighten the weave. Dust sheets dont need this, and a loose weave will better absorb paint spills. Great video btw. Whatever next? How about a loom from re-purposed items?
This is really an unexpected twist from Maximus. I'm a 76 year old Canuck with a couple of Land Rovers in my past, and some Scouting. The first thought I had when you showed us the tent dimensions was those tents were for 12 year old boys. I clearly recall making my Scout "staff" 6 feet long, and not 5' 6". Makes my wonder, how tall was Lord Baden Powell? Be Prepared and carry on, eh!
Great video and what skill with that sewing machine too! I am
Learning so much about waterproofing thank you Maximus for another informative session. Looking forward to the next part.
Sewing can be pretty theraputic when you dont snap needles. I make my own sails these days for small sailing boats. I vote Skin -on-frame kayak/boat for your next project, you got the practice skills. Good to know Smith and Allen still in buisness.
Engine oils too, I didn't realise they did specialist vegetable oils as well. 🙂
Ripper Max love it very interested to see how it goes with water. BTW I think your sewing machine needs it's tappets adjusted or some thicker oil😅. I still use my grandma's 1950s elna it's still going strong. keep on entertaining me youre better than TV by a long shot.
Thankyou Max good to see you agail with another interesting project,
Just a thought would linseed oil and turpentine work - told
this mix would seal waterproof the brick floor which covers kitchen dining room etc of my house. Was used
with great success by first owner I believe.
Always loves your videos!
Hi from Sweden👍
What a fun project! Looking forward to seeing how it turns out
I was sure you would make your dye from boiled onion skins but enjoyed this video a lot!
This is max Max at his Maximus, laughed all the way through this, it’s a classic keeper❤️❤️😁😁😁
This was brilliant thanks Max.
A bit too late now, but I recall some mention of oilcloth on the Townsends channel. Really interesting project!
👍👌👏 Very interesting. 2) After your trip you can modify the tarp to fit on your Landrover. Either as a wagon tarpaulin or as a roof tent. The colour fit's already perfectly well. I'm eagerly looking forward to watch the next video.
Thanks a lot for making teaching explaining recording editing uploading and sharing.
Best regards, luck and health in particular.
Great idea for a series!
And to think I was just going to buy a tent from amazon! Where's the lesson in that?
Thanks Max! That was great!
That’s so cool! I haven’t ventured into oilcloth yet, I wax duck cloth to make all sorts of pouches and bags. Duck cloth has a nice tight weave.
And your sewing skills are great! 👍🏻 I’m digging this series brother!
Remember to oil your machine. It sounds like it needs it. Good job sewing!
Love your videos man and this is a great idea for a series- looking forward to seeing the rest!
I seen an episode of "the worst jobs in history " with Tony Robinson and they were cleaning sheets with urine. And that tightend the weve on his sheets.
I remember when Max was telling us about surviving on beetroot, I bet he never imagined saying "I'll just pop this in the machine for a boil wash" back then 🤣
What a different and interesting project!
When i was sewing some zips on i used double sided sticking tape to hold them in place , it worked really well .better than using pins .
It can make the needle quite sticky. I found out the hard way! 😊
@@cindyholton7234 i made 6 pairs of leather riding chaps it was fiine . maybe the leather was cleaning the needle
I made cushion covers for my camper. The tape worked great. It was the proper stuff.
@@chriscoulthard4947 When i made the chaps the tape was so strong i tried them on before i sewed them
Very interesting process. I’d like to see a DIY waxed cotton comparison to see if that would work. I’m more familiar with that from waxed cotton jackets I’ve had over the years and they seem to stay waterproof despite much abuse. 👍🏻
Great idea for a new series. Very interesting! I also enjoy everything you post, though. :)
Max, your a man of hidden talents ! Quite the change from bashing metal to dainty sewing ! I'm impressed. Love the channel btw, been watching now, a few years.
Well figured out & executed. Patience of a saint 👍
Was just looking at tents on the bay of e , think i mite try this now . I collect vintage paraffin stoves il happily sent you one if you would like to keep everything vintage .
You'll be making your own canvas tilt for Kermit next!
Great entertainment, looking forward to the outcome.
I can see why a complete strip down and re build of a Landie is no problem for you. 11 out of 10 and thank you for areally fascinating video. All the best.
Interesting video and thanks for sharing your experience, a few years back I nearly made a copy of a "Baker Tent", Simon a Bloke in the Woods had a series on making one (car camping only). Will be interesting to see how your tent works out in the 2nd instalment. As for commercial fabric tents, I still use one of my many 50 year old Conquest medina canvas Tango Tents (the precursor to Vango Force 10), the Conquest tents were made by Sailmakers so of far superior quality to the modern canvas ones. The trouble with using any kind of fabric as opposed to metal or wood is the dam stuff keeps moving about :) Have fun camping and looking forward to your future videos.
Makes sense, though much time in it the odor could be a bit overpowering
But I'd guess less toxic than a modern equivalent?
I was half expecting you to bring out a spray gun...
I love that you rescued and made good the sewing machine! I read this very procedure years back re waterproofing cloth! You are a marvel.... but divvent set yorsell a'had mind! 👀.
Super curious for pt 2 lol
I've got this old camping book aimed at scouts and that's got loads of awesome stuff on making kit and advice on loadouts, I could always dig it out to find the name if you'd like
When I was in Boy scouts in the 770 we made tube tents out of plastic sheeting, you just taped the long edge with duck tape and ran a line down the middle and tied to two trees.
In the 90s I used a mig poly tarp laid it flat put my air mattress on it then drapped the rest of it over a line and tucked the excess under .
High thread count Egyptian cotton bedsheets work well for this process.
Quality again Max 👌
Making your own tent is consistent with the original ethos of scouting: great stuff!
Please come camping over in Canada! I need someone to camp in the site beside us, you will be able to attract all the Black flies, Sandflies, Ticks, Mosquitoes, Dear flies, and the other thousands of little biting buggers we deal with away from us. And that will insure a happy weekend for us, you on the other hand may end up with a fever, itchy and rashes for a few weeks, the joys of camping. Enjoy.
Superb work👍I can see many more winter projects using that sewing machine
Great fun to watch Max , thank you so much. How is the garden going ?
12:53 Max is that your special ' in the house' hammer, it's very clean ... ;-)
Interesting. Thanks for sharing.
Great fun!
A really great "left field" kind of video. I look forward to the rest of the series. Thank you!
Fascinating video
Love it.
Most entertaining Max - thanks for the video; looking forward to part II!
Brilliant, love this kind of Stuff
I'm only 10 minutes in and its fickin brilliant viewing :)
Not long after watching this, I saw an old video by NightHawkInLight where he's waterproofing with silicone and (I think) naphtha and thentrying substitutes for grommets. Ace to watch alternative solutions to the same problem one after the other.
11:00 aww, never realised there was a cat kicking about aswell
things came to mind - one was that I used a commercial I think Acrylic based Tent re-water proofer on my own tent years ago. There wasn't any pigment in it mind.
Man, I didn't know you had a cat!
if/when this leaks,try canvas duct as this was what we used......73 here with a good memory
Eccentric but wonderful.
Pretty cool actually, Been thinking of doing my own roof tent and the sides of it could be done by this method, could you pump spray the tent instead of brushing?
I have seen and done worse, but works decently well. Only thing missing was not taking one of the strings, treading it into needle, pushing it trough to other side, tying double nut with the other string, then again treading both into needle and pushing under the fabric pushing it far as possible crumbling the material, going out and finally cutting the strings so ends are inside the fabric. Much less chance of seams failing and looks better.
Excellent as always - I'm wondering if the linseed oil once cured will affect the 'softness' of the canvass? Will it crack when the tent is folded? lots of Questions - I look forward to the next instalment. Your quest has taken me back to when I was a small child. We had a small green cotton canvas A frame tent that we used to put up in the garden. Memories are made of this someone sang!
Probably better to roll it up
Nice👍
good man
Nice work 👍🔧. I died a frame tent once, in a wheelie bin. Why didn't you just shove it all in the tub instead of painting it?
'kin 'ell that small knife you're using to cut thread against your thumb must be *shaaaaaarp*.
That was painful, I kept wanting to help. Let the machine do the stitching, you don't need to pull the fabric to get the stitch line straight. It must have felt nice using a familiar hammer. Enjoyed watching.
Birdy
I agree, when I saw Max's forearm go through the machine. I thought he might stitch his shirt to the dust cloth!