Thread: How to re-waterproof tent fabric?

First off a word of advice....never wash an old tent in a washing machine. I did, and it caused all the water proofing to peel off the floor. Granted it is a nearly 30 year The North Face VE-24.

Does anybody have any sure fire techniques for re-waterproofing? The rain fly is still in good shape. I found two brush on products;

Tentsure
https://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/s...berId=12500226

and Recoat 3
https://www.campmor.com/webapp/wcs/s...berId=12500226

I was thinking about putting it into a paint sprayer to apply.

I am not concerned about making this like new water proof, but this is such a great tent I hate to toss it out. I have other 4 season tents, but this one is still my favorite, and would like to use it for kicking around in.

I figure if the collective doesn't know, the knowledge must not exist. Thanks Mangs.

I've tried the Kenyon Recoat stuff on a tent floor that hydrolyzed. It doesn't adhere to the fabric very well if you apply on the same side as the original coating. I was going to try putting it on the other side but I just got a new tent instead.

I personally would buy a spray-on coating rather than trying to put it into a sprayer...

revivex works for me

Originally Posted by nzbassist

I personally would buy a spray-on coating rather than trying to put it into a sprayer...

Such as....? Keep in mind I need to treat 50 or 60 sq. ft.

Originally Posted by marshalolson

revivex works for me

Which revivex? I found half a dozen, not including all the joint supplements/vitamins, none of which seems to be a true coating

Originally Posted by RockyTheBlackDog

I've tried the Kenyon Recoat stuff on a tent floor that hydrolyzed. It doesn't adhere to the fabric very well if you apply on the same side as the original coating. I was going to try putting it on the other side but I just got a new tent instead.

Did you apply it over the old coating. My old coating is completely gone, so I am basically treating un-coated nylon.

i had a 10+ year old ve24 that a cat had climbed up making a lot of holes. they fixed that for free and put in a new zipper which i had not even requested. i would have been happy to pay, but they just did it gratis. or they may offer you a new tent at a very good price

^^^I thought of that, but I checked their website, and they specifically say it is not covered, and just say to try to re-coat. I thought od just sending it to see what happens, but just don't have the balls to send in a 30 year old tent for warranty. The zipper does need to be fixed, though.