Western Canvas Material and Construction

Materials & Maintenance

About our Fabric|Tipi Care & Maintenance|Tipi Pole Care & Maintenance |Wind |Shrinkage

About our Fabrics:
Our products are constructed of top quality Grade A canvases! No Seconds! and No lesser grades!

We have found in our 20 years of manufacturing tents and tipis, that tipis manufactured out of Sunforager brand material that are intended for extended use or left up year round can experience accelerated deterioration when exposed to the following:

√ intense UV radiation (4000 ft. and higher elevation)
√ coastal areas with salt air
√ areas of significant air pollution
√ areas of high rainfall
√ areas with prolonged periods of high humidity.

If you intend to use your tipi for long encampments or leave it up year round, and experience any of these climate conditions we recommend the Starfire material which has a 5 year warranty.

We have thousands of satisfied customers with tipis made out of the Sunforager brand material and we will continue to offer this quality fabric.

15oz Untreated Cotton-We offer a heavy weight (15oz) 100% cotton duck. Although the untreated canvas is susceptible to the harmful effects of sun and moisture, it is an inexpensive alternative for Arid to Semi-Arid climates. The cotton duck has a natural water repellency due to the 15oz of thread per square yard and is a durable fabric. Longevity 1-5 years depending upon climate conditions and maintenance.

Sunforager:For those higher moisture climates we offer the well known fabrics Sunforager Marine Finish Boatshrunk and Sunforager Fire Resistant in both 10oz and 13oz weights. This marine finish contains a special added compound that gives two to three times greater water repellence and mildew resistance than other "Marine" finishes.

12.98oz Marine Finish Boatshrunk has two treatments for water repellence and mildew resistance. The 10.10 oz weight and 12.65 oz weight refers to the ounces of thread per square yard of material and we use 36" material in our tents and tipis. Longevity 2-5 years depending upon climate conditions and maintenance.

12.98oz Fire Resistant has the treatments for water repellence and mildew resistance and an additional flame retardant quality which meets the flammability standards of CPAI~84, an industry wide standard. Longevity 2-5 years depending upon climate conditions and maintenance.

The word "Marine" in this product description means Marine Finish- a finish specifically designed as the best available in water repellence and mildew resistance. Do not confuse this with Marine Duck, a term often used for any duck (canvas) sold to the marine trade. Sunforager Marine Finish Boat Shrunk is the original FINISH to offer the best in weathering qualities. Don't confuse with substitute ducks merely called "Marine".

15oz Starfire This is the newest fabric we offer which is the equivalent to "ALL WEATHER" ducks that are available. This is a 45% Polyester/55% cotton base fabric that is pigmented with an acrylic topcoat. Each application is heat sealed onto the base fabric for added strength. It is water, mildew, and fire resistant. It meets Title 19, CPIA-84 (section 6), and FMVSS-302 fire requirements. It is soft, flexible, easily cleaned, and has a 5-year Manufacturers Limited Warranty.

Tipi Care & Maintenance
1) To increase longevity of the canvas, keep the canvas dry.
If you live in a high humidity or rainfall climate, periodically dry out the canvas with a heat source. Close the smoke flaps and the door opening with the heat source inside the tipi. The length of time required will depend upon the size of your tipi.

2)Do not take the cover down or store it away while it is wet or even a little damp.
Moisture will cause the canvas to mildew which eventually leads to the canvas rotting.

3)Treat mildew areas by scrubbing them with a brush and a bleach solution of 1/4 cup bleach in a 2 gallon bucket of warm water. Let stand 5-10 minutes or longer keeping area wet with solution. Clean area again with clean water and let dry completely. This will kill the mildew and stop it from spreading, but will not take the dis-coloration away. This will also work on your tipi poles if you have mildew showing up on them.

4)Keep canvas taut at all times and smoke flap poles snug up to the tipi. Go inside your tipi and push out any poles that have shifted in the frame. Be careful! Do not try to move your tri-pod poles as this can cause your frame to be structurally unstable.

5)Treat canvas only with approved canvas preservatives. We recommend Canvak as it is specifically made for canvas. We also offer ISSO products for Mold & Stain Remover, Seam Sealer, and Tear Mender.

Tipi Pole Care & Maintenance
1)Treat mildew with bleach solution same as canvas.
2)Linseed Oil pole annually, OR:
3)Poly-Eurythane poles after first season of use to ensure they are dry.
4)Store poles off the ground. Store poles by leaning them in a crotch of a large tree, or leave the poles up in the frame and lean smoke flap poles and lifting pole at the bundle. Remember, it is always recommended to reset the poles each time you take the canvas down.

Shrinkage- All tents made from natural fibers, like cotton, will shrink and this will affect the "finished size" measurements of the tent or teepee. The exact amount of shrinkage is impossible to predict on 100% cotton canvas, although the Sunforager brand treated canvas' allow for 2% shrinkage. This means that the material is preshrunk so to speak and you should only experience and additional 2% shrinkage once you have put up your tent or tepee and had it out in the elements.

The tent or tipi must be wet down thoroughly to allow the thread and fibers to swell and shrink to a tighter weave. If you notice shrinkage upon resetting your tent or tipi you can get it wet again prior to staking it down and it will stretch out and dry on the poles to its original size.

Wind- Intense winds can cause extensive damage to your tents, tipis and frames. Be sure to set your tent up using all the stakes and ropes provided, even if using a freestanding frame. Frequently checking the stakes and tightening the guy ropes if they loosen during periods of high winds will keep things together. The shape of the tipi makes for a very wind resistant structure, however, a strong gust can shift a tipi. Frequently check poles for movement and kick them out regularly keeping the canvas taught. Remember that tipis were lived in and maintained on a daily basis.

Mildew- One of the most common problems that occurs with canvas is mildew. It is very destructive to cotton fabrics, treated or not, as well as other materials. Mildew usually forms when canvas is stored away damp. It also occurs in a very short time and under certain conditions of humidity. It is important to keep your canvas dry and keep the air flowing under the cover to deter mildew growth.

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Western Canvas LLC.
P.O. Box 1382
Cody, WY 82414
Telephone: 800-587-6707
FAX: 307-587-8186
Product information and Sales: info@westerncanvas.com

© 2001-2007 Western Canvas LLC.