Forum Discussion

komodo's avatar
komodo
Explorer
Sep 22, 2019

Can I dye my canvas?

Is it possible to dye my tent trailer canvas and will this have a negative effect on the quality of the canvas like the loss of water repellent coating for example?
  • Yes, you can dye it. Yes, it will negatively affect the water repellency.
  • Personally, I've never tried it, nor would I unless I were certain I'd never want to camp in a place where it might rain. Just sayin'...

    Odds are, the manufacturing process applies waterproofing after the canvas is dyed, which means you'd likely have to remove everything in order to start with a blank canvas.

    Yeah... before I'd go through all that, I'd take a look at a product like this =>

    Rust-Oleum 248918 Automotive Fabric & Vinyl Spray Paint, 11-Ounce, Gloss Black

    PS: Check out the Reviews section... lots of comments re: pop-ups.
  • Thank you RimCountry for the recommendation, I will defiantly look into the Fabric & Vinyl Spray Paint. I was unaware this paint was an option, very interesting.
  • Full disclosure: I haven't used it myself, and to be totally honest, I hadn't considered this application, either, until you posted your question!

    I ran across it a month or so back looking for a spray-on product that would tint the inside of two Lexan headlight covers I was going to purchase for an old sports car taking up space in my garage. Considered this product because one of the commenters on Amazon said that he had sprayed it on glass, then used an X-Acto knife to cut and peel away what he didn't want.

    Sounded good to me, but when I went back to buy the covers, they were gone! Still looking.

    Anyway, let me know how it works out... the canvas on our '97 Viking is starting to show its age, too.