PE - My quick fire test results

[Tanya Guptill]

Rhys,

Neat test results!  I remember reading once that someone has used beeswax in a
(non-documented, non period) method of waterproofing a tent, and I always
wondered if it would operate just like a candle wick--POOF!

Just a thought :)
Mira

Samuel Walters wrote:

> Greetings all,
>
> Just a quick note to let you know the results of my tent material fire test.
> Some of you may know from my previous posts that I bought and used canvas
> drop clothes to construct the approx. 14' (give or take a couple of  inches)
> ten sided  tent I am currently working on.   Recently I read a response that
> suggested that these could potentially be highly flammable due to the
> waterproofing agents used on them.  Well, being the curious fellow I am I
> decided to do a quick test of flammability which I shall hence forth call
> the TEST..uh..he he.
>
> Anyway I took a square of my canvas drop cloth (approx. 2" square) and some
> squares of equal size of other material I had feeling that they were the
> closest I had in my stores to tent material.  One was a heavy cotton twill
> and the other what I believe is actually the type material used to make
> military tents (this purchased at one of those fabric ends stores, gotta luv
> em) I guess you would call it a cotton duct or something very similar.
>
> The results of said TEST were as follows:
>
> First:  The canvas waterproofed drop cloth material took over an open flame
> (my trusty zippo) approx. 9 seconds to burst into flame.  It them burned at
> the rate of approx. 1 inch per second.
>
> Second:  The cotton twill took over an open flame (the same zippo ha)
> approx. 12 seconds to burst into flame. It then burned at the rate of
> approx. a half inch per second.
>
> Third:  The cotton duct (I think) took over an open flame (yeah the zippo)
> approx. 10 seconds to burst into flame.  It then burned at the rate of
> approx. 1 inch per second.
>
> The timing device for the aforesaid TEST was my trusty Seiko...hereafter
> known as the Seiko.
>
> I guess my conclusions will have to be that my waterproofed canvas drop
> cloth material is flammable and does burn fast.  But I must also look at how
> fast the other materials that were not treated and had even been washed
> caught fire and burned.  So, I think I'm as safe in my tent as I would have
> been if I had constructed it out of hay.....
>
> Thank you for letting me digress and sorry for such a long post.
>
> Yours in our Society,
>
> Rhys Goch
> Mka Sam Walters
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: Samuel Walters <agincrt at brightok.net>
> To: <tentguild at ansteorra.org>
> Sent: Thursday, February 03, 2000 10:05 PM
> Subject: PE - Re: TENT - Answers to posted questions
>
> > Greetings M'lord,
> >
> > I have read your page and since you addressed two of my questions I would
> > like to thank you for your informative responses.  Alas, I must express my
> > regret that I didn't ask the questions before building the tent.   At this
> > writing I have completed the roof or canopy section of my tent so
> basically
> > its in my estimation 75 percent complete.  Reading your responses I
> realized
> > that I had noticed a distinct odor coming from my tent material
> (presumably
> > from the waterproofing)  now I am beginning to realize that something that
> > smells so foul may not be such a good thing while camping not to mention
> > flammable.  I'm about to go do a fire test on it (keep your fingers
> crossed
> > that I don't burn my fingers ha!)
> >
> > Anyway, I appreciate your responses and I would encourage the others on
> this
> > list to read them...especially if, like me, you are a newcomer to tent
> > making.
> >
> > I love this list.
> >
> > Yours in our Society,
> >
> > Rhys Goch
> > Mka Sam Walters
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: John LaTorre <jlatorre at midtown.net>
> > To: <tentguild at ansteorra.org>
> > Sent: Monday, January 31, 2000 8:07 PM
> > Subject: TENT - Answers to posted questions
> >
> >
> > > Hello, all.
> > >
> > > Over the past week, a number of questions have been asked on this list
> > about
> > > various aspects of tentmaking. I realized that some of my answers to
> these
> > > questions would have been too long-winded to answer on this list, so
> (for
> > this and
> > > other reasons which are explained elsewhere), I've posted these answers
> on
> > my web
> > > page. The URL is:
> > >
> > > http://midtown.net/dragonwing/col0002.htm
> > >
> > > Those who have access to the Internet but not to the World Wide Web can
> > obtain a
> > > copy of this page by emailing me privately. When requesting it, please
> let
> > me know
> > > whether your service allows attachments or not.
> > >
> > >
> > > --
> > >
> > > John LaTorre (Johann von Drachenfels)
> > >
> > > "Always do right. It will gratify some people & astonish the rest."
> > > --Mark Twain
> > >
> > >
> > >
> >
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> > >
> >
> >
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>
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