The California Column
The following instructions can be used to produce, should you choose to do so, your own painted blanket or oil blanket (remember - neither
is required). While it is know that
painted and oiled waterproofed products were commercially
available, it is not know if individual size products
existed. Also no specific documentation has been found on
backing material for waterproofed cloth thus it is felt that a
wide range of fabrics
may have been used (from muslin
weight fabric up to a cotton duck weight fabric). With the above
in mind, participants who opt to make a
painted or oil blanket are free to choose their own fabric and size. However,
participants who choose to carry a painted or oiled blanket
should
keep in mind that you will be carrying the blanket for several days and the larger the size, the heavier the
fabric, the heavier the blanket will
be (and, of course, the larger the blanket, the more paint will be required
increasing the cost).
Materials needed (for a painted
cloth for an oil cloth eliminate the lampblack):
Fabric
Linseed Oil
Mineral Spirits
Lampblack
Japan Dryer
Sizing
Paint brushes or rollers
Procedure:
1)
2)
3)
4)
5)
6)
(dimensions and fabric determined by participant)
(substituted for litharge - i.e. lead monoxide)
(corn starch or wallpaper sizing)
For sizing from corn starch make sizing by
boiling a quart of water, to which is added a mixture made from
corn starch mixed with cold
water. For wallpaper sizing follow the instructions on box.
(Note: provided by Troy Groves - slightly tint the sizing - gray or tan - so that streaks, thin or missed spots, etc. will be visable when
the sizing is applied to the cloth)
Paint the cloth with
sizing and let dry.
Mix one part boiled linseed oil with
one part mineral spirits. Add lampblack until mixture /
paint is very opaque. Add 2 tablespoons of
Japan Dryer per
pint.
Paint the cloth with this mixture and allow to dry
(allow a week or more to dry).
Mix one part
linseed oil with two parts mineral spirits. Add one ounce of
Japan Dryer per pint.
Paint the cloth with this mixture and allow to dry (again, allow a week or more to dry).
Note: Period
items made from painted cloth - haversacks, knapsacks, etc.,
tend to have a shine to their surface when new. Adding this
coat,
made just from
linseed oil, mineral spirits, and Japan Dryer should provide such a surface.
Note: Even when dry enough for use the
surface may still feel "tacky".
Note: Discussions on items
soaked with Linseed oil (which dries by oxidation which
produces heat) spontaneously combusting have been
beaten
to death. However to error on the side of caution:
1)
2)
3)
blankets should be painted in a well
ventilated area...
blankets should be allowed to dry - again
in a well ventilated area for a week or more (drying time will
depend on temperature and
humidity)
any spare cloth -
paint brushes/rollers, etc. should also be allowed to dry, in
a well ventilated area,for at least a week before disposal.