Waterproofing Raincoats

New Zealand Listener, Volume 21, Issue 534, 16 September 1949, Page 23

Waterproofing Raincoats

Dear Aunt Daisy, In a recent Listener I tread how to watetproof raincoats. Could rubber and oilskin raincoats be waterproofed by that treatment, or is it for a particular material? Would an ordinary cement tub do instead of a wooden ene? I would also like to know if the method could be safely used on any fabric, as I want to try it, but do not want to risk spoiling. The treatment described was to stir Yalb, sugar of lead and 11b: powdered alum into a bucketful of soft water, preferably rain water. Stir every now and then until mixture becomes clear. Then strain off-into another vessel, preferably a wooden tub, keeping back any sediment. Immerse article to be waterproofed in this solution, adding more water if necessary, The article must be saturated for 24 hours, Then: hang up to/dry, without wringing, in a shady breezy place. "Margaret," Sydney, N.S.W. This well tried old method of waterproofing is known as Siever’s Process, and is. excellent for tweed and cloth, and even for doing a tent, but it must not be used for rubber-lined raincoats, nor, of course, oilskin. When rubber lining has perished nothing can be done about it, and a new coat is called for. As regards using a wooden tub, I think the recipe was devised long before the days of cement ones, and a tub was specified because it was found that the mixture spoilt the surface of the galvanised iron baths which were much in use then for laundry.