doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Preserving canvas covered hard cases?

I have a hard case from the 30's covered in a coarse canvas material with leather trim. Is there anything I can use on the canvas to preserve it? Rather nice case from Army & Navy.

Joe,
I have a 30's Gibson archback guitar that was my father's that had a hardcase and fitted canvas cover with leather seam trim. The canvas was fine but the stitching and leather crumbled apart and left me with just pieces of canvas. I don't think I'm going to spend the money to have it rebuilt. Something you might consider is inspecting the strength of the seams and if they are weak, have it stitched over before it falls apart. Old stitching was likely cotton or linen. Over stitching with new polyester thread will hold the seam together indefinitely.

Chuck, I did run a seam of white glue along the seam between the canvas and leather--it had begun to pull away and stitching wasn't an option. Worked fine with minor discoloration. But something is neeeded to "feed" the canvas itself. Humm.....

you could try using filson wax to help it. it is going to look a bit different than it does now, but should help preserve it.

start with a cleaning, use a dry vegetable brush for as much cleaning as possible, maybe a damp sponge for any spots.

you may want to explore using a fabric waterproofing spray like REVIVEX or Scotch guard.
i have never tried using it for this purpose, but it does have some bonding qualities that could really help keep the fibers in place.

Chuck - If you're not going to bother getting the original case fixed I hope and trust you've got that Archtop in a suitably protective alternate case.....right?

If I were going to wax a canvas case, I'd probably liquify the wax with gentle heat and mineral spirits (carefully). Get it thin enough to brush on and penetrate the fibers. It will darken the color.

There are spray-on fabric preservatives that could work on canvas that is in decent shape. Look at automotive interior products with a UV-blocker.

Traditional English way to waterproof and preserve canvas covered cases is to work beeswax into the fibers. Gough Thomas mentions doing this to his guncases. I have tried it and it works. Mixed turpentine (the pine variety) with beeswax making it toothpaste soft and worked it into the canvas. It makes it look like a coarse weave Barbour coat, and it is waterproof.

I never cease to marvel at the subjects that come up here and the fact that someone will know the answer!! With above information, I have a couple of canvas cases that just moved up the to-do list in maintainance. Thanks guys!!!

DDA

A member of this board sent me this link from a restorer of old trunks. In it can be found their recommendations for preserving canvass.

http://www.brettunsvillage.com/trunks/howto/finish.html