Waterproofing a cloak.

[66kbm]

Obviously you have not experienced my "Gortex" Sagum....believe me....its waterproof
Kevin

[Vindex]

There is no such thing as " waterproof" in a period context, just "less wet".

Hmmm...not sure that is entirely right. Animal pelts are water proof as opposed to water resistant (which is what I think most people actually mean).

[M. Demetrius]

If you are in rain for six hours, pretty much anything except modern materials (vinyl, poly plastic sheet, etc) will pick up water, and you will be wet. It's just how things go. I've been under a fur hide, and after only three or four hours, the skin became saturated, and it began to drip. Oiling it might help, but a hard rain is just no fun to stay out in.

"Tut, tut, it looks like rain" said Pooh, as he scrambled for the house.

[VGallus]

One reason why Irish Aran Isle jumpers/sweaters work so well is they have a high lanolin content in them, at least the good ones do. Being a wool spinner, a fair amount of the lanolin is washed out to make the wool easier to spin. Lanolin heavy wool can be difficult to spin but makes your hands very soft.
Waterproof, well, not really but the wool will still keep you warm when wet. Lanolin doesn't typically smell at all. White wool doesn't exist unless you have white sheep. Pure white wool is bleached with various chemicals, including urine.
D. Valerius Gallus,
Legion X E V
Pat Sanchez

[Bert R]

And how do you make the lanoline more fluid? Or do I have to rub the lanoline salve directly on the cloak?

many thanks.

[Atellus]

Hey,

It is possible to find a jar of lanolin and to apply it more or less easily:

- take an appropiated quantity according with the size of the clothe to make "waterproof"
- heat it
- apply it using a brush
- Make a test
- Repeat the operation if you aren't satisfied

Once (2011) I bought a jar of 1,300 g. The price was 29€ if I'm not wrong.

Its reference:

Product: LANOLINA ANHIDRA CODEX
Manufacturer: COTARGAS, SA (Productos Químicos Industriales)
Headquarter: ALCALDE FERNANDO DANCAUSA, s/n - 09007 BURGOS - SPAIN
Telephone: 00 34 947 485 612

It smells slightly but...

Regards

Atellus

[Joze Noriker]

Well i think - 1300 gr is much to much for one coat. I wrote some comments above, that ab. 170/180 gr for the whole coat in my situation was too much. The coat was in the cold wather stone-hart.

Joze

[Atellus]

Hey,

Joze, you are right, 1,300 g for a cloak is excesive but as I had more than one cloak and my son had several too to buy a jar was a good/cheap option and another advantage is that I can re-apply the lanolin if I need it.

Atellus

[Cunicula]

Lanolin spray is available via several online shops.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UNo4aGOf15U

Have to admit to being momentarily distracted by the chicken-worrying sub-plot at 1.29 min.....

Re the efficacy of lanolin, since many of these products are used to waterproof the eco-friendly substitute for plastic pants normally put on babies over towelling nappies to hold in the leaks, I was rather assuming they did work![img ]http://http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_Xqv2lkdej4s/TMtLIQcZbuI/AAAAAAAAACw/vJoVmhfiiUc/s1600/Shock.gif[/img]

[Vindex]

Have to admit to being momentarily distracted by the chicken-worrying sub-plot at 1.29 min.....

[mooreshawnm]

I think the roman probably smelled worse than the cloak anyways. 

8 years later and my first post but I thought I'd share a little soldier's humor. I was a Stryker soldier on an ATGM with a crew of 4. At the beginning of the Iraq expedition living conditions were...less than desirable. I saw a shower once in the first couple months. You not only get used to your smell but those close to you to the point where it isn't noticed. HOWEVER let a nasty infantryman enter the vehicle and the stench is nearly overwhelming. Note we smelled just as bad to them.

Shawn