Tin Cloth: Tin Cloth has been one Filson's most popular fabrics for decades. It was nicknamed Tin Cloth when tin was the standard for toughness. We've also heard it described in the past as being called Tin Cloth because it sheds water like a tin roof.
Care: How do I clean my Oil Finish Tin Cloth garment?
Wipe or brush away surface soil or buildup with a damp cloth or scrub brush. If necessary, use cold water to loosen up any caked mud or dirt. (Some customers just hose 'em down at the end of the day.)
Filson advises against spot cleaning with soap and water, as it may result in a loss of water repellency or color in that spot. If it is absolutely necessary to spot clean an Oil Finish garment, you may need to re-wax that spot to restore the water repellency after it dries.
DO NOT professionally dry clean Oil Finish garments. Dry cleaning solutions destroy the Oil Finish, effectively turning Oil Finish fabrics into Dry Finish fabrics. If an Oil Finish garment is dry cleaned, it will need to be re-waxed to restore its water repellency.
DO NOT machine wash Oil Finish garments. Machine washing breaks down the Oil Finish, and sometimes causes the fabric to shrink. Most importantly, machine washing will not soften Oil Finish Tin Cloth. In fact, it may make the fabric stiffer than before.
Do I need to re-wax my Oil Finish Tin Cloth garment right away?
You shouldn't need to re-wax your Oil Finish Tin Cloth garment right away. It is ready to wear. However, over time, and with regular use, the Oil Finish water repellency may weaken, especially in areas of high wear or repeated flexing (such as the knees of a pant, or the elbows or cuffs on a jacket). One can of Filson Original Oil Finish wax is enough to touch up isolated areas of high wear or flexing, but re-waxing an entire garment usually requires several cans of wax.
What should I do if my Oil Finish Tin Cloth garment gets wet?
Cotton can shrink if it gets wet, especially when it's exposed to any kind of heat. Allow your Oil Finish Tin Cloth garment to dry naturally, away from any source of heat, to minimize shrinkage. Oil Finish Tin Cloth is made of 100% cotton that has not been preshrunk, so shrinkage can occur, even if care is taken to avoid prolonged exposure to heat when wet. Most customers do not experience enough shrinkage to have a problem with the fit.
Is Filson Oil Finish Tin Cloth waterproof?
Filson Oil Finish Tin Cloth is not totally waterproof, but it is very water repellent, especially for a natural fabric like cotton. In a sustained downpour, the fabric will begin to absorb water, but you can expect to stay dry and comfortable for hours in the rain.
Which one of Filson's Oil Finish fabrics is the most water repellent?
Of the three, Oil Finish Cover Cloth and Oil Finish Shelter Cloth are the most water repellent, because they are both more tightly woven than Oil Finish Tin Cloth. The tight weave contributes to the water repellency.
Breaking In
There are no shortcuts to breaking in a Tin Cloth garment--you just have to wear it as much as you can until it softens up. No matter what, don't throw your Tin jacket in the washing machine--that may only make it stiffer. Tumbling in a dryer will only soften it temporarily (when the fabric cools, it will return to its original stiffness).
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