Waterproofing for paper?

[longers]

Is there a DIY homebrew way of waterproofing A4 routesheets other than laminating them?

I will be using a ziplock bag but would like a bit of extra durability just in case.

I think laminating them will make them hard to fold and use on my DIY homebrew handlebar routeholder but could be persuaded otherwise.

Would any of the clothing/footwear waterproofers work on paper?

 

[HLaB]

What do the Memory Map people do?

 

[Mr Pig]

Just don't get it wet! Are you planing on reading it in a river?

You get waterproof paper, we might have some here in fact, but you need to print on it with special ink or it bubs off. Other than that, you can pick up cheap laminators for about £10. They work fine and if you use the thinnest plastic sheets with them it'll still fold ok.

 

[andrew_s]

Nikwax used to do a spray you could use. It made the paper feel slightly waxy, and wasn't too good if the paper was printed both sides and not too thick.

They now sell Map Proof, which may or may not be the same stuff I tried (probably different, since this is sponge on).

I use an Ortlieb document pouch (A5), which is plenty tough.

 

[Plax]

Try the A4 polypockets, but put them on "upside down" so that the rain doesn't come in from the top.

EDIT - You could always sellotape the top if you weren't going to take the paper out for the duration of the ride.

 

[ASC1951]

You can certainly use Nikwax on maps, but it's expensive. Many years ago I tried an ultra cheapskate method of using neatsfoot oil, which was effective but rather smelly.

The real issue is that nothing will stop paper absorbing some water, then it rubs away on the folds. If you really want waterproof, you either have to laminate it or print on plastic.

 

[Dave5N]

Try weeing on it.

 

[mearle]

Buy a roll of "self adhesive covering film" from WHSmiths, and apply to both sides of the routesheet. I've used this trick before on pages from a road atlas, and it works a treat.

 

[PatrickPending]

Buy a roll of "self adhesive covering film" from WHSmiths, and apply to both sides of the routesheet. I've used this trick before on pages from a road atlas, and it works a treat.

me too!

 

[longers]

Thanks for the suggestions, I was being a bit of a div

I found some aerosol wax spray at work and after a bit of r+d it seems to work very well at making it showerproof at worst. That'll do nicely.