How To "Oilskin" A Cotton Jacket?

[jyl]

This board seems to know a little bit about a lot of things, so here goes.

I have an Orvis field jacket - olive green cotton, leather shoulder/elbows, vaguely military look - that would be a nice jacket except that it hasn't any more water resistance than a common cotton T-shirt. The weave of the cotton shell is quite tight, but being cotton it still sucks up raindrops.

Is there a way I can wax or oil this cotton to make it water repellent if not actually water proof? Online, I've found many vendors of "oilskin" and "waxed cotton" outerwear (typically from Australia), and some waxes/oils meant to restore the water resistance of oilskin garments. But I can't find any info on turning common cotton into oilskin/waxed cotton.

Any ideas? Should I just get a jar of those waxes/oils and try my luck? My wife got me this jacket, so there's some advantage to not ruining it - but it's not very useful as is.

[Drago]

I'm just amazed that no one know the answer to this...

[jyl]

Yes, I thought someone would have some ideas - what about the Australians, you guys fairly live in oilskin, or so your tourist boards would have us believe.

Guess I'll try dunking the jacket in Swepco.

[Isabo]

Basically you are trying to convert it into an English Barbour waxed cotton jacket.
My advice is don't.
The results from those sprays and waxes are not that good and it takes a little practice to get it right anyway. You may or may not finish with a more water resistant jacket but it may look awful and the material won't breath so well - think sweaty. Just use it as is and buy a waterproof.
On the subject of Barbours, they smell, leave wax stains on cloth upholstery and should not be allowed in the house. (Because they were very fashionable in Italy a couple of years ago my view on the subject was considered eccentric )