Bees wax application

racegunner

racegunner

Joined
Aug 28, 2000
Messages
454
I have a stick of pure bees wax that I'd like to use to apply to a leather sheath and tomahawk haft. What are some of the ways you guys make it pliable for application?
Is melting it in a double boiler the way to go?
Thanks - Brian
 
I warm it on very low temperature with my outdoor stove. Then I add neatsfoot oil and it does a great job on leather.
 
What you don't want to do is cook the leather in hot wax/oil/water/air. Starting at a little above 100F, the leather will change to a hard woodenlike structure, and get quite stiff when it cools. This is how hard leather shields and leather armor are made. Boiling it can make it rock hard (relatively).

As aktoklat said, melt it and mix with neatsfoot oil. It will penetrate easily at about 90-100F and will buff nicely when cooled to room temp.

It is better to brush it on than to soak the sheath, unless you like cleaning out the inside. A tricK ,if you do dip the sheaths, is to plug the inside slot with paper toweling, pushing it down leaving only 1/2" of the inside exposed. Dip the sheath, let drip over the pot/tank, wipe off, and let dry. Pull the paper towels out with hemostats or needle nosed pliers.
Stacy
 
I make a mixture 1/2 wax and 1/2 neatsfoot oil and warm to melt. Brush on, cool and wipe, buff. very nice
 
The way I was told to do it by a saddle maker was to warm the oil to 100-120F, stir in the beeswax until the mixture becomes thick and slightly pasty. Let sit for a few minutes, still at 100-120F, then add in extra oil until it just stops being pasty. This it the point where the blend will rub into the leather by friction but harden to a good sheen after the buffing. He said the difference in temperature was determined by the climate where the saddle would be used. Higher for warm places, lower for cooler places.
The type of wax will determine how shiny and hard the finish is. Adding carnuba or other harder waxes to the beeswax/oil blend will change the properties.
Stacy
 
Go to Goodwill and get yourself an old crock pot. Put your wax in, melt it on low (takes a while). Ladel the wax onto the sheath, and heat gun it in. Be careful not to cook the sheath with the heat gun. A hair dryer is safer. When you are not using the crock pot be sure to cover it, and tape the lid down as mice love the beeswax.

I don't like waxed sheaths personally. They're hard.
 
I use bees wax and pine tar. I heat it up with a heat gun and paint it onto the sheath and hit the sheath with a heat gun and rub it into the sheath. Looks good an smells good. I get the pine tar from the tack shop, they use it to doctor horses hooves.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top