Montana Pitch Blend for Sheaths...

Diomedes Industries

Diomedes Industries

Joined
Mar 19, 2007
Messages
7,440
This product is excellent. I have been putting this on my sheaths for a month or so and I am very happy with the result. It darkens the leather just slightly, but it makes for a very water resistant surface that is hardened somewhat - but not rigid.

http://www.mtpitchblend.com/

Montana_Pitch.jpg


When I get a new sheath - I simply rub in a decent amount (a little goes a LONG way) and let it become absorbed. Then I repeat twice more with less.

I brought my sheath and knife with me this weekend and was promptly rained on for over 10 hours (we had students and were on a hike and needed to cook dinner). The sheath is not stained, the blade was not wet, and it frankly looked no worse for the wear.

I am VERY impressed with this product.

TF
 
I haven't used that product specifically, but I pretty much make my own version using sno-seal(a waxed based waterproofer) and I add a bit more wax and some pine pitch. I've used it on my hiking boots and all my sheaths.

Like you said, it is a bomb proof leather finish. I won't use anything else to water proof leather, because no other product really does water "proof" leather.

Beeswax is the ultimate waterproofing ingredient for leather. Pine pitch is the ultimate waterproofing ingredient for just about any material.

Combine the two ingredients and add some mink or neats foot oil to keep it a little thinner and you have a perfect leather waterproofing product.
 
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Stingray,

This is made of Pure Mink Oil, Pine Pitch, and Bees Wax. I know Magnussen makes his own blend that is similar to this - he reports great effect as well.

TF
 
I went hunting today with my Fiddlebacks that you made pants for. Both of them held up extremely well. No wetness on the blades. I was soaked. 2 hours of non-stop rain. Too warm to justify wearing the poncho. Just sucked it up. Those blades were the only dry part on me...
 
THAT is what I am talking about Darteres. You are so jazzed about those blades of Andy's - I am so happy for you bro.

Thanks Danny boy. The cool part for end users is that if they buy the little 4 ounce tub - it is less that 8 bucks and I would wager it would last 1/2 a lifetime or more, unless you had a LOT of leather to do.

TF
 
Kind of off-topic, but I've worn that quad-carry every day since I've gotten it. It's the perfect sheath/knife combo.
 
Danny,

Wow - thanks a lot man. It means a lot to me. I like that it helps cure my hang nails and stuff. It is great for cuts and nicks on the hands in terms of repairing damage.

Darteres,

Nice!

TF
 
P.S. You didn't mention it in your first post, but do you use a hair dryer to melt the MPB to help it soak into the leather? If not, I recommend it, just go with even passes until it starts melting and the leather gets darker as it absorbs it. It might seem uneven at first, but keep adding some and it will get to a point were it won't absorb anymore and the darkening will be even.
 
Sting,

I don't use a hair dryer - mostly because it is still 90 down here! But this winter that makes total sense. Thanks!

TF
 
I put my sheaths in the oven at 275 for 10 minutes,to warm the leather up.It really helps to soak up whatever you are using.
 
TF is right on.... I used this stuff when i first started and it is fabulous. I use it as a finishing sealer only, though. It is far too oily to sink into sheath leather. Sheaths need to be stiff and heating it into the leather lubricates it and makes it pliable. That is what prompted me to make my own blend, based on the Montana mix. Less mink, more beeswax is how it started off... now I use no Mink whatsoever. A bit of linseed does the trick. Montana Pitch Blend is great for soft leather.


GRIM 62 said:
I put my sheaths in the oven at 275 for 10 minutes,to warm the leather up.It really helps to soak up whatever you are using.
Click to expand...

Careful, GRIM.... leather gets dammaged much past 180F.... you may be pulling it out just in time. I know for a fact that wax over 200 degrees will destroy leather quickly.



Rick
 
I think Rick that I am going to melt down my Montana - add some more bees wax to get a little more stiff result - and then I think I will have a perfect mix.

But this is great.

TF
 
That's the dilema, TF. Its all or nothing IMO. Adding beeswax to the MPB will just make it gummy, forcing you to heat it up in order to get it absorbed. Just adding a bit of beeswax won't stiffen the leather enough for a good sheath so you are back to having a less than adequate mixture impregnated in your leather. If you can get ahold of a small crockpot, you are better off melting 2cups of beeswax with one tablespoon of MPB. A heat gun is your friend while coating a sheath. Do it with bare hands.... you can fumble around with 150F sheath without too much discomfort. Anything hotter than what you can hold for any length of time is too hot for the leather.
Rick
 
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