wax hardening for leather sheaths--aye or nay?

[crimsonfalcon07]

I've recently been experimenting with doing a little wax hardening on my leather sheaths and holsters. It makes it a bit stiffer and more like kydex in context of retention, and can be heated and molded similarly, and then has similar retention. It also sheds water very well. So far it seems pretty great. I'm curious if the other leatherworkers here have done much with wax hardening their leather, and if so, if there are disadvantages I'm missing about the process.

Here's a holster that I've done this to:


And a video I did of the water resistant effect on a knife sheath.
http://s95.photobucket.com/user/crimsonfalcon07/media/20121227_2141381.mp4.html?sort=3&o=12

 

[michael o'machearley]

If I have a customer who I know is going to use the knife in extreme conditions, I have a 3 gallon pot of beeswax with lanolin mixed in. I heat the sheath a little in a toaster oven. Then dip it in the melted hot wax. I take it out and put it back in the oven for no more than a minute , take it out wipe it off and let it cool. Make a great weatherproofing.
GOD BLESS!
Michael

 

[crimsonfalcon07]

Thanks for the response! I was beginning to think I am the only one. I used to do the beeswax thing, but have since switched to using paste wax and a heat gun.

 

[rayban]

If I have a customer who I know is going to use the knife in extreme conditions, I have a 3 gallon pot of beeswax with lanolin mixed in. I heat the sheath a little in a toaster oven. Then dip it in the melted hot wax. I take it out and put it back in the oven for no more than a minute , take it out wipe it off and let it cool. Make a great weatherproofing.
GOD BLESS!
Michael

I know a knifemaker who uses the same basic process....he incorporates a "drip hole" at the bottom of his sheaths so if you get the inside of it dirty with blood and guts you can easily squirt it out with water and let it drip dry.
Cool beans.