My shot at a mug

[Seamus]

: thanks for the Heads up on popcorn.......i won't be washing Sand from my

Bottles any more............

Glad I could spread the word. I can't take credit for the idea, though.

How do you get the deep mahogany finish like the bottle to the right of that photo? Do you dye the bottle or is there coloring in with the wax?

[Luke Hatley]

Glad I could spread the word. I can't take credit for the idea, though.

How do you get the deep mahogany finish like the bottle to the right of that photo? Do you dye the bottle or is there coloring in with the wax?

Fiebings Oil Dye...........little black in dark brown also the Hot Water darkened it up some.

( these are the last of the Real Bewers Pitch)

Edited January 31, 2009 by Luke Hatley

[Seamus]

Fiebings Oil Dye...........little black in dark brown also the Hot Water darkened it up some.

( these are the last of the Real Bewers Pitch)

Speaking of brewers' pitch... I've read a few places about blending it with bees' wax. Apparently, the brewers' pitch by itself is "sticky," but flexible. The bees' wax, by itself, is brittle. If you blend the two, you get a not too brittle, not too sticky sealer. Any ideas as to the ratio?

[Angster]

Speaking of brewers' pitch... I've read a few places about blending it with bees' wax. Apparently, the brewers' pitch by itself is "sticky," but flexible. The bees' wax, by itself, is brittle. If you blend the two, you get a not too brittle, not too sticky sealer. Any ideas as to the ratio?

In my mugs, I usually go for about a 50/50 ratio, but I don't measure. And it seems like there is a bit of separation of something in the pitch when it's blended with the wax, because I find this thick, tarry substance along the bottom of the can I use for the mixture. I'm assuming it's the pitch as it's very sticky. With that long diatribe, my ratio is probably weakened somewhat from the pitch side, and a bit heavier with the wax...

I remember reading up on someone else who was mixing the beeswax and brewer's pitch, and I want to say they mentioned a 4/1 ratio... But I can't remember if it was 4 wax to 1 pitch, or the other way around.

All in all, I stick with 50/50 and eyeball it, it's just easier. My blend is still still somewhat sticky, but after a little use, it goes away... I'd just rather put up with the sticky than get the mix too brittle.

Oh, and I'm the one with the popcorn trick...

[Seamus]

In my mugs, I usually go for about a 50/50 ratio, but I don't measure. And it seems like there is a bit of separation of something in the pitch when it's blended with the wax, because I find this thick, tarry substance along the bottom of the can I use for the mixture. I'm assuming it's the pitch as it's very sticky. With that long diatribe, my ratio is probably weakened somewhat from the pitch side, and a bit heavier with the wax...

I remember reading up on someone else who was mixing the beeswax and brewer's pitch, and I want to say they mentioned a 4/1 ratio... But I can't remember if it was 4 wax to 1 pitch, or the other way around.

All in all, I stick with 50/50 and eyeball it, it's just easier. My blend is still still somewhat sticky, but after a little use, it goes away... I'd just rather put up with the sticky than get the mix too brittle.

Looks like I'll just take a stab at it. I'll do small batches just big enough to seal up one mug. Once I have it down, I can make bigger batches and use it on my mugs and bottles.

Oh, and I'm the one with the popcorn trick...

My hat's off to you. To steal a quote from the Guinness (yum!) commercials: "BRILLIANT!"