Rosin for hand stitching

[JamesR]

I want to get rosin to mix with my beeswax for stitching. Is it the same stuff baseball players use and where do you folks get the stuff.

Thanks

[UKRay]

Why do you want to do that?

Ray

[JamesR]

Why do you want to do that?

Ray

Ray,

It was suggested on a previous thread about using linen. I believe jimsaddler said he mixed the two and waxed the linen with the mixture.

Jim

[kevinhopkins]

Hi...I've never heard of doing that...there must be some advantage I'm not aware of... but I'd think you could get it at a decent sporting goods store?

Kevin Hopkins

[Rawhide]

I've read somewhere that rosin is used for violin bows as a lubricant... you might try a fine music shop and ask around...However, I do remember that it said there are more than one grade and more than one formula, so do some reading first.

[bruce johnson]

The boot and shoe guys mix it up various formulas and ratios of waxes and rosin. I have heard it referred to as coad. It helps to lock and seal stitches. It almost approaches doctrine with formulas and types of wax and rosin to use, and then how it is worked. www.thehcc.org has info in the archives. Rosin is available with many rodeo equipment suppliers in black and white rosin, depending on remaining pitch or terpenes or some other chemical I never really undertstood. Roughstock riders use it to tack up gear and gloves. It is almost doctrine with them too about whether black or whote rosin is better. **Big hint** Don't let your girlfriend try to clean out your gearbag. Rosin socks play hell on a load of wash and the machine too.

[jimsaddler]

The boot and shoe guys mix it up various formulas and ratios of waxes and rosin. I have heard it referred to as coad. It helps to lock and seal stitches. It almost approaches doctrine with formulas and types of wax and rosin to use, and then how it is worked. www.thehcc.org has info in the archives. Rosin is available with many rodeo equipment suppliers in black and white rosin, depending on remaining pitch or terpenes or some other chemical I never really undertstood. Roughstock riders use it to tack up gear and gloves. It is almost doctrine with them too about whether black or whote rosin is better. **Big hint** Don't let your girlfriend try to clean out your gearbag. Rosin socks play hell on a load of wash and the machine too.

Hi to all

Resin / Rosin / Pine tar all are resin and can be used in mixing with the Beeswax. Rodeo Riders certainly have it as do Baseball Players. The reason for using it is to create grip as Beeswax is slippery. So the Resin acts as a hold to stop the Thread sliding back. Also it further preserves the Thread (I've read that the Egyptians used Resins to preserve Mummies). I guess that it also is a hard Habit to break as it has only been used for a few thousand years in making Threads. So go for it, it definitely makes for better Stitching as I've found no way to improve on it. Silicone was tried and failed after a few years. So if it ain't Broke, why fix it. Colour doesn't matter too much by the way, but I like a pale resin for White threads. Actually the Older generation used White Lead in their Wax for White threads (I used it in the early 60's also) but it was condemned for Health reasons. Sure looked good though. I wonder if that is why the Brown Saddlers lived longer than the Strappers?

Please have a Happy Day.

Kindest Regards.

Jim.

[JamesR]

The boot and shoe guys mix it up various formulas and ratios of waxes and rosin. I have heard it referred to as coad. It helps to lock and seal stitches. It almost approaches doctrine with formulas and types of wax and rosin to use, and then how it is worked. www.thehcc.org has info in the archives. Rosin is available with many rodeo equipment suppliers in black and white rosin, depending on remaining pitch or terpenes or some other chemical I never really undertstood. Roughstock riders use it to tack up gear and gloves. It is almost doctrine with them too about whether black or whote rosin is better. **Big hint** Don't let your girlfriend try to clean out your gearbag. Rosin socks play hell on a load of wash and the machine too.

bruce,

Thanks for that hcc web address, they have a lot of interesting info there.

Jim

[Leerwerker]

I was given the following recipe:

You melt about one to two cups of beeswax with 2oz pure lanolin (Walgreens - for breastfeeding mothers) plus one teaspoon of the fine powdered resin (I bought mine at a sport store).

This mixture MUST be poured into a bowl of ice cold water, as it is extremely sticky when warm. Under water you can pull it together into a ball and when it is cold enough, take it out of the water.

Its original purpose was to wax your sewing thread so that stitches get pulled snug and do not loosen up as you sew the next stitch.

I have also started using it in my braiding. I use artificial sinew for my cores and I pull that through the resin/lanolin/wax - my braiding stays pulled tight and the sinew strings stay neatly together. When I braid six strands or more, I pull the underside of the laces over the wax - it helps them to stay in place where I braid them and the do not slide all over the show.

Hope this helps!

[UKRay]

Interesting stuff, Jim. I hadn't heard of this before but it kinda makes sense. How do you combine the two substances? Melt and stir? Heat and squish?

What is the best combination percentage wise?

Ray

Hi to all

Resin / Rosin / Pine tar all are resin and can be used in mixing with the Beeswax. Rodeo Riders certainly have it as do Baseball Players. The reason for using it is to create grip as Beeswax is slippery. So the Resin acts as a hold to stop the Thread sliding back. Also it further preserves the Thread (I've read that the Egyptians used Resins to preserve Mummies). I guess that it also is a hard Habit to break as it has only been used for a few thousand years in making Threads. So go for it, it definitely makes for better Stitching as I've found no way to improve on it. Silicone was tried and failed after a few years. So if it ain't Broke, why fix it. Colour doesn't matter too much by the way, but I like a pale resin for White threads. Actually the Older generation used White Lead in their Wax for White threads (I used it in the early 60's also) but it was condemned for Health reasons. Sure looked good though. I wonder if that is why the Brown Saddlers lived longer than the Strappers?

Please have a Happy Day.

Kindest Regards.

Jim.