How Do I Make My Own Wax Finish?

[Anacott Steel]

Yes you are Dwight. Very comprehensive.

Oh and Jon, hope you don't think I was suggesting the question was stupid in any way.

Cheers

[Bluesman]

Yes you are Dwight. Very comprehensive.

Oh and Jon, hope you don't think I was suggesting the question was stupid in any way.

Cheers

No, were fine. No problem here. Just my sense of humor

[BIGGUNDOCTOR]

Have you tried Sno-Seal? It is a beeswax based snowproofing for boots. I have used it for years on my hiking boots.

[J Hayes]

This particular product is very, very easy to use. AND, . . . you use it after you have done any dyeing, . . . but it takes the place of Sheen, Resolene, Atom Wax, Mop & Glo, . . . all the other "finishes".

One minor caution, . . . it does darken the leather a bit, . . . something on the order of the darkening you would expect from a dose of just neatsfoot oil.

I apply it kinda like the old Kiwi shoe polish, . . . with a rag or with my fingertips. DO NOT use water with it.

On raw leather, . . . I'll rub it in, . . . using 3 or 4 applications, . . . then just touch, . . . and I mean gently touch it with a heat gun set on low, . . . watching only for the wax to liquify, . . . then pull the heat off. Let it cool for a couple of minutes and buff it out with a soft cloth.

For example, . . . I'll start applying it at one end of a belt, . . . turn it over and apply to the back side, . . . turn it back, . . . give it another coat, . . . turn it over again, . . . etc. until I have 3 full coats on it. On with the heat gun, . . . buff, . . . inspect, . . . go from there. I do have one advantage over most folks, . . . my beeswax is free from my beehive, . . . but even if I had to buy the wax, . . . it is something near about 1/4th or 1/5th of the cost of some of the packaged finishes.

The added benefit is that some of the package finishes can be a bear to "re-do" if the product gets a real good scuff or scrape. This just re-finishes almost as good as new.

If you are willing to take the time, . . . you can bring it up to a spit polish like we swabbies used to do for our inspection shoes, . . . or you can drop off somewhere in between "spit polish" and "flat".

I did the gun holster in the pics with it, . . . and I was very, very satisfied with the end result, . . . which was to make it look "old westerny" and "old" but yet not look distressed. I think I accomplished my goal, . . . and it is my personal "Let's dress up like cowboys" rig.

May God bless,

Dwight

So will this take the place of oiling after wet molding? Now I wet mold let dry a day or so, neetsfoot oil inside and out let that dry a day or so and dip in 50-50 mop n glo mixture.

Jeremy

[Dwight]

Quite frankly, . . . I very seldom oil a newly made holster.

IF I DO, . . . it is the hair side only. Oiling the flesh side gives me a holster that I don't like as it is floppy, spongy, and rubbery. I like mine to be stiff.

AND I only oil a holster if I see the leather itself is especially dry. Otherwise, I don't.

But in answer to your question, yes, I would think that this product is more than adequate for oiling your holster.

May God bless,

Dwight

[J Hayes]

Quite frankly, . . . I very seldom oil a newly made holster.

IF I DO, . . . it is the hair side only. Oiling the flesh side gives me a holster that I don't like as it is floppy, spongy, and rubbery. I like mine to be stiff.

AND I only oil a holster if I see the leather itself is especially dry. Otherwise, I don't.

But in answer to your question, yes, I would think that this product is more than adequate for oiling your holster.

May God bless,

Dwight

Thanks. Do you then use your mix on the exterior only?

Thanks

Jeremy

[Dwight]

Jeremy, . . . the mix that I make, . . . I will use both inside and out. Since it is a "mix" it is not like pouring straight oil on the item.

But then again, . . . it is one of those things you just have to get a feel for, . . . and I don't mean to sound snooty or anything by it, . . . but one of the main differences between a "maker" and a "craftsman", . . . is the craftsman puts thought into the project beyond just the mechanics.

Think about it, . . . play with it, . . . make some mistakes it'll all come together as you go along.

I got an Ebay message not long ago about a rig I sold on Ebay, . . . one I made for gun shows, . . . didn't need any more, . . . the customer was positively thrilled with it. Those are the things that will make your day for you, . . . and make you strive more for "craftsman" than for "maker".

But again, . . . the mix can be used inside and out, . . . I use a wool dauber or a paper towel wrapped around a stick to put it down inside some of the pieces.

May God bless,

Dwight

[J Hayes]

Jeremy, . . . the mix that I make, . . . I will use both inside and out. Since it is a "mix" it is not like pouring straight oil on the item.

But then again, . . . it is one of those things you just have to get a feel for, . . . and I don't mean to sound snooty or anything by it, . . . but one of the main differences between a "maker" and a "craftsman", . . . is the craftsman puts thought into the project beyond just the mechanics.

Think about it, . . . play with it, . . . make some mistakes it'll all come together as you go along.

I got an Ebay message not long ago about a rig I sold on Ebay, . . . one I made for gun shows, . . . didn't need any more, . . . the customer was positively thrilled with it. Those are the things that will make your day for you, . . . and make you strive more for "craftsman" than for "maker".

But again, . . . the mix can be used inside and out, . . . I use a wool dauber or a paper towel wrapped around a stick to put it down inside some of the pieces.

May God bless,

Dwight

Thanks for the advice, I will make a batch and give it shot. I will be striving for craftsman status, otherwise its not worth doing. I think a craftsman strives for perfection, however elusive it is. I appreciate the help.

Jeremy

[J Hayes]

I made a batch of beeswax neetsfoot oil. Man do I like it! Fingers worked best to apply as Dwight stated. One question though is edges. I rubbed mine with gum trag and then waxed, any opionions ?

Jeremy

[Dwight]

I made a batch of beeswax neetsfoot oil. Man do I like it! Fingers worked best to apply as Dwight stated. One question though is edges. I rubbed mine with gum trag and then waxed, any opionions ?

Jeremy

I'm not a fan of gum trag, . . . use it sometimes, . . . ruined a project one time when it got where it shouldn't be ( MY fault !!! ) and it blocked out the dye, . . . threw the project away.

Just be careful with it, . . .

Sometimes I like to dye the edges real dark if not black, . . . then go to the straight bees wax & polish the edges real good. That gives it an aura all it's own I think.

May God bless,

Dwight