Beeswax/neatsfoot Finish Questions

[Dwight]

Dwight I don't suppose you'd be willing to share that recipe with the rest of the class now would you?

Really easy, Dorado, . . . measure it by weight, . . . equal portions of virgin beeswax (make sure it is not some garbage manufactured beeswax product), . . . and neetsfoot oil.

I put them in a jar, . . . set the jar in a $10 crock pot from Goodwill, . . . turn it on high, . . . come back in an hour or so, . . . make sure it has all melted together and is only liquid, . . . swish it around in the jar to make sure it is well mixed, . . . pour out the concoction into a muffin pan lined with muffin papers, . . . and when it cools, . . . I've got it.

A dab more of wax and it'll be a bit more solid, . . . a dab more oil, . . . it'll be more squishy, . . . but both work well.

I'd actually do everything with it if I thought my customer's would put up with it, . . . but most of them have been trained to expect the plastic type finish, . . . so I give them Resolene.

A few of them get this treatment, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

[Dorado]

Really easy, Dorado, . . . measure it by weight, . . . equal portions of virgin beeswax (make sure it is not some garbage manufactured beeswax product), . . . and neetsfoot oil.

I put them in a jar, . . . set the jar in a $10 crock pot from Goodwill, . . . turn it on high, . . . come back in an hour or so, . . . make sure it has all melted together and is only liquid, . . . swish it around in the jar to make sure it is well mixed, . . . pour out the concoction into a muffin pan lined with muffin papers, . . . and when it cools, . . . I've got it.

A dab more of wax and it'll be a bit more solid, . . . a dab more oil, . . . it'll be more squishy, . . . but both work well.

I'd actually do everything with it if I thought my customer's would put up with it, . . . but most of them have been trained to expect the plastic type finish, . . . so I give them Resolene.

A few of them get this treatment, . . .

May God bless,

Dwight

Here I was thinking it was something special or unique. lol

[huffdad]

I love the 50/50 beeswax/neatsfoot oil. It's my preferred finish. I wish I could figure out a way to use it on a sheridan style resist instead of using acrylic/lacquer.

[TrooperChuck]

I have a small two-quart crock pot in my shop in which I keep a neetsfoot oil/beeswax mixture. I mix mine up with a lot more oil than wax. When cold, the mixture has the consistency of pancake batter. I can't tell you what the actual ratio is... when the pot runs low I just add more oil and more wax. If I had to guess, I think the ratio is about 4 parts oil and 1 part wax.

So, every morning when I show up at the shop I turn on the crock pot to let the mixture heat up.

All my holsters, sheaths, and belts are finished with this mixture. I use it on saddles, too. I've never used anything else. After the mixture dries I buff it with a soft cloth. When I want a bit more shine I apply a coat of neutral Kiwi shoe polish.

I know there are a lot of other ways to finish leather and I'm sure many of them are excellent. This is the system I use and it's worked well for me. None of my customers have complained yet.

[01046]

For the three part mixture (parrafin/beeswax/neatsfoot) change the color of neutral or white thread?

[gamli]

I use a mixture of 50% neatsfoot oil, 25% beeswax, and 25% tallow (by volume) Make a paste a little softer than shoe polish. Just rub it in with a soft cloth.