Beeswax for Thread

[Matt S]

On 12/14/2017 at 2:36 PM, Webicons said:

I never heard of this though I can imagine that the stiffness and tack of the rosin would assist.  Can you recommend a ratio?  I would assume that too much rosin would have the opposite effect. 

A mix of waxes, resins, fats and oils used to be very common, certainly in the UK but I think other places too. Works much better than just beeswax -- I think just beeswax is a bit of a hobbyists thing. Search this forum for "coad" or "cobbler wax". Normally about 50-50 wax to rosin but that varies depending on the weather and the components you use. Some stuff ends up harder, some softer. If too much rosin is used it gets dusty and hard.

[ChasCS]

The whole idea of using the wax, particularly in saddle stitching, was to lock the individual stitches. 

So if any stitches got cut, the saddle wouldn't become unraveled, & fall apart. 

After stitching, a piece of canvas was rubbed briskly upon the stitch line, to melt that wax,  into the stitches. 

 

 

Chas

[bikermutt07]

Since we are on the lip balm topic.....

Carmex works wonders on dried cracked knuckles as well as burns. 

Another thing I have learned over the years is Suave 2in1 is perfect for body wash and shampoo. Think about it. Everything your hair and scalp needs, the rest of your body needs. 

And it's super cheap. I have been using this "hack" for more than 20 years.

[Mjolnir]

I'm sure the info is on this site somewhere. I have no intention of bothering to wax thread but if I were. Can someone explain how to make the rosin beeswax and how to applicate? I'd not heard of this mix before. The only rosin I'm familiar with is violin rosin.

[ChasCS]

Lip Balm, my other addiction. Hahaha

 

 

 

Chas

[garypl]

I bought Pine Gum Rosin on Amazon- melted it with beeswax- I believe the ratio was 80/20 beeswax/rosin.  Makes a nice sticky wax.  Poured melted mixture into small ramekins and when cool they pop right out.  I use to wax thread when saddle stitching.

Gary

[480volt]

There are several threads covering making coad/shoemakers wax on this forum. I went 50-50 rosin to beeswax by weight and formed it into balls, and use it on most threads I hand stitch with. It really improves your grip on the needles. I cut a length of thread, taper the ends and drag it over the wax a couple times till it’s sticky.

As I understand it, the type of wax used by shoemakers varied by season and temperature: the black wax which contained pitch was used in the summer and the blonde wax, which is what I made, does not.