Members bcraig Posted September 14, 2019 Members Report Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) What is the best natural thing to add to beeswax to protect a holster I have experience using store bought olive oil and beeswax as I have made my own mustache wax and poured it into lip balm plastic containers . After about 6 months it starts to have a sorta rank smell to it,it’s easy to tell when you have a good sense of smell and it’s on your upper lip ! The smell on a holster would not bother me but I don’t want it to rot my holster ! Suggestions for a natural product ? I believe that I am just going to use the beeswax by itself,non perishable ,won’t go rank . I am going to melt it then when it starts to go solid again dip my fingers in it and apply to the leather. Thanks Edited September 14, 2019 by bcraig Quote
Members chiefjason Posted September 14, 2019 Members Report Posted September 14, 2019 I use U 82 saddlers oil, but I wouldn't call it natural exactly. For natural maybe neatsfoot oil, but the real stuff not the compound. And I use paraffin in there if I need it to be thicker. I get mine to a paste like consistency, think lip balm in the metal containers. Rub that on the holster then use a heat gun to get it soaked in. Quote
CFM chuck123wapati Posted September 14, 2019 CFM Report Posted September 14, 2019 I use any of the leather boot waterproofing products that have mink oil/ beeswax in them, haven't had any problems, some of my personal sheaths are 30 + years old. they darken the leather a bit. Quote Worked in a prison for 30 years if I aint shiny every time I comment its no big deal, I just don't wave pompoms. “I won’t be wronged, I won’t be insulted, and I won’t be laid a hand on. I don’t do these things to other people, and I require the same from them.” THE DUKE!
Members DuaneS Posted September 14, 2019 Members Report Posted September 14, 2019 (edited) I'd use straight Beeswax. I have an EDC knife that I carry literally on my belt every day, I made a wet-molded and beeswaxed sheath for it 8 years ago. It's doing just fine! Edited September 14, 2019 by DuaneS add some Quote
Members dikman Posted September 14, 2019 Members Report Posted September 14, 2019 If you want to soften the beeswax mix in some tallow and neatsfoot oil. Tallow doesn't go rancid. Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
wizard of tragacanth Posted September 14, 2019 Report Posted September 14, 2019 You might want to try Sno Seal. It is "emulsified" (can't think of a better word) bee's wax... ready to use. It's pretty soft in the jar. Warm the leather, apply it and repeat if necessary. Personally, I do not want to make my holsters softer. I want to make them firmer. nick Quote
Members bcraig Posted September 15, 2019 Author Members Report Posted September 15, 2019 The more I have investigated the matter the more I have become convinced that using quality beeswax by itself is the route I will take. Mink oil Neatsfoot oil Lard ,tallow are all Perishable and will become Rank .Beeswax with nothing added is non perishable and will never become rank. Any oil added to beeswax will soften the Leather and introduce bacterial breakdown to the leather to the degree that the oil penetrates the leather and then starts to go bad(perish ,go rank etc) I do not want to add a perishable ingredient to a non perishable . It seems as though anything added to Quality Beeswax works in spite of itself and not because it was added to the Beeswax . The downsides I see to using beeswax are that it can be considered expensive,not easy to get quality filtered beeswax that has not had something added to it. More difficult to apply to leather than just using liquid oil or a paste. If leather is totally saturated in beeswax and extremely hot temperature that would approach the melting point of beeswax then obviously the leather would be less stiff until the temp was lowered again. For my use of protecting the stitching,and helping to preventing bacteria from getting inside the leather and to provide a high degree of water resistance plus (in my opinion)a pleasant smell,the Beeswax with nothing added to it will get my use. Quote
Members dikman Posted September 15, 2019 Members Report Posted September 15, 2019 Well, my tallow has been sitting in an unsealed container for quite a few years, stored in a shed that gets bloody hot in Summer and very cold in Winter, and hasn't gone off. I've got several concoctions I've mixed, using tallow, and likewise had no issue with deterioration. Just sayin'. Quote Machines wot I have - Singer 51W59; Singer 331K4; Seiko STH-8BLD; Pfaff 335; CB4500. Chinese shoe patcher; Singer 201K (old hand crank)
Members bcraig Posted September 15, 2019 Author Members Report Posted September 15, 2019 46 minutes ago, dikman said: Well, my tallow has been sitting in an unsealed container for quite a few years, stored in a shed that gets bloody hot in Summer and very cold in Winter, and hasn't gone off. I've got several concoctions I've mixed, using tallow, and likewise had no issue with deterioration. Just sayin'. Yes ,It sounds like you are happy using it. I like the idea of using a non perishable natural material . Thanks for your information ,I appreciate it Quote
Members bcraig Posted September 15, 2019 Author Members Report Posted September 15, 2019 13 hours ago, DuaneS said: I'd use straight Beeswax. I have an EDC knife that I carry literally on my belt every day, I made a wet-molded and beeswaxed sheath for it 8 years ago. It's doing just fine! I am going to use the Straight Beeswax,non perishable and from what I have read there have been finds of beeswax several thousand years old that the beeswax was still fine . Out of curiosity how often do you reapply ? Thanks to all for your sharing of your information. Quote
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