Lovely job - reckon you could make a bomb if you made a few up (you know craft fairs, re-enactors etc.). Lovely work (I'm first in the queue when you turn pro) 
Red
Red
First go at leather bottles
- Thread starter JohnC
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Come along to the amazing Summer Moot (21st July - 2nd August), a festival of bushcrafting and camping in a beautiful woodland PLEASE CLICK HERE for more information.
Eric_Methven
Bushcrafter (boy, I've got a lot to say!)
I'm inspired now. I made a nice looking one a few months ago but completely ballsed it up by using brewer's pitch to seal the inside. Unforunately I didn't get ALL of the sand out, and the pitch only stuck to parts of the inside and came away from the parts where sand still adhered. I only found out when I put water in and it got lots of damp patches. I then tried adding more pitch and that set all lumpy inside and round the neck of the thing. In the end I gave up on it.
However, now you've explained the way you did the wax, it seems much more possible to get a watertight finish. I might make one in a couple of weeks after I finish the capote coat.
Eric
However, now you've explained the way you did the wax, it seems much more possible to get a watertight finish. I might make one in a couple of weeks after I finish the capote coat.
Eric
Ohhh, I'm gonna have a go at this. I have a load of beeswax mixed with a little carnuba that I use for hot wax dipping sheaths. I keep it solidified in an old aluminium mess kit. I've got a big shoulder of 3.5mm veg tan too. Might be a bit thick though.
Can I ask how far did you case the leather? Was it just a surface dampen, or a deep soak?
Can I ask how far did you case the leather? Was it just a surface dampen, or a deep soak?
They look brilliant John.
Been cleaning up wax with a mind to trying a couple too. They're great to use, I rarely leave home without the one I got off Bardster. You get so used to the faint taste that after a while water from any other container seems to taste funny.
Been cleaning up wax with a mind to trying a couple too. They're great to use, I rarely leave home without the one I got off Bardster. You get so used to the faint taste that after a while water from any other container seems to taste funny.
Grooveski said:They look brilliant John.
Been cleaning up wax with a mind to trying a couple too. They're great to use, I rarely leave home without the one I got off Bardster. You get so used to the faint taste that after a while water from any other container seems to taste funny.
You got that right. Its such a good taste too!
"a taste of honey....tasting much sweeter than wine" - hey at least you didn't actually hear me 'sing' it!
Seeing as there is a lot of interest in this I will write an article. Perhaps it can be included in the next BCUK magazine 
Bardster said:Seeing as there is a lot of interest in this I will write an article. Perhaps it can be included in the next BCUK magazine
Good Man!! I'll look forward to that - if it's half as good as your bowmaking one in the mag, it'll be excellent..
Bardster said:Seeing as there is a lot of interest in this I will write an article. Perhaps it can be included in the next BCUK magazine
I'm sure it could be. Loved your bowmaking aritcle BTW.
Do you find that these bottles are resilient to damage? What I mean is, does the wax fall away from the inside and ruin the waterproof-ness of the thing if you bang it or drop it, or does the leather become impregnated with the wax to the point where you would have to puncture the bottle to make it leak ?
Also, does very warm weather soften the bottles at all, or do they stay rigid and watertight even if left in the summer sun?
Also, does very warm weather soften the bottles at all, or do they stay rigid and watertight even if left in the summer sun?
If you leave them in direct hot sunlight then yes they begin to seat a bit. If left too long then the leather will soften. My battle one is a bit flat on one side where it got too hot. its still water proof though. When i say battle one i mean exactly that - its the one that goes onto the battle field with me. ( I am a viking re-enactor) To give you an idea of the robustness of this technique - wax hardened leather is used as armoour throughout history. this stuff is tough!
As far as the waterproofness is concerned the inside doesnt have to be fully lined - infact i have a couple of bottles that arent lined at all. The wax impregnates the leather completely. The only possible leak point is the seam - and if your stitching is tight - or yuo do a double row then it wont leak. and if it does just pour molten wax around the inside seam to seal it.
As far as the waterproofness is concerned the inside doesnt have to be fully lined - infact i have a couple of bottles that arent lined at all. The wax impregnates the leather completely. The only possible leak point is the seam - and if your stitching is tight - or yuo do a double row then it wont leak. and if it does just pour molten wax around the inside seam to seal it.
In hot weather a permeable leather bottle has an advantage. It will keep your drink cool as the liquid evaporates slowly through the leather and takes the heat with it. This is old mediterranean technology. Such soft bottles were used in the fields and in French go by the name of "vache espagnole" (Spanish cow).
Greek Retsina wine takes its turpentine taste from the tradition of keeping white wine in such leather bags, the seam sealed with pine tar.
Greek Retsina wine takes its turpentine taste from the tradition of keeping white wine in such leather bags, the seam sealed with pine tar.
http://www.esflamenco.com/product/es17666917.html Here's the model, but this one seems to be sealed as well, using "pez" which seems to mean "pitch" (and not fish as I thought first)
Strange, the link doesn't work?
Strange, the link doesn't work?
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