Waterproofing

[Ayame]

Hello,

I am looking to do some DIY waterproofing and wondered if anyone had a good receipe.

I have beeswax and tallow and vegetable oil. If I heat this all up together until liquid and then apply would this do the trick?

regards,
Ayame

 

[xairbourne]

Apply it to what?

 

[Ayame]

Apply it to what?

Apply it to cotton

 

[Ayame]

Found some more info, looks like beeswax is ok if you saturate the fabric with it. I only need to waterproof a little strip of cotton so should be simple enough and I have pure beeswax.

waterproofing link

 

[John Fenna]

Fjallraven used to recommend rubbing your garments with beeswax (available in good healthfood shops in tiny ingots) and then ironing the fabric. It works fairly well but does make the fabric a bit stiff. mixing it with tallow and veg oil should help keep it all supple.

 

[Doc]

Barbour etc use a propriety wax dressing that is less solid then beeswax at room temperature. Don't know what's in it.

Fjallraven's 'Greenland wax' is used on their polycotton gear. It says it is a mix of beeswax and paraffin wax. Works well, smells fine.

Calvin Rustrum (New Way of the Wilderness) advocated treating felt hats with lanolin (wool fat) dissolved in petrol. The petrol evaporates leaving the hat waterproof. Petrol carries various risks, of course.

I've used melted beeswax on hot moist leather and it renders the leather waterproof and very stiff. I gather this method was used to make armour.

 

[WhichDoctor]

Do you mind me asking what your making? Sounds interesting.

 

[Eric_Methven]

If you are going to use wax to waterproof cotton you can use parafin wax (ordinary candles). Melt the wax in a double boiler and dip the cotton item into the wax. It will go hard and be lumpy when you remove it. Then dip the item again into hot water for a few seconds. This removes most of the excess wax. Leave it to dry and it should be waterproof. Of course it depends on what the item is. Cotton bags for carrying rations works well with thiss method, but clothes don't. The best waterproofing for cotton clothing ot tentage is Thompson's Waterseal. It stinks when you apply it, but the smell goes if it is aired in a cool breeze.

Eric

 

[gwing]

If you are going to use wax to waterproof cotton you can use parafin wax (ordinary candles). Melt the wax in a double boiler and dip the cotton item into the wax. It will go hard and be lumpy when you remove it. Then dip the item again into hot water for a few seconds. This removes most of the excess wax. Leave it to dry and it should be waterproof. Of course it depends on what the item is. Cotton bags for carrying rations works well with thiss method, but clothes don't. The best waterproofing for cotton clothing ot tentage is Thompson's Waterseal. It stinks when you apply it, but the smell goes if it is aired in a cool breeze.

Eric

When I were a kid the 'proofed cotton jacket I had did get damp in the rain. Just rubbing a candle over the shoulder area worked a treat

 

[Ayame]

Do you mind me asking what your making? Sounds interesting.

Well I'm not really making anything just repairing a waterproof hat that got ripped. I've got to sow it too (or might use epoxy glue to attach cotton strip) as I want to get the seams tight and then plaster them with wax. I'll let everyone know how it goes

 

[Mikey P]

Why not Nikwax Cotton Proofing? Water-based, non-toxic - and it does actually work.

 

[Ayame]

Why not Nikwax Cotton Proofing? Water-based, non-toxic - and it does actually work.

Because it's christmas and I don't have any spare cash but I do have beeswax.