Home experiment

[Seagull]

A couple of years ago, I constructed some pouches for my own use and amusement and since then, I,ve always dallied with the idea of trying out the hot wax technique of hardening leather.....not that they needed hardening, for I had made them all of thickish veg tan and strapping one to ones belt, was rather like having a small panel truck alongside.

So, I am in the process of making up another bunch of pouches, this time, from about 2 mill veg tan and I find that these are initially, just a bit too floppy.

Out with the beeswax and a small tin lid as a meltpot, I used the fan oven to do a short preheat of the leather and, the hob top for melting.........(Guess who,s missis is abroad)

I watched everything very carefully and applied the melted wax with a bit of stick, and bunged it back in the oven for just a few seconds to let it soak in. Repeated this sequence a couple of times and, glad to say, I got away with it and didnt produce a load of pork scratchings.

The 2mill hardened up quite a bit, though by no means rock solid, and gave a smashing lustre, once buffed up with the best dusters.

Probably not quite the way to do things but I was well chuffed.
The only disappointment was the lack of opportunity to create a lot of noise and mess.

Ceeg

 

[g4ghb]

Sounds like a top job Ceeg! - can we have some piccies please

The only disappointment was the lack of opportunity to create a lot of noise and mess.

You could always have dipped your fingers in the molten wax! - that would have acheived the desired result a treat I would think!