Beeswax leather treatment

I had an enquiry yesterday about beeswax-based treatment for leather (mainly riding 'stuff', not really my specialist area, so not sure how hard or soft the leather is). Has anyone made this sort of thing? A 1:1:1 (by volume) of beeswax, turpentine and linseed oil is one recipe I've found. There also seems to be similar recipes that use either boiled or raw linseed oil, but no indication as to why one might be better than the other (I know the boiled stuff, as linseed oil, dries faster). I think the enquirer was after a soft cream, rather than the more solid mix of beeswax and turps you use for furniture polish. I would think one that didn't separate out and need re-mixing before use would be preferable.

Any ideas?

Not sure about linseed oil re leather treatment - I thought that was a wood treatment? Anyway...a good treatment for leather is a mix of beeswax and neatsfoot oil (assuming the person isn't veggie). Can't remember the exact proportions (I have it in my head that it's 70/30 beeswax to neatsfoot but some google work will be needed to confirm) as I researched it and made a "cake" of it from which I melt a bit off when I need it. I've used it for leather knife sheaths which are veg tan leather similar to horse tack and it buffs to a nice satin sheen.

Dave Cushman used beeswax and neatsfoot oil (extract of cow feet and shins, yum!) for motorcycle and beekeeping glove leather as well as shooting boots. Motorbikes are just mechanised horse things, aren't they?! Unfortunately he didn't give proportions.

Nice to see a rapprochement between beekeeping and horsey pursuits with folk happy to put beekeeping products between their bottoms and their steeds. Bees get such a bad press in equine circles.

It looks like Dave was a leather glove guy when it came to beekeeping.

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Originally Posted by gavin

Dave Cushman
Bees get such a bad press in equine circles..

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Quite unfairly, IMHO. My horse grazes by the apiary and has had more than one swarm hanging around in a tree right next to her. She has been known to graze among the hives when she escapes. As far as I know she's been stung just once in 21 years, probably by a bee getting caught in her mane and having a wee panic. This summer I watched as an indecisive swarm went in various directions, including flying up to the horse, and she didn't mind at all! Mind you, she is a mare, and therefore an intelligent equine!

OK, thanks all … in my never-ending search for a recipe I discovered what others are selling this sort of product at. 115 g. for £8.55 (exc. P&P) for example :eek:

Assuming this is a 50% beeswax mix then my back-of-the-envelope calculations suggest the linseed oil costs about 45p which makes the beeswax content worth around £135/kg (ignoring things like the bottle, label, fragrance of juniper oil, the essential Patchouli oil, fancy-dan website, absence of testing on animals, inner glow achieved when purchasing something so obviously good for the planet etc.)*

I was intending to post my experiments here but will now be keeping them a tightly guarded secret ;) I will be using the inevitable millions I make to buy a small island …

Happy New Year:)


* actually, I suspect this stuff might be quite good

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Originally Posted by fatshark

I will be using the inevitable millions I make to buy a small island …

Happy New Year:)

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Mull? Or Colonsay after tax!

Happy Hogmanay, and the New Year after it, to you too. Let's get them in now in case we're preoccupied later ... or for anyone reading this in Australasia which is putting the match to the fireworks as we type.

G.

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Originally Posted by gavin

Mull? Or Colonsay after tax!

Happy Hogmanay, and the New Year after it, to you too. Let's get them in now in case we're preoccupied later ... or for anyone reading this in Australasia which is putting the match to the fireworks as we type.

G.

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I'm not greedy … this one would do ... though possibly not far enough offshore to ensure isolated matings.

:o