How do I make waxed cloth bags?

greenspun.com : LUSENET : Countryside : One Thread

Does anyone know how to make waxed cloth bags for carrying food to reenactment camping outings? They need to be fairly water proof. I made some cloth bags of different weights, dipped them in melted parafin, and hung them on tilted poels to keep them open while they dried. The thinnest material worked OK, but they are still pretty stiff. Any suggestions will be appreciated. Thanks!

-- Parsley (www.parsleynot@home.com), March 10, 2002

Answers

This would be the dressing used on waxed coats. It goes on sort of like almost melted butter....

http://www.downunderweb.com/drovercoats.htm

Oilskin Garment Reproofing (Top Coat) Try our special manufacturer recommended formulas of oils and waxes. This reproof treatment reseals your garment and adds a new coating of durability. DRESS-120 ...... $11.95

-- Joyce Dingman (joycedingman@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.


Might try cheese wax.

-- BC (desertdweller44@yahoo.com), March 10, 2002.

Parsley, I'm a reenactor/trekker among many other things. And what works beat is beeswax. Or beeswax mixed mit baer grease. Lard will do if you can't get bear grease. If you do this reenacting thing seriously you need to know that prafin (a distill petroliem product dose not pass muster. Befor you sew up your bag (should be linen by the way) Lay out several layers cut to size one on top of the other. Then puor just a little mettled beeswax on it. (the beeswax should be 160 degrees to get the best penitraion.) Next take a hot clothes iron set at the linen level and as hard sas you can press the cloth and puss the metting wax around and it will soak down through the lower layers. peal the top layer off and press the next layer peal it off and press the next and so on untill you have coated all of your material. besure and press the last layer too. When I do this I make much more cloth than I'm going to use right away because I also use this to wrap the tops of my honey jars to cover the modern lids. After you sew up the bags heat up your iron and press the seems, don't add more wax just melt what is in the cloth and it will seal the semm. They will be stiff for a while but as you use them they will soften up. Good luck, hope to see you on the trail. If more questions about this contact me off list my e-mail address is real. Butch

-- Butch (beefarm@scrtc.com), March 10, 2002.

Moderation questions? read the FAQ