I've read about people using this material on Tradgang and on other forums. Waterproofing leather for around $3 sounds terrific. Especially when anecdotal evidence seems to point to toilet wax being more effective than a lot of commercially marketed products.
From what I researched, the toilet wax is petroleum-based, which supposedly is not very good for leather. Can those who have used this method comment on the longevity of the leather? Any signs of degradation?
Or should I just stick to Obenauf's? Would appreciate any feedback from people who have found success with other products as well!
I have never heard this before. I would try it on a small piece of leather first as it is VERY sticky. I mix it 50/50 with bee's wax for making strings and it is still very sticky. I understand the desire to "go natural" so to speak but regular/proven leather waterproof stuff is not that expensive and seems to last for a long time.
I've been real happy with Sno Seal on my boots. Not terribly expensive, a can lasts a long time and I think it's a mix of beeswax and neatsfoot oil.
Just thinking about it now, I have a can of neatsfoot oil (which is made from animal bone) for my quivers. I'll bet you could make some pretty cheap by melting some beeswax over low heat and stiring in the neatsfoot oil to get a soft consistency that would rub in easily.
Think I may just try that.
X2 on sno- seal
I've never used toilet wax. I have used montana pitch blend, mink oil, Sno-seal and likely a few others. I'm a Sno-seal fan.
homebru
I'm a Sno Seal fan also. Obenauffs too.
I have toilet waxed several pair of vasques over the last 4-6 years. I apply with heat gun, seems to make leather softer, more pliable which can make it wear faster. I have had good luck with, very water proof, lasts very long.. but may not be for everyone.
I made a leather dressing by melting bear grease, bees wax and pine pitch. It works pretty good.
I have used toilet wax for years. It doesn't seem to degrade the leather.
I put my boots in the oven on foil at a very low setting. (no gal at home to complain about it) it is around 120 deg. I warm up the boots and using plastic gloves, work the wax into the boots. Doing this several times allowing the wax to work into the boot until no more wax melts in.
Toilet wax is sticky stuff and picks up dirt and dust. They get really stiff in cold weather, and in hot temperatures they will get soft and melt. You won't be wearing your boots for church, that's for sure, but they will not leak.
QuoteOriginally posted by Bladepeek:
I've been real happy with Sno Seal...
x3. And I've tried the more expensive brands.
One trick with sno seal is after treating your boots lay on the last coat and don't melt it in. This is an all day water repellent that in my experience never even lets the water touch the leather. Dry leather boots after 16 rainy hours in the elk woods. Not bad performance IMO.
Joshua
Gene Wensel wrote about this years ago. I think his reason for using the Toilet seal wax was that it was odorless.
I tried it 6 or 7 years ago, and it was odorless (at least to my nose).
Sno Seal for me. It works and made for leather. I have to much invested in my hunting boots to try something new when I have a product that works.
Bear grease . best I've used
Sno seal here also. After the season strip it off and use neatsfoot oil or some other lubricant because sno seal tends to dry leather out.
Toliet ring wax does work and work very well. It will outlast sno seal.
I am a big fan of the obenaufs because of the way it treats the leather as well. So that is my first choice. though bear fat works pretty well
Where does one find bear grease?
Bears! You might be able to get it from Crazy Crow or Moscow Hide & Fur
There used to be a product called Finnish Bear Grease that I liked a lot. I haven't seen it in a very long time. Does anybody know if it still is marketed? I think it was petroleum based, but it worked well on all my leather stuff.
I do know that Quoddy sells a bear fat/beeswax mixture if one doesn't have bear fat readily available to make it yourself.
Thanks for everyone's responses. I think this thread was the needed push to get me to try out toilet wax.
I thought Gene was using wax rings to make lip balm for his friends...(?)
;)
Where these boots rated " waterproof" when you bought them? I guess since I lost a good pair of leather boots to a " home remedy " I would be careful about petro-chemical dressings for leather. I would stick with the sno seal or beeswax but would be prepared to recoat and seal often.
I've used the toilet wax ring on my boots and will use it again. Put the boots out in the sun to warm a bit, then rub in the wax, making sure to really work it into the seams. I hunted elk in Colorado last year and never had a wet foot despite either rain or snow most days. I haven't seen it negatively effect the leather at all. Just be sure to wear rubber gloves when you apply it to the boots because it's a tad messy to work with...but worth it.
I second Pat B.
Bear grease,bee wax and pine pitch!
I have been using this formula for over 27years.
MAY THE SPIRIT OF FRED BEAR GUIDE OUR ARROWS.
QuoteOriginally posted by M60gunner:
Where these boots rated " waterproof" when you bought them? I guess since I lost a good pair of leather boots to a " home remedy " I would be careful about petro-chemical dressings for leather. I would stick with the sno seal or beeswax but would be prepared to recoat and seal often.
No, they're not rated waterproof. They're Norwegian welted Meindl boots. Only leather (substantial leather at that) and no Gore-tex or other waterproof membrane inside.
That was part of the concern with longevity being affected by petroleum based waxes. But that doesn't seem to be an issue from other people's experiences. But I may just experiment with the toilet wax on some scrap piece of leather and see.
I think I may give it a try on my logger boots. They are goretex but they are leaking now...logging is HARD on boots. I usually buy a new pair about this time of year. Then I wear them doing stuff around the house. Then they become my hunting boots when season rolls around. Then they hit the log woods when my old pair starts leaking do bad I can't stand it.
I usually go through at least one pair of boots every year. If I could milk my work boots a little longer with a toilet wax gasket that'd be great!
I'm also a plumber and electrician in my off time....I don't know why I never thought to use the wax ring on boots.
For those who didn't see this the first time around:
http://tradgang.com/cgi-bin/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=135143;p=1
You guys using the toilet wax....are y'all using new or used rings? Lol, just kidding. Never thought of this, personally, I use mink oil.
Well, I re-read that earlier thread and it's all starting to sound familiar.
I think if I had a bad experience with GoreTex, I'd be gun shy too, but I've had 3 pairs of Meindls and have not yet had a leak. The 1st pair were retired at 14 years because the seam stitching was just totally worn out. I could still stand in the water with dry feet, though.
I think any boot can be made waterproof. My problem is that it usually makes them air-tight too. My feet sweat like a couple of race horses and if my boots aren't breathing, my feet get cold.
Until I get burned, I'll stick with my good-fitting leather boots with GoreTex lining thanks.
I use bear grease on my leather boots.
I don't think any boot but rubber can be "water proof". Water resistant maybe but not water proof.
QuoteOriginally posted by Kevin Dill:
I thought Gene was using wax rings to make lip balm for his friends...(?)
;)
Thanks for a good laugh! :)
Never use recycled toilet bowl wax rings, spring for the new ones.
I've never used Toilet Ring Wax (I call it Johnny Wax). I think I'll try it on a pair of old boots first.
I've been using Ziggy Grease for a few years with no complaints.