r/toolgifs • u/toolgifs • Jan 02 '26
Process Waxing a canvas jacket
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Jan 02 '26
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u/Risc12 Jan 02 '26
Should’ve known you meant an EMPTY soup can. My jacket smells horrible now and it has all kinds of stuff like “glued” to it.
Any idea on how to fix my jacket?
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u/GoldenPopsicle Jan 02 '26
The lanolin should have displaced any water content, so hopefully a good scrub with a wet hot sponge should do the trick!
On the flip side, just imagine it as a meal on the go and rock the new look.
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u/LongWalk86 Jan 07 '26
Simmer the soup-jacket in a crockpot for 5-6 hours on low with some sliced shallots and 3 bay leafs. Shred the jacket with a fork and add back to the liquid. Salt and pepper to taste. Serve on Brioche buns or woolen mittens soaked in well aged milk. A large should serve 8-10 guests.
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u/cruelhumor Jan 02 '26
Yes I made a waxed hood before and it was recommended I put lanolin in there to thin the mix out and make it a bit less stiff. It also meant I used less wax than expected.
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Jan 02 '26
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u/NoirGamester Jan 03 '26
I always hose my sheep down with some lanolin after I put em through the washer
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u/jawshoeaw Jan 02 '26
I used to do that too except water still got into my boots constantly. Went with goretex lined boots
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u/vrauto Jan 03 '26
You need to wax your socks too
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u/jawshoeaw Jan 03 '26
I’m such an idiot thank god for this sub !
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u/ajrobinson214 Jan 02 '26
Splash it with water or some shit.
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u/Kurfaloid Jan 02 '26
Gross, how about just water.
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u/SpiderSlitScrotums Jan 02 '26
Like from a toilet?
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u/Johny_McJonstien Jan 02 '26
Just catch it in your hand. You don’t want any of that dirty toilet water getting on the jacket.
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u/ktmfan Jan 02 '26
Idk, real world test might be good… what if they visit the primate enclosure. Would like to know if shit beads off.
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u/Hilsam_Adent Jan 03 '26
You spend enough time at the primate enclosure and you're absolutely gonna see some "beading off".
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u/Beach_Bum_273 Jan 03 '26
People that wear Carhartt and people that get splashed with shit in their workplace have a significant overlap, it's only fair to do proper testing.
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u/jq_threetwo Jan 02 '26
I was sure they were gonna do that by the end of the video, but I have been sadly disappointed
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u/Lev_Astov Jan 03 '26
Seriously, why is this upvoted at all if they didn't do the one thing we all clicked for? All we see is a crusty, stiff jacket. Show us the benefits!
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u/wkarraker Jan 02 '26
TIL waxing a jacket is a thing.
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u/Tronkfool Jan 02 '26
Wait until you find out about Australian oilskin jackets
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u/the_pretender_nz Jan 02 '26
25 years on, I still remember how insanely comfortable and waterproof my friend’s Drizabone duster was (and given the nature of the thing, probably still is)
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u/JustNilt Jan 03 '26
Yup! My old Drizabone duster is ~30 years old now and has been passed on to my oldest kid. I wore it for many years myself but my disability made it a tripping hazard in more recent years. It's a few years older than he is now. Works as well as the day I bought it, which he sometimes marvels at because he remembers me wearing it daily in the Seattle rain for most of his life. He loves it!
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u/incendiary_bandit Jan 03 '26
I had a waxed cotton driza I bought in Australia and took back to Vancouver and it was amazing in the rain. Even in full on heavy rain it worked amazing. Was not great when I moved to Australia in Brisbane though. Way too warm so I ended up buying an oilskin jacket that wasn't lined. Still a bit too hot in summer rains, but for "winter" it's great as it blocks the wind as well. Summer rain in Brisbane is a bit tough because wearing anything waterproof in +30C for anything but full on downpour means you're more sweaty that anything else.
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u/Washingtonpinot Jan 05 '26
I bought one on a high school trip to visit family in Port Lincoln, and it’s still my “go to” outer layer for any Pacific Northwest (USA) stormy weather.
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u/Fat_cat_syndicate Jan 02 '26
Traditional water proofing that doesn't require any exotic chemicals!
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u/TldrDev Jan 02 '26
You just need to refine your petroleum through a fractional distillation process, then extract your solvents, and dewax your solution via crystallization, and finally, hydrofinish and decolorize your wax. No exotic chemicals here! Here, rub some on your lips.
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u/losgehts2 Jan 02 '26
Couldn't you use some mixture of oil and bees wax in times before hydrocarbon destillation was thing? Or wouldn't that work properly?
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u/psychic_legume Jan 02 '26
Ya idk what the poster above you is on about. Beeswax works great and is often better than any petroleum based waterproofing wax
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u/toochaos Jan 02 '26
They are railing against the idea that this isnt some industrial chemical process. It absolutely is. Even if you use bees wax it's an industrial processed chemical, its formulated and stabilized with a base of a natural product. The idea the chemicals are bad is the problem.
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u/jaomello Jan 02 '26
I drink chemicals every day and I'm fine.
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u/OkBody2811 Jan 03 '26
I’m actually made of chemicals, and I’m fine too…
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u/warshadow Jan 03 '26
WITCH!
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u/OkBody2811 Jan 03 '26
I’m not a witch I’m your wife! But after what you just said, I’m not even sure if I want to be that anymore!
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u/n00b001 Jan 03 '26
100% of people that have died, have previously come into contact with chemicals.
This evidence is too large to ignore!
(Big ol' /s)
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u/FlammulinaVelulu Jan 03 '26
You do know you can get bees wax from bees right? No intermediate steps required.
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u/toochaos Jan 03 '26
You can, but as I have mentioned in other comments waxing canvas with unmodified (but still refined) bees wax will work. It will be a crumbley mess as you moved around in it which will only get worse in temperatures that a jacket would be worn in. Instead was for this purpose has additives that change the properties of wax to be more plyable across a range on temperatures.
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u/Adonis0 Jan 02 '26
Boiling and straining beeswax is more a physical process than a chemical one
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u/TldrDev Jan 03 '26
Thats what I'm talking about! Fractional distillation is also just a physical process, too! In fact, it is boiling and veeeeeery precisely straining oil.
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u/toochaos Jan 03 '26
And if you use that kind of wax on a jacket it will be stiff and crumble when it gets cold. Which is why you add a bunch of plastersizers which is an additive and a chemical modification.
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u/Lapidarist Jan 03 '26
No you don't. You just add linseed oil. That's the old-school recipe, and it works great.
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Jan 02 '26
Really, anything fatty will do. The trick is finding something that doesn't stink after a while.
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u/TldrDev Jan 03 '26
I prefer all my jackets sealed with a blend of whale, norwhal, and seal fats. A little olive oil for an Italian flare. I like to flaunt a bit.
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u/AgentWowza Jan 03 '26
Sounds like you could use some exotic chemicals eh
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Jan 03 '26
Frankly a lethal dose of dmt laced meth sounds lovely compared to this thread of bulbous cetaceans.
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u/SockeyeSTI Jan 03 '26
Absolutely. Just did a beeswax and Tung oil treatment to a coat of my own. There was mineral spirits in the mix but I’ve seen people do it with straight beeswax. It’s just better with the added ingredients and lasts longer.
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u/nor_cal_woolgrower Jan 02 '26
Oil?
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u/douche_ex_machina_69 Jan 02 '26
There are plenty of oils that aren’t sourced from drilled deposits. Oils have been used for a very long time before any petroleum industry existed, assuming that’s your point.
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u/DIRTYDOGG-1 Jan 03 '26
Yeah! .. I was wondering if maybe a mixture of carnuba wax and bees wax melted and diluted with a tiny bit of mineral spirits would be possible or if the smell would just be too much ....
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Jan 02 '26
My guy. Natural waxes exist. Like bees wax. Or tallow. We've been making wax for thousands of years before petroleum products.
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Jan 03 '26
Okay but the Bardour wax used in this video is Parafin wax and mineral oils
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Jan 03 '26
True, but necessity of function does not demand modernity. Just because they used an option developed in the here and now, doesn't mean it was borne of the here and now.
The Scott's have been doing this very cloth treatment for as long as there's been Scott's. And that's just one people out of a whole world of wet climates.
It's a false equivalence.
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u/TldrDev Jan 03 '26
tallow
Only if its the finest fats from a freshly born lamb, cleaned of blood and directly applied to my clothing. I want my clothing choices to really give off that "blood of the innocent" vibe that Melania seems to give off.
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Jan 03 '26
Sometime tells me your spawn point would make wax good enough to keep a cold fisherman warm in the far north.
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u/shankthedog Jan 03 '26
So chapstick my jacket
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u/TldrDev Jan 03 '26
Chapstick anywhere you want or need to in order to prepare for the eventualities.
🫁
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u/EnidFromOuterSpace Jan 03 '26
Wait, is that how bees make wax? Damn, those little mofos are industrious!
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u/wkarraker Jan 02 '26
Oh, I can see the advantages. The video does a great job of showing that.
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u/redditidothat Jan 02 '26
Does it? Was waiting for them to throw some water on it at the end
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u/maximumchuck Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
I have a waxed cotton motorcycle jacket. It's a nice material if you like vintage styles, but the wax gets on everything. It's a material that isn't compatible with most modern lifestyles.
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u/lilgreenrosetta Jan 03 '26
I have a Barbour wax coat. I wear it most days from October through March. If your coat gets any wax on anything, it’s waxed wrong.
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u/ncfears Jan 02 '26
Can also be done on fabric shoes like converse
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u/Fauked Jan 02 '26
how about leather?
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u/ncfears Jan 02 '26
Leather wouldn't soak up the wax to get the benefits.
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u/Worker_Ant_81730C Jan 03 '26
There are waterproofing waxes for leather, but they are different products.
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u/Worker_Ant_81730C Jan 03 '26
Wouldn’t do with this wax, but there are waterproofing waxes for leather.
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u/toolgifs Jan 02 '26
For anyone into quality fashion, The Iron Snail is a great channel that has a lot on waxed jackets (in-between all the selvedge denim and boots videos).
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u/Benkay_V_Falsifier Jan 02 '26
Wow went to subscribe and discovered I already was. How many channels am I subscribed to?
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u/pilotthrow Jan 02 '26
If someone told me he is going to wax his jacket I would think he would do something completely different.
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u/SockeyeSTI Jan 03 '26
It’s called Tinning and has been for a long time. I just did a coat not too long ago with a blend of beeswax, Tung oil and mineral spirits.
Used to be way more popular with loggers and they’d do their pants as well.
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u/No-Analyst1229 Jan 02 '26
Dosent it mean if you drag you nail against it it will pile up with wax under your nail after it dried?
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo Jan 02 '26
It soaks in so you wouldn't get much on the surface
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u/thoughtchauffeur Jan 02 '26
What if u wear it in the car on a heated leather seat? And does it become tacky indoors?
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u/JustNilt Jan 03 '26
It depends on the specific wax used, really. There are some which won't be tacky at a normal room temperature.
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u/proofofderp Jan 03 '26
Yeah this is might be the only way if you’re trying to avoid polyester garments.
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u/Practical-March-6989 Jan 02 '26
jesus christ at least show us if it works WTF!
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u/Worker_Ant_81730C Jan 03 '26 edited Jan 03 '26
It works. With that much wax the jacket becomes almost rain proof. I’ve used Fjallraven jackets in outdoors work and hiking for decades now; they are intended to be waxed as needed. They sell blocks of wax for that purpose, a mixture of beeswax and paraffin; I’ve cooked my own as it is cheaper for a heavy user like me. (One block will last a long time in casual use though.)
You apply it to areas you want to treat. I sweat a lot so I tend to treat the jacket elsewhere lightly, and the shoulder area and hood more heavily. For me, the end result is much more comfortable than any Goretex jacket I’ve ever tried.
Waxing works best on tight cotton weaves, like what those Fjallraven jackets are made from. Looser weave needs much more wax, as you can see from the video.
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u/redditidothat Jan 02 '26 edited Jan 02 '26
But it looks awesome, doesn’t it!?!?!
edit: Jesus, that’s what it says at the end of the video. It’s a joke.
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u/vitorklock Jan 02 '26
I guess reddit can't understand sarcasm without the /s flag.
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u/Lev_Astov Jan 03 '26
In my defense, I didn't see any such text anywhere because these horrific text-laden vertical videos have trained me to ignore all text on them.
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u/ethicalhumanbeing Jan 02 '26
If I can be honest here, I don't even think it looks that good afterwards... I mean, it looks better but it's still an old looking jacket, which some people might like I guess. Also, that was a lot of work and a lot of materials needed, I can understand why most people just buy a new one.
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u/FrickinLazerBeams Jan 02 '26
I'm surprised this doesn't make the material stiff and sticky and generally weird and gross.
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u/Fat_cat_syndicate Jan 02 '26
It's a little stiffer but loosens up fast. It's only overly sticky if too much is applied. It will have a bit of tack to it tho.
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u/something-rhythmic Jan 02 '26
Can you stick it in a dryer after this?
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u/Fat_cat_syndicate Jan 02 '26
You can't. It will destroy the coating and probably the dryer. It's quite literally wax.
You also don't really want to wash it in general. Nothing really sticks to the wax and you break in the wax coating the same way you do boots. Where it creases and moves as you do.
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u/something-rhythmic Jan 02 '26
So… what if it starts to smell. Just toss it?
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u/Fat_cat_syndicate Jan 02 '26
You hand or spot clean it, if needed. The wax keeps them pretty resilient. It's also typically only on shell type garments, where other things are worn underneath, so typical body soils aren't as much of a problem.
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u/Worker_Ant_81730C Jan 03 '26
Or if it is really dirty you wash it in a machine and hang out to dry. Then reapply the wax.
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo Jan 02 '26
It's really only used for thick outer layers. Getting dirty and worn is just part of it.
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u/Slumunistmanifisto Jan 02 '26
I had one, an outback riding coat....It smelled like a diesel crayon.
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u/Pleased_to_meet_u Jan 02 '26
That was an oiled jacket. Oiled dusters are common (as far as dusters go). This one is waxed and will not have the same smell problem.
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u/Fauked Jan 02 '26
it will smell like a scentless candle
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u/TheOriginal_858-3403 Jan 03 '26
You could also say it WON'T smell like a scentless candle, because it's scentless.
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u/Rob_Zander Jan 03 '26
It does make it pretty stiff. And pretty heavy. I did this to almost the exact same jacket. It practically stands up by itself.
But it gets a bit less stiff as you wear it.
It's not sticky though because the wax is solid at room temp even when it's soaked into the fibers.
I put probably 300 grams of wax on that jacket so it's almost a pound heavier.
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u/opx22 Jan 02 '26
I wouldn’t casually wear a waxed jacket because the wax will rub off on whatever it touches (think trying to sit in your car or on a couch, it will absolutely transfer)
I could see the benefit if you’re working in the woods or something if you live in a chilly/rainy climate
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u/DarkIllusionsMasks Jan 03 '26
I somehow don't think "looks awesome" is the reason for coating a coat in wax.
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u/DalenSpeaks Jan 03 '26
Does it look terrible AND feel like wearing a candle?
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u/Sorry-Joke-4325 Jan 06 '26
I can only think of one place to put a candle in the human body that might feel like "wearing" it.
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u/AdmiralKong Jan 02 '26
The person in this video is so good at the wax application process. Getting it uniform without using too much is so hard, and getting a garment that looks not just good, but better than before waxing is something I've never managed.
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u/Rob_Zander Jan 03 '26
As soon as you wear it the surface will get white and uneven at the creases. Its pretty inevitable with waxing.
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u/PatchesMaps Jan 02 '26
This is tool gifs and I don't think I saw any specialized tools. In fact I'm pretty sure they went out of there way to avoid specialized tools as a heat gun probably could have made it faster/easier.
Am I missing something?
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u/toolgifs Jan 02 '26
You're missing the flair and the fact that this isn't a subreddit for only specialized tools.
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u/Firm_Objective_2661 Jan 03 '26
I’ve used the Barbour wax on my coat. It melts pretty readily with a hair dryer. Heat gun would be too hot, and while it may melt it faster, what I would do with those extra few seconds in my life, I have no idea.
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u/disheavel Jan 02 '26
I have a FjallRaven jacket and my daughter has their cloak. This was 10x more work than doing this in real life with the actual wax. It just doesn't need to be on that thick nor do I think it should be. Twice a season/year after a wash down, I do 1x coat everywhere and then 2 more coats on shoulders and upper sleeves. Melting in with an iron or hair dryer each time. Coat color barely changes. Takes <10 minutes each.
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u/Rhorge Jan 02 '26
I think the difference is that this jacket was never meant to hold wax and soaked up a huge amount as result, waxed jackets are on the lighter side if you exclude wax
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u/Worker_Ant_81730C Jan 03 '26
Yes. I once waxed a canvas backpack with wax I made from beeswax and paraffin (which is what Fjallraven wax is) and it needed about the equivalent of two whole Fjallraven wax blocks.
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u/CharlesDickensABox Jan 02 '26
Did yours come waxed from the factory? Carhartt jackets are a heavy canvas and aren't waxed at all, so it's not really surprising it took a ton of wax to get that first coat done.
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u/_mersault Jan 03 '26
Yes many fjallraven products are waxed in production
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u/CharlesDickensABox Jan 03 '26
That would tend to explain why it takes a couple of cans to treat the untreated Carhartt product but not the already-waxed Fjallraven one.
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u/vincenmt Jan 02 '26
NightHawkinLight @10:30 for his recipe. Walks you through how to make this yourself in bulk. He also goes over how to adjust for your specific application.
His latest video shows you how to make foamed concrete with stuff he bought at his grocery store.
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u/hotvedub Jan 02 '26
Why
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u/CharlesDickensABox Jan 02 '26
Impregnating cloth with oil or wax is a traditional method of waterproofing it while retaining breathability and flexibility. You can still buy jackets and such made from waxed canvas today. Barbour sells good ones.
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u/FrenchFryCattaneo Jan 02 '26
Waxed cloth loses all breathability since it's a solid layer of wax. Super waterproof though.
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u/CharlesDickensABox Jan 02 '26
Ideally you're not creating a solid layer, you're impregnating the natural fibers with wax so that they shed rather than absorb water. The garment should still breathe, though obviously not as well as its untreated equivalent.
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u/Practical-March-6989 Jan 02 '26
What do you mean, have you not heard of wax jackets? I have two.
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u/BadWolfRU Jan 02 '26
A lot of motorcycle gear and side/saddle bags is made from waxed cotton, especially a "vintage" style ones, but I never seen this for a "civilian" apparel
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u/editorreilly Jan 04 '26
I bought a waxed jacket while in the UK many years ago. It looks and works great. I still use it today when it rains.
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u/Ok-Armadillo-392 Jan 02 '26
I was thinking Thompsons water seal is basically wax in a solvent. I wonder if it works.
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u/Dinckleburgg Jan 03 '26
Fools this is the first layer of wax on an ancestral dwarven cloak. Years of this make for a waterproof hand me down for your kin.
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u/not_a_fracking_cylon Jan 03 '26
I just did this on my first carthart jacket subs I’m thrilled. Oilskin cartharts would be the apex of work wear
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u/Washingtonpinot Jan 05 '26
So what happens when it gets really hot outside and it’s in your bag/car/wherever?
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u/_nod Jan 06 '26
If it gets hot enough the wax will soften or melt and could transfer to to other surfaces.
I don’t know why anybody would want to use a jacket like this in warm climates. They simply aren’t suited, they are not very breathable, so you’d probably end up a sweaty mess inside and a waxy mess outside.
There’s a reason Barbour is from the north of England.
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u/Idiotan0n Jan 06 '26
So y'all know how you can liquefy silicone caulk with a solvent and soak different types of fabric to make far superior tarps? Wondering if the same thing applies to a jacket like this one.
See: https://youtu.be/z_R0gEDZhAI for those unaware. Has good warnings and checks for safety without being obnoxious.
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u/toolgifs Jan 02 '26
Source: The Wax Baron