4 Beeswax Waterproofing Recipes

Do you want to protect your items from water damage? Some products we buy may be advertised as waterproof, but that is not usually the case. So, you can make your beeswax waterproofing product.

There are different beeswax waterproofing recipes you can consider. We outline every step and ingredient you need to make it in this article.

Waterproofing your leather shoes, camping gear, wooden furniture, and many other items becomes easy if you can make the product. Read on for details.

Does Beeswax Make Things Waterproof?

Yes. Beeswax is a sticky material made by worker bees for storing their food or where the queen lays her eggs.

Beeswax can also be used for waterproofing. What properties do they have for this purpose? Beeswax has a high melting point and resistance to many solvents such as water.

Beeswax has been used for centuries to waterproof other things. However, beeswax is not used as it is. Once harvested from an active hive, it should be purified.

Mostly, people put the beeswax in a container full of water and boil it to melt. The impurities in it will sink while pure beeswax remains afloat.

Once purified, beeswax can waterproof leather, cloth, canvas, wood, and many other materials. That means you can waterproof your leather boots, furniture, raincoats, and camping tents.

Waterproofing these items with purified beeswax will potentially improve their lifespans.

Apart from waterproofing materials, beeswax has other uses.

It is an ingredient for making lip balm, lip gloss, hand creams, moisturizers, savages, and cosmetics, including eye shadow, blush, and eyeliner.

Some people also use beeswax to make hair pomades to care for their hair.

4 Beeswax Waterproofing Recipe

Beeswaxes are usually not used as they are for waterproofing. They must go through some processing, which enhances their properties.

We will look at four recipes here. Read on to find out how to make beeswax for waterproofing.

2-Ingredient Off-Grid Waterproofing Wax

Ingredients

• 2 ounces beeswax
• 8 ounces petroleum jelly
• 1 tablespoonful essential oil (optional)

Procedure

Cut the beeswax into small pieces and set aside

Heat the petroleum jelly in a tin until fully melted

Add the chopped beeswax pieces little by little and continue heating until completely melted

Cool the resulting mixture before applying it to the material to be waterproofed. If you are waterproofing clothes, cool them and use a brush to wax the clothes.

That is to prevent scalding from the hot liquid. But if you are applying it on wood or metal surfaces, you can spray it when still warm using a spray bottle.

Once applied, wipe off excess beeswax from your cloth or gear. To make it stick better on the surface, heat it with a heat gun or hair dryer and then let it cool for about 24 hours before using.

When the material turns darker, it indicates successful waterproofing.

Store all your remaining wax in a sealed container. You may need to reheat it to fit into the container.

Amazon Brand – Solimo Petroleum Jelly White

Homemade Waterproofing Wax 2

Ingredients

• 16 ounces beeswax
• 8 ounces turpentine
• 8 ounces linseed oil

Procedure

Melt beeswax in a metallic coffee tin over a GE hotplate while continuously stirring. You can use any other heat source and heat-safe container to do this.

Once the beeswax is completely melted, add turpentine and stir thoroughly to mix well.

Add boiled linseed while you continue stirring the mixture. These three steps should be carried out cautiously because of the fire risks.

That is because the ingredients are flammable and can spontaneously catch fire. Linseed is added to reduce the drying time of the resulting product.

Cool the finished product ready for use. This recipe results in a waterproofing wax with paste or salve consistency. You can use your hand or rag to apply it on the surface you want to protect.

Once again, it is applied by rubbing it on the cloth, wood, and metal surfaces. A heat gun or hairdryer is used to help with absorption.

EricX Light Beeswax Bars 7oz,1oz for Each Beeswax Bars

Beeswax Leather Conditioner

Ingredients

• 2 tablespoonful coconut/shea butter
• 2 tablespoonful beeswax
• ¼ cup sweet almond oil
• ¼ cup castor oil

Procedure

Put butter and beeswax in a medium saucepan and heat over medium-to-low heat. Do this while constantly stirring to ensure the mixture does not boil or burn.

Add sweet almond oil while still stirring the mixture.

After melting the castor oil, continue stirring to blend. Continue heating for another 4-5 minutes while stirring, not allowing it to boil.

Transfer the liquid product to an empty tin and allow it to cool before applying it to your leather shoes.

Note: The consistency of the formed leather conditioner can be changed by altering the quantities of the ingredients.

More beeswax will make it pastier, and more almond oil or castor oil will result in a softer leather conditioner.

To use your just formed leather conditioner to waterproof your shoes, you have to clean and dry the leather shoes. Use a soft, dry cloth to apply the product to the leather shoes, covering every surface.

Since the beeswax waterproofing layer wears off after some time, you may need to reapply the leather conditioner after 2-6 months. That depends on how frequently you use your shoes.

Natural Beeswax Furniture Polish

This product is just what you need to waterproof your furniture and restore its sheen. It is simple to make, using just a few ingredients and an easy-to-follow procedure.

Ingredients

• 150 grams beeswax
• 600 grams olive oil
• 30 drops of anti-oxidant such as grapefruit extract or vitamin E (optional)
• 10 drops of essential oil such as lavender (optional)

Procedure

Place olive oil and beeswax into a double boiler. This setup can be made by placing a saucepan in another much larger pan filled with hot water.

This provides indirect heat to the ingredients, thereby maintaining their integrity. Direct heat can break down some crucial compounds in the oil and beeswax.

Heat the double boiler over medium heat to completely melt the beeswax while stirring all the while. Do not increase heat to fasten the melting, as it can splash water into your ingredients.

Add the optional antioxidant ingredient and continue stirring to blend well. Transfer the mixture to a wide container for faster cooling.

It may take up to 2 hours for the product to cool and have a semi-hard balm consistency.

Your beeswax wood polish is ready for use. Use your fingers or rags to apply it on any wood surface you want to polish, waterproof, or beautify. Once done, wipe off any excess paste from the surface.

You can do that immediately or give some time for the oils to penetrate through the wood.

How To Make Beeswax Waterproofing

Making beeswax waterproofing products for various materials is a straightforward process.

Whether you want to waterproof your camping gear, leather boots, furniture, or metallic surfaces, you can make a beeswax product for the purpose. Proceed as follows:

Ingredients and Tools

• 2 parts beeswax
• 1 part linseed
• 1 part turpentine
• Heat source (can be a hot plate over burner or saucepan over hot water)
• Tin can or throw-away cook pot
• Measuring cup
• Paint stirrer
• Clean rag or spray bottle
• Hairdryer or heat gun
• Storage container

Basic Safety Rules

• The ingredients are flammable, and that is why you should avoid direct heating or naked flames.
• Have a fire extinguisher nearby in case a fire breaks out
• Keep waxed rugs away from the fire because they can spontaneously start burning
• Avoid touching the ingredients or formed products with your bare hands if you have sensitive skin
• Hot beeswax waterproofing products can scald or wrinkle clothes. Cool it before use.

5 Steps To Make Beeswax Waterproofing

With all the ingredients and equipment ready, you can make a beeswax waterproofing product in the following five steps:

Step 1: Melt Beeswax

Put beeswax into the tin can or saucepan over a double boiler and heat to melt. If you choose a tin can, put it over a hot pan and set heat to medium.

Melting beeswax in a saucepan over hot water should be straightforward. Keep stirring to avoid boiling and speed up the melting process.

Step 2: Add Linseed Oil

Once the beeswax is completely melted, add linseed oil while stirring. Keep stirring to obtain a uniform mixture of melted beeswax and linseed oil, and then proceed to the next step.

Step 3: Add The Turpentine

Add the turpentine to the blend and continue stirring. You also need to obtain a uniform mixture of the three ingredients. Continue heating for a few minutes while constantly stirring the mixture.

Step 4: Remove From The Heat And Continue Stir For A Few Minutes

Once beeswax, linseed oil, and turpentine are uniformly mixed, your beeswax waterproofing product is ready. Take it out of the fire and let it cool for a few minutes while stirring.

Step 5: Use Right Away Or Pour It Into The Containers For Storage

The formed product can take up to 2 hours to cool with a pasty consistency. You don’t have to wait all that long if you want to waterproof your furniture and leather boots.

Pour the product in the spray bottle when still warm and apply on the surfaces.

If you don’t want to use it right away, pour it into the storage containers and keep it in a cool, dry place. Sealable storage containers are preferred in this case.

How To Use Beeswax Waterproofing

Beeswax waterproofing can be used in different ways, depending on the item or material you are waterproofing.

We have hinted at many things when discussing recipes. In this section, we get into the details of using beeswax waterproofing.

Whether you are applying it on leather, wood, or metal, the process remains unchanged.

But for clothes, you have to make sure the beeswax product is completely cooled to avoid scalding or wrinkling the cloth fibers.

Applying Beeswax With Spray Bottle

This method is ideal if you use the beeswax straight away after preparation. The beeswax needs to be liquid. If it is already pasty, you may need to reheat it first.

You are advised to clean the surfaces you want to waterproof first to unblock the microscopic holes by removing dirt.

Spray the clean and dried furniture, leather boots, camping gear, or any other item you want to protect. Once done, let it sit for a few hours before wiping away excess wax.

Using a heat gun or hair dryer is unnecessary for this step but is still recommended. Blow hot hair onto the surface to allow the wax to penetrate further into the material for a better result.

Applying Beeswax Using Rag or Hand

Cooled, pasty beeswax waterproofing products are best applied using hands or rags. The latter option is recommended for those who have sensitive skin.

Rub it on the surface until every part is covered. Once that procedure is completed, use a hot gun or hair dryer to melt the beeswax on the surface. That makes it permeate the material better.

Give it about two hours for the changes to occur or until you see the bacterial turning a shade darker. Wipe away any excess beeswax and allow it to sit for another 24 hours before your item is ready for use.

How Long Does Beeswax Waterproofing Last?

The effects of beeswax waterproofing will fade with time due to wear and tear on the surface. In many cases, you will need to reapply the product after 2-6 months, depending on how often you use the item.

You can also be observant. If water no longer slides on the surface, it indicates that the beeswax is no longer effective. Reapply as soon as possible to continue protecting your item from water damage.

In Conclusion

Waterproofing leather, wooden furniture, camping gear, and many other items can be expensive.

Commercial products in the market for achieving that are highly priced. Fortunately, you can make a simple beeswax product to protect your items.

We hope you have the information about making beeswax waterproofing products. Thank you for staying at the Em Offgrid, and we would encourage you to share this article with others.