Beeswax and Pine Tar Knife Sheath Leather Treatment

[@Bill-mw7sh]

A good bark river man.

[@BurroB0Y]

Love the idea of using an S-Biner for a dangler! Great video!

[@rugfixr]

Love the treatment. Maybe get a small ladle and hang the sheath on a wire inside the can and just ladle it over quickly, let it drain, then brush it in. Almost zero waste, coats it thoroughly, and is less messy.

[@matthoward1174]

Great old school video! I use pine tar/turpentine/boiled linseed oil, and sometimes add beeswax as a wood preservative.

[@GoblinModeKnives]

oh nice. this popped up after I've treated some leather with straight pine tar. I hadn't though to combine it with beeswax.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

How did it turn out with straight pine tar? I'd worry that it would be sticky forever. Pine tar can be kind of nasty to work with.

[@GoblinModeKnives]

@@ShawnsWorkshop oh yeah. it sucks to work with. but after a few days of drying it ceases to be tacky. usually.

[@troychristianson5377]

Do you have a source for pine tar?

[@shadowstalker130666]

How has the treatment performed over time?

[@Christopher-888]

How does the pores in the leather breath being that you coated both sides.? A simple same method is Huberds Shoe Grease except I would leave some way the leather can breath so it doesn't rot faster.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

The idea is that the pores are completely filled with the wax/tar mixture. The leather does not need to breathe as it is now stiffened and preserved much like cuir bouilli leather armor or like a natural organic version of stabilized wood if you want to think of it that way. The wax-tar mixture is impervious to the elements under conditions you'd encounter in the North American woodlands. Once moisture cannot penetrate the treated leather it will not rot.

[@Christopher-888]

@@ShawnsWorkshop alright I'm gonna give it a try for a time on a piece and compare it with huberds shoe grease or oil being thats what my great grandfather being a logger taught me to use as a kid.

[@CaptMarkSVAlcina]

I like it but now you have lost the colour of it

[@moncorp1]

Set your leather in the sun for awhile or heat it up with a hair dryer. It will absorb leather treatments like a sponge.

[@HedlessHorsman]

Is it sticky after buffing? Will it discolor pants, shirts... basically any clothing it touches?

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

The finish can be a little sticky immediately after buffing, but if you set the sheath in a warm, dry, place for a few days it should be safe to use with no problems. Also, I should mention that I've only ever done this on vegetable-tanned leathers, which have a good absorbent open-pore to them. For chrome-tanned or other types of leather, your results may vary.

[@frankwilliams5475]

What is that piece of hardware you used to make the dangler?

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

That is a Nite-Ize S-Biner Ahhh. www.niteize.com/product/S-Biner-Ahhh.asp

[@bendobert9901]

How do you store the leftover mix?

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

I store it in the same tin can that you see it boiling in. I keep it covered to prevent dirt and dust from getting inside.

[@sloanIrrigation]

No, pine tar is not good for leather. It destroys the natural leather oils. You want to replace the oils that have dried and evaporated from the leather. Any good leather treatment sold by reputable company will do. Pine tar and BLO is excellent for wood handled tools however.

[@ShawnsWorkshop]

That's interesting. What's your evidence for the idea that pine tar destroys natural leather oils? I've been using it on leather for more than 10 years with no visible deterioration. But testing this theory might make for an interesting video.