Thread: Where to get beeswax for linen?

Hi, need to treat some vintage linen after cleaning... I know parafin can work too but prefer to use beeswax

So any pointers where to buy some are greatly appreciated

Thank you
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

Hi, need to treat some vintage linen after cleaning... I know parafin can work too but prefer to use beeswax

So any pointers where to buy some are greatly appreciated

Thank you
Ivo

For small quantity, try a fabric store (dressmakers and tailors us it sometimes for coating thread)... eg, JoAnn Fabric has it in their store near me. I'd guess any shop that sells candle making supplies would have it for larger quantities.

Thank you, Joe!

We have JoAnn's around, I think... I don't imagine I need much, probably just a small piece. Plan to rub it in (or heat to soften and then rub in), will see how it goes.

Now I am starting to wonder - are there various grades of beeswax for various purposes and what is the best for strops?

Cheers
Ivo

I've purchased beeswax at health food stores like Wild Oats and Whole Foods. To my limited knowledge, there are two types: refined and unrefined. The refined has been filtered of the honey and pollen (and maybe a bee leg or two!). The refined stuff I've seen is white, although I've read that it can also be yellow. Unrefined is usually a dark amber color.

As to which is best to strop with, I dunno! Kind of makes sense to me, though, that you wouldn't want flecks of pollen on your strop.

Most of the online woodworking/finishing stores sell beeswax in their finishing departments.


Justin

thank you all for the tips! I'll check out Whole foods, it's closest

I was already imagining some interaction with my buddies along the lines of:
"Hey, whacha doin in that gay JoAnn place?" - friend, trying to burn me
"Getting beeswax for my straight razor strop, b!tch!" - yours truly, friend is stumped

Cheers
Ivo

Originally Posted by izlat

thank you all for the tips! I'll check out Whole foods, it's closest

I was already imagining some interaction with my buddies along the lines of:
"Hey, whacha doin in that gay JoAnn place?" - friend, trying to burn me
"Getting beeswax for my straight razor strop, b!tch!" - yours truly, friend is stumped

Cheers
Ivo

Actually, in my area JoAnns has become one of the dominant arts and crafts type venues. They still sell fabric and dried flowers, but also art supplies, craft supplies, and some hobby stuff. I've purchased M&P Olive Oil soap base there, for example. My wife's an art teacher, so she drags me there frequently for the more "mundane" stuff.

Also Michaels arts and craft stores (if there's one around) carries bees wax for candle making. I believe they have both white and yellow.

Scott

Do it the macho way. Just find a bee's nest and rob it of the combs and get the wax and the honey. Oh the bee's, they won't like it but if your fast enough and run like hell they won't catch you and even if they do what's a few stings. Just like the first time you used a straight.

Originally Posted by thebigspendur

...Just like the first time you used a straight.

I implore people not to look my first straight shave report. Especially if they don't like to know about blood wounds and stuff... Some members were, um, disgusted

Checked Michaels - the block would be enough for all of us... I am currently thinking if I should just soften the wax and rub, or straight out melt on an iron and wax like ski / snowboard. The vintage linens have a hardness to them that I'm pretty sure means they were treated with liquid form at the manufacturer. Of course, I may be wrong

Cheers
Ivo