Beeswax polish for waterproofing leather footwear

superLeetive

Just wondering if anyone's ever used beeswax to waterproof leather shoes or boots?

I've heard it's supposed to be good for waterproofing but wondering if it has to be a special type of beeswax polish or if the sheets/bars of unprocessed beeswax that people seem to use to make candles and moisturisers etc. would be okay?

Also, anyone know where I could buy it in a relatively small quality in Dublin? The bars/sheets of unprocessed beeswax seem to be mainly available in large quantities online.

Bawnmore

I haven't, but will be giving it a bash either this week or next on a pair of old suede dessert boots. I'll be using a mix of the raw unprocessed beeswax and paraffin wax. I picked up the beeswax on ebay for a couple of quid, but found it in an arts and crafts shop in Galway for much cheaper after (by the kilo though). Shop is Cregal Arts, but I'm sure any art shop would stock it.

I'll post back and let you know how I get on if you'd like.

superLeetive

Bawnmore wrote: »

I haven't, but will be giving it a bash either this week or next on a pair of old suede dessert boots. I'll be using a mix of the raw unprocessed beeswax and paraffin wax. I picked up the beeswax on ebay for a couple of quid, but found it in an arts and crafts shop in Galway for much cheaper after (by the kilo though). Shop is Cregal Arts, but I'm sure any art shop would stock it.

I'll post back and let you know how I get on if you'd like.

Great thanks, I'll definitely try some arts and crafts shops here in Dublin then. I had been going to buy a processed beeswax paste on Amazon but think the real stuff sounds better. I read online that people cover the shoes in unprocessed beeswax and then melt it with a hair dryer... were you planning on using a similar method?

That would be brilliant if you could post back and let me know how you get on thanks! I spent a good bit on a new pair of leather boots so I'd like to get a few years out of them but reluctant to try the beeswax until I know that I'm using the right stuff and the right method.

Bawnmore

Yep - hairdryer method is what I'll be going with. You can spread the wax more eavenly with a clothes dryer, but it leaves a residue on the dryer which I'm not prepared to clean

I'll be melting both waxes down, brushing on and then spreading evenly with the hair dryer. I understand your concern - I don't really care as it's a pair that owe me nothing at all. I'll take plenty of pics and post back - probably won't be this weekend but maybe next!

Sagi

I always use SNO SEAL which is supposed to be made of Beeswax. Love it, you need quite a lot of it, rub it in, use the hairdryer to warm it up, rub in again repeat...

gets leather shoes really waterproof and I do prefer that to Gore Tex or similar