Gunny Paste!

[OkKeith]

My day for multiple posts...

Does anyone use a variant of Gunny Paste on their bows? I make mine with equal parts (by weight) of bees wax, mineral spirits and boiled linseed oil. Something in my mix has been hinky with my last two batches. I melt the wax and stir in the mineral spirits (off the heat) as usual and then add the linseed oil but as it cools it hasn't been getting "solid". It stays gummy after application. Usually it dries to a hard-ish finish that can be buffed to a nice satin.

Old linseed oil? Impure bees wax?

I dunno... do you?

Thanks,

OkKeith

[Bvas]

I can’t see the linseed oil being the problem. I use it on my wooden levels and never have a problem with it. Ive been using the same can for past ten or fifteen years.

Beeswax could be a factor. Nearly all beeswax has some “impurities”. Nearly all beeswax will have some honey and or propolis blended in. Pure beeswax will be nearly white with maybe a slight yellow tint. Darker yellow to orange wax has a lot  propolis in it. And propolis is very tacky.

[OkKeith]

Thanks for the help Bvas...

Seems like the bees wax was normal. Maybe I just measured wrong on the amounts. After mixing and cooling it usually comes to a Crisco-like consistancy. Maybe too much mineral spirits. I may leave the lid off for a bit and see if it evaporates a little.

Sure do like it for a top coat on some of my bows. Works good on broadheads and tool handles as well.

OkKeith

[OkKeith]

Well... figured out my problem (I think). ODORLESS MINERAL SPIRITS!

I bought a gallon can and didn't FULLY read the label. I poured some into a smaller sealed container and grabbed that when I made my Gunny Paste. That's the only unaccounted for variable. I don't know what makes it odorless (other than well, having no odor) but it sure doesn't work like the odored... uh oderful? Non-odorless stuff...

OkKeith