Toilet wax ring for leather boots?

[el chupa nibre]

I've read about people using this material on Tradgang and on other forums. Waterproofing leather for around $3 sounds terrific. Especially when anecdotal evidence seems to point to toilet wax being more effective than a lot of commercially marketed products.

From what I researched, the toilet wax is petroleum-based, which supposedly is not very good for leather. Can those who have used this method comment on the longevity of the leather? Any signs of degradation?

Or should I just stick to Obenauf's? Would appreciate any feedback from people who have found success with other products as well!

[Pete McMiller]

I have never heard this before.  I would try it on a small piece of leather first as it is VERY sticky.  I mix it 50/50 with bee's wax for making strings and it is still very sticky.  I understand the desire to "go natural" so to speak but regular/proven leather waterproof stuff is not that expensive and seems to last for a long time.

[Bladepeek]

I've been real happy with Sno Seal on my boots. Not terribly expensive, a can lasts a long time and I think it's a mix of beeswax and neatsfoot oil.

Just thinking about it now, I have a can of neatsfoot oil (which is made from animal bone) for my quivers. I'll bet you could make some pretty cheap by melting some beeswax over low heat and stiring in the neatsfoot oil to get a soft consistency that would rub in easily.

Think I may just try that.

[awbowman]

X2 on sno- seal

[Homebru]

I've never used toilet wax.  I have used montana pitch blend, mink oil, Sno-seal and likely a few others.  I'm a Sno-seal fan.
homebru

[shoes]

I'm a Sno Seal fan also. Obenauffs too.

[Hummer3T]

I have toilet waxed several pair of vasques over the last 4-6 years.  I apply with heat gun, seems to make leather softer, more pliable which can make it wear faster.  I have had good luck with, very water proof, lasts very long.. but may not be for everyone.

[Pat B]

I made a leather dressing by melting bear grease, bees wax and pine pitch. It works pretty good.

[Kudu Kid]

I have used toilet wax for years.  It doesn't seem to degrade the leather.  

I put my boots in the oven on foil at a very low setting. (no gal at home to complain about it) it is around 120 deg.  I warm up the boots and using plastic gloves, work the wax into the boots.  Doing this several times allowing the wax to work into the boot until no more wax melts in.  

Toilet wax is sticky stuff and picks up dirt and dust.  They get really stiff in cold weather, and in hot temperatures they will get soft and melt. You won't be wearing your boots for church, that's for sure, but they will not leak.

[jhg]

Originally posted by Bladepeek:
I've been real happy with Sno Seal...

x3. And I've tried the more expensive brands.

  One trick with sno seal is after treating your boots lay on the last coat and don't melt it in. This is an all day water repellent that in my experience never even lets the water touch the leather. Dry leather boots after 16 rainy hours  in the elk woods. Not bad performance IMO.

Joshua

[Tall Paul]

Gene Wensel wrote about this years ago.  I think his reason for using the Toilet seal wax was that it was odorless.

I tried it 6 or 7 years ago, and it was odorless (at least to my nose).

[tracker12]

Sno Seal for me.  It works and made for leather.  I have to much invested in my hunting boots to try something new when I have a product that works.

[kevsuperg]

Bear grease .  best I've used

[2nocks]

Sno seal here also. After the season strip it off and use neatsfoot oil or some other lubricant because sno seal tends to dry leather out.

[FerretWYO]

Toliet ring wax does work and work very well. It will outlast sno seal.

I am a big fan of the obenaufs because of the way it treats the leather as well. So that is my first choice. though bear fat works pretty well

[Zbone]

Where does one find bear grease?

[Pat B]

Bears!    You might be able to get it from Crazy Crow or Moscow Hide & Fur

[Sam McMichael]

There used to be a product called Finnish Bear Grease that I liked a lot. I haven't seen it in a very long time. Does anybody know if it still is marketed? I think it was petroleum based, but it worked well on all my leather stuff.

[el chupa nibre]

I do know that Quoddy sells a bear fat/beeswax mixture if one doesn't have bear fat readily available to make it yourself.

Thanks for everyone's responses. I think this thread was the needed push to get me to try out toilet wax.

[Kevin Dill]

I thought Gene was using wax rings to make lip balm for his friends...(?)