Cloth shooting bag advice

[BillinOregon]

I'm planning to make a shooting bag using braintan for the flap, and either linen or fustian for the body. I will probably line the bag with pillow ticking. I could use advice on how to weatherproof the bag. I have seen a number of bags that have been heavily beeswaxed, and I am sure that will work. Is the wax applied in melted form, then rubbed in as it cools? Does it soften and run on a hot day?
How about using some of LaBonte's dubbin, a mixture of wax, oil, tallow and pitch?

 

[bwhoffman]

Morning! up here at the wet end of the state, I have made 4 double pouch bags out of #4 canvas(real thick) and used braintan fo rthe flap!
My main bag has been in use for 3 years now and as far as "water proofing", I did rub the inside with bee's wax and olive oil mix. That and the continual use of oily hands and all, it stays somewhat dry during the course of a typical club day. Mine are lined as well with ticking or calico.
But keep in mind, this is Oregon! nothing is dry for ever!

SnoSeal, an oregon product, works real good!
you can warm it up and paint it on, then put it all in a big ziploc and microwave it for about 25 seconds and work it around and let cool.

 

[T.C.Albert]

The finished bag is heated in a warm oven, you may want to do this "before" you add the brain tan flap, I think the oven might toast the leather...the bees wax is melted in a double boiler....when melted, turn the oven off and remove the bag,the wax is brushed onto the "warm" cloth bag with a narrow natural bristle paint brush...work fast trying to coat the whole bag before it cools...pop the bag back in the warm oven for a few more minutes (but make sure the oven is off...you do not want a fire)The wax will soak in and even out.This works very well, but stay away from open flames.Theres an article about this in the Jan/Feb 2009 Muzzleloader.
TC

 

[necchi]

"SnoSeal, an oregon product, works real good!"

Good stuff! It's already beeswax,, :thumbsup:

Put it on and use a hot blow dryer or hold it over the stove fire/element on high.

 

[BillinOregon]

Thanks fellers! Brett, it's been a might damp down here in the Rogue Valley, too. Go Ducks!

 

[bwhoffman]

Thanks fellers! Brett, it's been a might damp down here in the Rogue Valley, too. Go Ducks!

...but I went to OSU! I will still route for your ducks! :blah:

 

[BillinOregon]

Brett: Ducks and Beavers can be friends, just not on Civil War day ... :wink:

TC: Used your method and it came out great. I'm really liking this little bag so far. I have a nice woven strap from the Weaving Welshman that I will use. I plan to sew it on with the same linen thread I used for the bag: Barbour's Irish Linen 3-cord No. 50. I normally would use heavy saddle thread, but I think the No. 50 will do fine.

Braintan for the flap has been dipped in COOLED walnut dye and is drying in the pale November sun.

Do any of you folks attach your horns to woven straps?

 

[hoochiepapa]

Yeah. Cut two pieces of leather, one round and one round with a long tail about 3/8 to 1/2 inches wide. Sew the two round pieces to the strap with the strap sandwiched between. Fold the long tail in half and sew it together, making sure it is long enough to hang your horn from. Then figure out how to attach it to your strap.

 

[BillinOregon]

Got the pouch mostly finished, and only stabbed myself three times with the needle. That's got to be a record for me.
Here's the bag, a simple, single-pouch affair of fustian lined with ticking, then beeswaxed, and the lightly dyed braintan for a flap and one of Short Arm's fabulous straps to complete it.

Now if I can just figure out what Mike is suggesting for the horn attachment ...

 

[necchi]

VERY NICE ! :thumbsup:

 

[T.C.Albert]

That looks great...glad the wax treatment worked, its the way I do it and Ive heard good things about how long it lasts...I have attached horns to cloth or woven straps...Not to say Mike's way wouldnt work just fine, but I simply sew a couple of vintage buttons to the strap where I want the horn to hang, I attach the leather hangers to the horn as normal, and slit a button hole at the top to button them onto the strap...you can get some pretty neat period buttons, or use plain ones, but this trick works well for me...
TC

 

[BillinOregon]

T.C. That's a neat idea. You ought to include a chapter on non-leather straps and horn attachments when you write the second edition of "Recreating the 18th Century Shooting Bag." I'll buy that one too.
:wink:

 

[tg]

I end up loosing woven wool leg ties on a regular basis and the remaining pieces become straps for horns or whatever I have that needs a strap

 

[BillinOregon]

TG: You must spend a lot of time "in persona," you lucky guy. Thanks for the tip.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Go to www.fiberwoodart.com and look at the pic she has of horns attached to straps. I'm sorry I don't describe things well. By the way, she makes great straps.

 

[hoochiepapa]

Sorry it took so long to respond. :redface:

 

[John Wasmuth]

:thumbsup:
Very nice!

 

[Short Arm]

Here is a pics of a my grand-son horn. I twisted the ends to give it a finish look. Took two tied ends and tie to the horn. Easy and fast, Nice job Bill