Found a use for Beeswax

[CorporalofMarines]

I bought the Jas-Townsend wooden-metal banded canteen about a year ago and after continuous use, some of the pitch (wax) began to give way to cracks and the canteen thus began to leak. The site gives a 6-8 mo. life span to these canteens and claims they were in that regard true to the period canteens.

The remedy is simple enough to do in 15min over a camp fire. Simply melt the beeswax in a teaspoon and pour in (it helps if you have a funnel, it can get messy) While it's still molten you can angle the canteen to fill the area where the waterproofing is uneven.
WD40 will remove any wax spillage.

The sheer flexibility of materials used in this period continues to amaze me.

 

[Silky921]

That sounds like a bunch of beeswax to me!

 

[Flint311]

Have done the same here, too (wood canteen). I have their candle maker (short, 4 mold) for candles. Works pretty good. Rubbed it on and heated it into stock sealant, etc. Lots of uses for beeswax!

 

[Wes/Tex]

And that's exactly how they did it back then. :wink: :thumbsup:

 

[Alden]

One can seal food away for the larder or safer disposal (i.e. grits if there are children in the household).

 

[Ken Cormier]

O now I will be as busy as a bee fixing stuff with bees wax.