Carteret Kid
45 Cal.
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Is there a trick to lining the inside of a gourd jug with beeswax?
Gourd water jug
- Thread starter Carteret Kid
- Start date
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I use a 50/50 mix of paraffin and beeswax. It seems to last a little longer before it starts flaking off. If you use straight paraffin the water eventually starts to taste "gourdy". The beeswax helps to keep it tasting sweet. When it eventually does begin to break up, I fill the gourd with boiling water and shake it up. This softens the wax and it re-seals.
Black Hand
Cannon
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Pour in melted beeswax, swirl to coat and place in a warm oven (170-200F). Repeat several times until satisfied. Rub a little melted wax on the exterior and wipe off excess with a papertowel/cloth.
50cal.cliff
58 Cal.
+1 on what Fiddler said. My Dad used to use an old cream can for his water container when he went camping.
I think it was stainless but must have not been real quality stainless. As it would rust slightly at the seam at the bottom, if water was left in for 24 hrs. or more.
He would treat it with a 50/50 mix of beeswax and paraffin wax pour it in hot and have the can warmed up on another burner on the stove. Pour in the wax slosh it around and dump the excess and the can was good to go for about 6 months.
The same principal works with a gourd. Get your wax ready to go. Warm the gourd with a heat gun (be careful not to burn the gourd, constantly keep the heat gun moving, most heat guns heat at 570/1000-Degree Fahrenheit range, be careful if you do not keep the gun moving you will scorch the gourd before you know what happened )!
With gloves on grab the gourd and pour in the wax, cork the gourd and slosh it around to get a good coat and pour out the excess immediately.
Be sure to keep the top of the gourd pointed away in case of accident and good to go. If you don't like the coat of wax or it needs evening out warm again with the heat gun and it will make the gourd soak up more!
I think it was stainless but must have not been real quality stainless. As it would rust slightly at the seam at the bottom, if water was left in for 24 hrs. or more.
He would treat it with a 50/50 mix of beeswax and paraffin wax pour it in hot and have the can warmed up on another burner on the stove. Pour in the wax slosh it around and dump the excess and the can was good to go for about 6 months.
The same principal works with a gourd. Get your wax ready to go. Warm the gourd with a heat gun (be careful not to burn the gourd, constantly keep the heat gun moving, most heat guns heat at 570/1000-Degree Fahrenheit range, be careful if you do not keep the gun moving you will scorch the gourd before you know what happened )!
With gloves on grab the gourd and pour in the wax, cork the gourd and slosh it around to get a good coat and pour out the excess immediately.
Be sure to keep the top of the gourd pointed away in case of accident and good to go. If you don't like the coat of wax or it needs evening out warm again with the heat gun and it will make the gourd soak up more!
paulvallandigham
Passed On
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The use of beeswax is essential to prevent mold from forming inside the gourd. Honey( and beeswax) are nature's ONLY Ant-septic. Make sure the inside of the gourd is both clean and DRY. That will allow the inner surface to absorb as much of the beeswax as possible.
This is HOT work. You can't wear too thick a mitten or glove on BOTH hands! Use two "Oven" mittens if you have them. :hmm: :idunno: :thumbsup:
This is HOT work. You can't wear too thick a mitten or glove on BOTH hands! Use two "Oven" mittens if you have them. :hmm: :idunno: :thumbsup:
