Henry Rifle Forums

This isn't exactly "Gun Cleaning and Maintenance," but it's close, so I thought I'd pass along a new discovery.

It may not be new to many of you, but I began thinking about all these canvas rifle cases I've acquired lately and my plans for doing way more outdoor range work this year, which often can lead to unexpected weather conditions.

"Waxed jackets" isn't a new concept and a quick Google search led to Otterwax, made in Portland, OR (where they deal with lots of rain), which comes in bar form and appears to be great for enhancing the canvas finish and making it more weather-worthy.

It works best if you have a blow dryer or heat gun to pre-heat the surface, then you just rub it on, work it into the seams, then go back over it with the dryer again and rub it in with your fingers until it just sort of disappears. Then you hang it up to cure for a day or so.

I just did my first one and it was quick and easy. One of these Large bars should easily do all my cases. Just thought I'd share...

https://www.amazon.com/Otter-Wax-Fabric ... 169&sr=8-1

That's why those otters are so slippery when they slide down the slopes...makes sense now

Takes a lot of otter ear wax harvesting to make a bar.

I read some of the reviews and they said the wax had a very bad smell and some said it wasn't very waterproof. I have used paraffin dissolved in mineral spirits to waterproof canvas tents and it worked great after the spirits evaporated .

Now I understand what Waxed Cavas is.

Travlin wrote:I read some of the reviews and they said the wax had a very bad smell and some said it wasn't very waterproof. I have used paraffin dissolved in mineral spirits to waterproof canvas tents and it worked great after the spirits evaporated .

Interesting. I pick up no smell at all. As to its water-resistance, I'll to a little splash test to see if water beads up like I'd expect it to...

I wonder if there is a shelf life on the wax.

Barbour, the coat company, also sells cans of their wax used to coat their jackets. I have one of them and water beads right up and rolls off it, so I would assume you could use that wax with the same result on other things as well

JayZuv wrote:Barbour, the coat company, also sells cans of their wax used to coat their jackets. I have one of them and water beads right up and rolls off it, so I would assume you could use that wax with the same result on other things as well

Yep, Otterwax makes a canned product as well, that you place into a shallow pot with hot water (to melt it) and then brush it on and work it in. Waxed fabrics have been around forever, I guess, but it's an expensive process that not many manufacturers undertake. You'd think it would be standard on something like a canvas rifle case, but the cost implications have resulted in making it a DIY thing...

I agree Esquared, and I like the look that waxed canvas has. It has that vintage, outdoorsy look that I think would be a hit with things like rifle cases. Maybe someday!