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Originally posted by Friedrich:
With my new leather boots inbound from the UK, the question of period waterproofing has arisen and I look to others for thoughts and answers. Certainly modern waterproofing of soft beeswax mixed with an oil like lanolin would work well as would a variety of commercial pastes/creams containing silicon and other additives. But what of historical methods and materials? What have you used on yours?

[ 07-09-2001: Message edited by: Friedrich ]

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I am told that you can "stuff" the leather with beef tallow and it works great. To do this, I was told that you heat the shoe gently (in the oven, or in front of the campfire) and slather on a bunch of tallow. Keep the shoe warm and the leather should absorb it. Keep slathering and warming until it doesnt soak up any more.

I'm meaning to try this as soon as I successfully make some shoes with veggie tanned leather.

For my modern chrome tanned leather shoes, I use snowproof or such...a mix of beeswax and some sort of solvent. Again, heat the shoe gently (I use the oven and a cookie sheet I never plan to make cookies on again ). Slather the goo on and either stick back in the oven or use the blow dryer to melt. It will be absorb into the leather. Keep adding more coats, paying special attention to the seams. I also do a bunch of coats on the soles.

I do this every spring before the first event, and my shoes are nice and waterproof for the whole rainy camping season .

I've also used campdry or other silicone based stuff and found that not only does it stink something awful, but it wears off quicker than snow proof (and is also a lot more expensive...I can buy a big ol' tub for a couple bucks)

Hope this helps!
--AM

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