Wax canvas is a natural material which has been used for centuries as a durable outdoor fabric dating back to the sailors of the 16th century.

It's a fantastic material which is both practical and aesthetically pleasing. You may have heard that wax canvas needs to be rewaxed and you'd be correct! So when you buy your first wax canvas product you may be thinking:

How often do I need to do this?
Where do I start?
How do I do it?

How often do I need to do this?
Not as often as you might think, however it does depend on how often you use said item. To give you a rough idea, my own day pack which I use every day and gets a lot of use, gets a rewax roughly every 12months

Where do I start?
At Journeyman we sell two different application methods, the tin and the block. Both can be used on all items, however, the two different application methods have their differences and make application easier depending on what you're waxing.

The tin: this is ideal for smaller items, specifically leather items as leather can absorb a lot more wax than canvas and the tin enables this easier.

The block: this application method is ideal for when you want to cover large areas quickly, like canvas blankets and rucksacks

How do I do it?

The tin step one: put the tin on a stove and turn it to a low heat, maintain heat until the wax has melted down to liquid form. Warning: be careful not to knock the tin off the stove, ensure it is secure.



Step two: use roughly a 1" wide brush to dip into the wax and apply liberally to the item. Try to move the liquid wax around the item quickly to make the most of the wax and get good coverage.

Step three: pay special attention to areas with stitching, allowing that wax into the stitch holes will help reduce wear on the thread and help stop water from penetrating through in these areas.

Step four: use a clean cotton cloth to rub any surface wax evenly around the item.

Step five: apply heat to the item, the best/easiest way to do this is a hair dryer. However a campfire or other heat source will also work. As you apply the heat you will see the wax melt and the item absorb the wax into the fibres. Warning: be careful to not apply too much and and burn your item, less is more.

Step six: finally use the cotton cloth to wipe away any additional wax that has not been absorbed, this is not necessary and can be left but it is nice to just tidy up the job.

The block step one: Lie your item on a large hard surface, holding the wax block in your hand physically rub the wax onto the item take care to get even coverage. The wax is supple enough that you will see it easily applying onto the material.

Step two: pay special attention to areas with stitching, allowing that wax into the stitch holes will help reduce wear on the thread and help stop water from penetrating through in these areas.

Step three: use a clean cotton cloth to rub any surface wax evenly around the item.

Step four: apply heat to the item, the best/easiest way to do this is a hair dryer. However a campfire or other heat source will also work. As you apply the heat you will see the wax melt and the item absorb the wax into the fibres. Warning: be careful to not apply too much and and burn your item, less is more.

Step five: finally use the cotton cloth to wipe away any additional wax that has not been absorbed, this is not necessary and can be left but it is nice to just tidy up the job.

I hope that helps you see how simple it can be to keep your canvas goods waxed. It will keep them water resistant and give longevity to the material, meaning your gear will last for years to come!