Know How
What is waxed canvas?
Waxed canvas is a 100% cotton fabric that has been impregnated with an age old/tried and tested formula of Beeswax and oils. It not only renders the fabric waterproof (it actually repels water), but gives it an old vintage suede look and finished patina that is just awesome.
Just on the subject of ‘Waxed Canvas’ here are some before and after pics of a G7 heavy weight canvas apron being waxed!
History
For those not in the know: The earliest record of natural fibres being waxed comes from the ancient Egyptians, who mentioned using waxes and oils to treat their linen sails on the Nile! The reason for this was to make the sails waterproof so as not to turn the boat over in heavy rain! since then we have been waxing cottons etc. for centuries! From the soldiers in the trenches of WW1 and WW2 to the Canadian lumberjacks of today, heavy weight waxed canvas is not only 100% waterproof, it gives the fabric an aged suede finish that well…just looks great! We have perfected the recipe and are selling bars of G7 fabric wax for R110 each!
You can basically wax any decent weight cotton fabric, from jackets, pants and jeans to bags, aprons, tents and even heavyweight garden furniture fabric!
How to wax fabric
To wax fabric, whether it be heavy-weight cotton canvas, or lighter weight fabrics, all you need is a bar or two (depending how heavy you wish to wax fabric) of G7 Fabric wax, a flat surface and a heat gun or hairdryer!!
1. Place what you want to wax on a flat surface and rub your G7 Fabric wax bar up and down directly onto the fabric. Because the wax has oils and beeswax in the recipe, the wax is quite soft and so will leave quite a thick coating on the surface of the fabric.
2. Using a heat gun or hairdryer on the hottest setting, blow the hot air back and forth across the waxed surface of the fabric at a distance that will not burn the fabric or threads! You will see the wax melt and get drawn into the fabric completely!
Repeat this process until the right look and feel is achieved!
That’s it, it’s as simple as that!!
‘How to’ video to follow!
This is an old army style cotton jacket that I never wore much until I gave a treatment using the G7 Fabric wax!
Now it’s a favourite!!