Gourd Canteen

[vthompson]

I am letting a gourd dry out and I plan on making a canteen out of it after I get the inside cleaned out the best that I can.
I plan on coating the inside of it with wax and I was wondering if the parifin you can buy at the store good to coat the inside with after I get it melted down. What do you guy's think?

[melsdad]

I would use beeswax. That is what I used in the leather canteen that I made. That is what BEAVERMAN suggested.

[Gordon H.Kemp]

I use beeswax but I Guess parafin would be safe from a food point of view as it's used to seal homemade jellys and jams.

[david32cal]

i would think the parafin wax would be more brittle,more likely to crack and leak. beeswax stays fairly pliable.

[Gordon H.Kemp]

David , good point , Have to try it! I've got a gord ready to wax as we speak , think I'll try the parafin and see what happens???

[gelsenbeck]

Yes, I'd vote for using beeswax although some have used brewers pitch too.  
I would think the water would taste better using beeswax though.
Gary

[Gordon H.Kemp]

Gary . I agree with you  , but Ithink I'd like to know  , if in fact it would hold and for how long ??  I doubt yhat it would hold long on leather canteens becauce the leather still has flex but the gord is pretty stable ?  Anyway I'm going to give it a shot and will let you all know if it could be an option on gords !

[vthompson]

Let me ask another stupid question. Where do you get beeswax at? I want to try to do it right the first time.

[gelsenbeck]

Vern, you can check around you area for local beekeepers, etc and probably pick some up reasonably.  However, be forewarned.  Price of beeswax has gone up and up for the last couple of years.  I recall buying 5 lbs of beeswax 'pearls' for just over $20.  Today, on average, has tripled.  
Glad I got them when I did.
Gary

[R.M.]

In a pinch, beeswax can be had from craft stores. I got some from Hobby Lobby a while back. Not the cheapest way to get it, but at least I got what I wanted, fairly easily.

[gelsenbeck]

Vern, I just found a site that has good pricing on yellow beeswax and in the pearl form that is easier and quicker to melt down.  

 http://www.candlewic.com/store/Product. ... -A-21-Y--O

Gary

[Bison Horn]

Pics please. What size you use? I know a of a gourd man that has all kinds he sells for bird houses, he should be at our spring trappers rendezvous coming up in April. I'd like to try that. BH

[vthompson]

Vern, I just found a site that has good pricing on yellow beeswax and in the pearl form that is easier and quicker to melt down.  

 http://www.candlewic.com/store/Product. ... -A-21-Y--O

Gary

Thanks for the website, I appreciate it.

[wwpete52]

Don't use parafin! Beeswax would be good but if you really want to do it right use brewer's pitch.  You can purchase it through Jas. Townsend.

[BEAVERMAN]

BEESWAX!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!, Vern, thats all i use on my canteens, I pick it up here from a woman at Monroe, but can be had on ebay also for a reasonable price if you shop a bit, I use it mainly because it's an easy fix for anyone who purchases one of my canteens to do at home and not have to order pitch, a quick hint, do not hand that canteen in direct sun lite without having water in it.