Finishing material

[Lucasade]

If I want to make a mix of beeswax, resin and fine tallow, what resin do I need? Or can I just use wax and tallow?

[Pat B]

I've made leather dressing with bees wax, bear grease and pine pitch.

[Lucasade]

Would they have used pine pitch in Tudor England? I guess there were pine trees but assumed it would be something else they would use.

[Pat B]

Pine, spruce, fir and probably others

[WillS]

Pork fat and beeswax!  Waterproof, traditional and easy to mix a batch and apply.

[Lucasade]

I thiught the books say tallow which is mutton or beef fat though?

[mikekeswick]

Varnishes have been made from pine resins since forever. I really like copal varnish. It's easy to make your own varnishes from pine resins.

[WillS]

I thiught the books say tallow which is mutton or beef fat though?

I think you can use whatever you want.  A lot of people swear by predator fat - bear, fox etc.  I like pork fat because it's easy to get.  We don't have bears here

[Pat B]

I do make a varnish by dissolving hard, brittle pine pitch in alcohol to seal primitive arrows and sinew wraps on arrows. I guess it actually isn't a true varnish because it doesn't have oil in it but it works well to seal arrows and sinew wraps. I don't think I would use it on bows though.
 I have finished a few bows with hand rubbed bear or pork fat and it worked well.
Animal fat, bees wax and tree pitch blend together well with a little heat but be careful because the pitch in very volatile so don't overheat it. Different mix ratios will yield different consistencies for different applications. 

[Lucasade]

Sounds like lots of things to experiment with - thanks all.

[Heffalump]

I thiught the books say tallow which is mutton or beef fat though?

I think you can use whatever you want.  A lot of people swear by predator fat - bear, fox etc.  I like pork fat because it's easy to get.  We don't have bears here

That's exactly what Meester Poletti sends through with his bows Will  ....plus when they eventually go "bang", the wreckage smells lovely when you sling it on the camp-fire 

John T