Pine pitch and tallow

[Pat B]

I've made leather dressing from rendered beef fat(deer would work too), bees wax and pine pitch(basically like Montana Pitch Blend). Not sure of the ratios but it would be easy enough to figure it out. You want it to be a paste consistency.

[Allyn T]

So my tallow cooled hard at room temp, does the was keep it from hardening up?

[Pat B]

Yes, the tallow and bees wax keeps it from hardening up.
 I make pitch glue also with hard, brittle pitch(same for leather dressing), beeswax(or tallow) and finely ground charcoal(or dried rabbit or deer dung instead). The beeswax softens the hard pitch and the charcoal(or dung) adds body. If you don't use hard, brittle pitch the dressing or pitch glue will remain tacky. Different ratios for each application.

[Hawkdancer]

Allyn,
I think it is a matter of word usage, but fat is usually considered raw.  Beef fat is often called tallow when raw, or rendered, pork fat is called lard when rendered, beef fat becomes tallow when rendered; but I reserve the right to mix up my terms.  There was quite a thread on the topic about a year ago, including cooking and purifying methods.  I believe JW said you can get a very white tallow by boiling it in water, but start heating them at the same time!  I would suggest doing it outdoors! 
Hawkdancer

[Allyn T]

If your using tallow for water proofing wouldn't boiling it in water defeat the purpose?

[Pat B]

The pure fat will float to the top and the impurities will sink. Let it cool and scoop the fat off the top.

[aznboi3644]

I don’t have any deer tallow but I do mix my own tendered bacon grease and pine pitch primitive finish and heated into a mulberry bow.  I accidentally left it outside in my truck bed for a whole day and night during a rain storm.  After I realized it I went out and just saw beads of water all over it.  Strung it up and shot it a few times with no more gained set.  I always heat it in real well over a fire.  Really soaks in there.  I finished it with some paste wax.

[Allyn T]

Pat that is genius!

Aznboi, that gives me a strong case to go forward with it