If you have a cotton canvas Army jacket or field shirt, one of the best “mods” you can make to it (if that term can be used) is waxing it.
Waxing your Army jacket will offer you numerous benefits, including but not limited to the following:
- Waxed canvas is nearly waterproof, and properly treated waxed canvas can be almost entirely waterproof, even under very heavy precipitation.
- Waxed canvas is longer lasting, as the wax binds the fibers, protecting them against fraying, separation and wear.
- They also provide more protection in the field, such as against thorns and brambles, when hunting or engaged in outdoor sports like paintball.
- Waxed jackets are more unique, as they will develop a patina over time, much like leather.
So, as you can see, waxing your canvas Army jacket is a no-brainer. It’s also fairly easy. You will need:
- Paraffin wax and a container to hold it
- A source of heat, such as a small oven or a candle or lantern
- A heat gun
- Either a brush or a sponge to apply the wax
There’s just one thing that you need to be aware of, and it’s that once you apply wax to a jacket the process is irreversible. Still, many people do it anyway because of the value a waxed jacket delivers.
On top of that, waxing your jacket at home is also relatively easy. Here’s how to do it:
- Before starting work, make sure your canvas jacket is clean and dry.
- Melt the paraffin wax over a low heat until it is fully melted. Keep it warm because it will start to solidify when it cools off.
- Using the sponge or brush, apply the wax to the jacket. It should sink into the fibers readily.
- Pay close attention to areas around zippers, buttons and seams. These areas will also need to be waxed but may resist it.
- Once you have one coat applied, using your heat gun, heat the entire surface of the jacket systematically to ensure that the wax is properly absorbed and has impregnated the whole surface of the jacket.
- After you have completed the first coat, apply another second coat to the jacket. Use the heat gun in the same method described above to ensure that the wax is entirely absorbed.
- Set the jacket aside to cool.
- With two coats of wax applied to your Army jacket, it should be nearly fully waterproof.
At first, your newly-waxed Army jacket will be stiff and uncomfortable, but as you wear it, the fabric will break in and it will become very comfortable, not to mention nearly if not entirely waterproof.
One more note for you is that you may need to periodically re-apply wax every season, if not every few seasons, depending on how much wear the jacket gets. You can re-treat the jacket with wax following the same exact procedure detailed here.
Don’t Have an Army Jacket Yet?
If you’re here for an Army jacket and don’t have one yet, visit Fatigues Army Navy. They carry a wide range of military surplus including jackets, field shirts and other field gear.
Check out their collection and get yourself a new jacket today, and try waxing it for yourself. You’ll likely be glad you did.
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