Bees Wax + Bear Grease

[iloco]

What is the best ratio for mixing pure beeswax and rendered bear grease for patch lube.

[Scott Bumpus]

I leave out the beeswax and just use bear grease.  works great for hunting lube.

[Hungry Horse]

 Scott is right. save the bees wax, for the stock, or make candles out of it. If you want to tighten up the bear grease, use venison, or mutton, tallow.

                     Hungry Horse

[iloco]

I would like to get it to the same as the mink oil from TOW.
  Need it stiffened up so can put in small tins to put in my hunting bag.

[Hungry Horse]

If you use much bees wax at all, and the tin has a friction fit lid, you'll never get the lid off when its below about 50 degrees. Tallow is more forgiving.

                      Hungry Horse

[Long John]

I've been using bees wax & bear grease patch lube for 30 years.  Never had a problem with it.  I can shoot 50 rounds without a single wipe.  Even at sub-zero temps it loads easy and is great for chapped lips.

In summer I generally mix it up with about 25% beeswax and the rest bear grease/bear oil.  It depends on how good you were at making your bear oil.  If your bear oil is solidifying at room temperature then you won't need as much bees wax.  In winter I generally lighten-up on the wax just a tad, maybe 15% wax to 85% bear oil.  If your bear oil is more of a grease and solidifying at room temperate put some in a metal container and put it in your oven at 300 F for a couple of hours.  That usually lightens-up bear grease and makes it more of an oil.

Best Regards,

John Cholin

[Long Ears]

I do the same as John. I only make it in the hot summer and only add enough bee's wax to make it as soft as vasoline. I may have to heat it backup and add one or the other to get it right. Then in the cold of winter it's still usable. Keep it out of the sun and in your pouch and it works great. My Uncle, God rest his soul use to render my bear grease so many times it is like a fine light oil. Luckily I have a lifetime supply to remind me of him. Bob

[Dphariss]

The problem with Beeswax is that it must be pure. Otherwise it can be very "grabby" with a high coefficient of friction.
I would use the grease and forget the beeswax for patches I can't see its helping anything.

Dan

[iloco]

The beeswax I have is as pure as it can get.  I have a wax melter and filters for beeswax.
  I at one time had 200 Hives of bees.   The wax I have is as pure as you going to find it.
I want to add it to the Bear grease I have to make it more firm like the texture of TOW's mink oil.

[Vomitus]

 Try straight "neetsfoot oil". You'll be pleasantly surprised.Not the compound, the pure. About 12 bucks a quart.Goes a long ways.

[Daryl]

There is bear oil, and bear grease - which do you have - that will determine how much wax to include. Note that the viscosity will vary greatly, depending on the temperature.

As LB says, Neetsfoot oil works well as a hunting lube, as-does track's mink oil.

Beeswax mixes seem to 'hardening' to me.