Anyone re-oil an oilskin duster?

I have an oilskin duster that’s lost its oil! :slight_smile: Has anyone been successful in re-oiling an oilskin? What product did you use? TIA.

I did a long time ago. I had a Barbour jacket and rewaxed or oiled it. Got the stuff from Barbour or outback trading company. I think I heated it up and brushed it on.

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There’s also a spray you can use. Can’t recall the name though.

I did one too. Same as gottagrey. Heated the wax and I think I used a rag, or maybe a paintbrush. It wasn’t hard but it takes a bit of time. One side, then the other.

Here you go: https://www.barbour.com/us/wax-hub-classic-6oz-wax-care

I also re-oiled my Outback Trading Co. stuff religiously years ago. I used their brand wax.

It’s been awhile because I decided life is too short for high maintenance clothes. :lol: But I used to put my coats, etc. in the dryer first to warm them up and used a blow dryer while applying. It wasn’t too hard, but certainly more of a pain than investing in newer waterproof fabrics.

If your coat is a Barbour, they will also do it for you. Used to be a reasonable price and I would rather pay and let them do it.

I just redid my Barbour. While it wasn’t as romantic as their english countryside video with the large fireplace, and a tea pot I will say I improvised pretty well and it was relatively easy. Because I don’t have a large english fireplace, I chose my work station to be over my dishwasher. I ran some dishes and used the residual heat on the counter to keep the jacket warm. I have an electric tea kettle and used it to heat the water and left the pot of wax in it until the wax was completely clear. I actually left the kettle on the whole time because the wax starts getting translucent and hardening really quickly. I used a cheap sponge and worked that in. Took an old clean rag and wiped the excess off as I went. Then came back with a hair dryer and heated it up and removed even more excess wax that way. About an hours worth of work.

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Jeez that sounds like far too much work, even if you have a nice fireplace. I’m too lazy but you have motivated me to contact Barbour and see about sending mine back for re-waterproofing or whatever its called. Its looking kind of grungy.

It really wasn’t that bad, but I’ll admit I contemplated sending it off. My jacket isn’t that old but it was nearly not waterproof at all so I had to work in more wax. You can drop it off at Orvis too and they’ll send it to Barbour; it’s $75 I think or that’s what I read online I believe. I just wasn’t sure what the turn around time was for it and figured I could at least control that by DIY, and I just wanted to see how bad it was.

Thanks for the reminder, I had forgotten that I can drop it off at Orvis. Just to get it re-waxed is $50 it says, but then $20 for shipping. Maybe I can avoid the shipping charge by dropping it off and then having it sent back to Orvis, I will have to check.

Local cobblers usually sell various types of waterproofing sprays.

https://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-NeverWet-11-oz-Outdoor-Fabric-Water-Repelling-Treatment-Spray-278146/205160314?source=shoppingads&locale=en-US

I used this product on one of my oil skin coats that was a thrift store find. I liked how it worked and I’m hoping it’s something that won’t need redoing as regularly as the wax.

I have redone my Barbour, but I don’t think I did as good of a job as having sent it to Barbour. The Barbour is a short coat. I have 3 long oil skin coats (all thrift store finds). 1 I haven’t redone, 1 I redid with wax (it takes a lot and is a long process compared to the short coat.) and the 3rd one I used the Never Wet product. I like the feel and ease of redoing with the Never Wet.

Thanks, all! I was away for the weekend, so didn’t get the thank you all earlier. I’ll research each of these. My long duster (not sure what brand…I will check!) is sitting in a closet. I haven’t used it in a while since it needs to be reoiled. Sounds like a good fall project. Or at least winter. :smiley: I want the whole fireplace ambiance!

If you live near a Boot Barn, they carry the wax as well.

I have. A few times, we’ll not a duster but my old Bedale and a Border and a Filson. Got out the wax, the blow dryer. I’ve finally realized that those oilskins are either too hot or too cold and I get soaked. Switched to an Outback raincoat. Love it. It’s big enough to fit over a hunt coat and the hood fits over my helmet (had to add paracord so I can tie the hood easily). Keeps me dry! But. You can do it. It’s a hassle, rub on the wax, heat with blow dryer. Repeat. Rub. Repeat. Good luck