5 Great Survival Uses For Wax

5 Great Survival Uses For Wax. Photo © MarySan2000 – fotolia.com

Wax is for preppers and survivalists what Play Doh is for children: you can mold it and shape it into anything you need to help you survive specific emergency situations. But its uses go way beyond molding. There are infinite ways of using wax to your advantage, from sealing canning jars to replacing lost chess pieces. Here are the 5 most useful ones:

#1: Make your own candles

All you need is wax, some glass jars, and wicks. If you want your candles to last as long as possible, get soy wax. Allegedly, it produces less smoke, it smells more discreetly and it’s less irritant. Plus, one candle will burn for 50+ hours. That alone should convince you to switch to soy wax asap.

Here’s how to make a soy wax candle, according to HappyMoneySaver:

What you need:

• Wax
• Wicks
• Glass jars
• Lids
• #10 Can

How to do it:

• Start a double boiling system by bringing a larger pot of water to boil. Only fill it half-way so when you add your can of wax the water won’t overflow. e.g.I Fill your #10 can with 2.5 lbs of soy wax flakes.

• While the water is heating up, add the wicks to each of your jars.

• Tip: If you have a hot glue gun add a drop of hot glue on the bottom of the metal part of the wick and stick it straight in the center of the jar. It helps the wick to hold up straighter after you pour the wax.

• Once the wax is melted, using hot pads, pour the wax into the jars with wicks.

• Tip: To help hold your wicks straight while it cools poke a hole in a little square of aluminum foil, thread the wick through and seal around the jar.

• Melt the other half of the soy wax flakes and pour them into jars, as well.

• After they all cool, trim the wicks to 1/4 inch.

• Tip: Set the scissors across the jar to cut the wicks the same size.

• Put lids on your candles, add a few packs of matches and then pack them away until your next power outage or disaster

#2: Protect your gear

Coat your survival outfit (jacket + pants), your boots and your bug-out backpack with a thin layer of wax. If you’ve got a cap or a hoodie, wax those as well. It may not make your gear waterproof, but it will certainly make it as water resistant as it can get.

#3: Protect your skin

Women have been using a mix of paraffin wax, shea butter, and essential oils for centuries to keep the skin on their hands, feet and face soft and silky. That’s not your goal, obviously, but you can use the same mixture to protect your skin against cold weather, wind, rain, scratches and other lesions.

Here’s a recipe of homemade Fix’n’Wax from SurvivalMonkey. You can use it for minor skin applications, on the metal of tools and blades, bow strings, on wood, leather, anything you wish to seal or protect.

What you need:

• 1 cup pure organic beeswax
• 1/2 cup unrefined shea butter
• 1 teaspoon sweet almond oil
• 1 teaspoon coconut oil
• 10 drops Peru balsam essential oil
• 1 steel pan

“You can add a bit more oils if you wish, as this recipe is somewhat flexible. The fix’n wax does not become too hard with the above recipe, but I do prefer mine to remain a little more solid. If you would like for it to be a little more like putty, just double the oil or add more shea butter. You can also add vitamin E oil, and use your imagination. Just remember not to use too much oil, as this will make the final product too soft.”

How to do it:

• Place the stove burner on low heat, be patient and do not cook too fast.
• Maintain awareness at all times!
• Place the shea butter and beeswax into the pan first.
• Wait until the beeswax melts; the melted mixture should be a dark, golden color.
• Add your oils and gently swish or stir.
• Remove from heat and allow to sit for a couple minutes.
• If you start to see the mixture begin to wax over, start pouring immediately.
• Use your containers and be aware of the fact that this wax mixture will be HOT!

#4: Make your own lubricant

And not any kind of lubricant, but the most affordable one on the market, as well. Plus, if you already have paraffin wax in your bug-out bag, why cramp it with yet another item, when you can use one you already have in multiple ways?

#5: Keep rust off your tools

Coat your knives, tools and other equipment with paraffin to prevent them from rusting. It doesn’t have to be a thick coat, but you should renew it as often as needed, especially if you use the items in wet or muddy environments.

#6: Sealing Food

Cheese, meats, and fruits have been sealed in wax for centuries.

If you have other ideas, please share them with us. Every new idea is highly appreciated.

By My Family Survival Plan

3 Comments

• 

  By outlivetheoutbreak, September 28, 2013 @ 21:12

  Great post never really thought about using wax for in that way

• 

  By Joseph Friday, October 27, 2013 @ 03:10

  When I was a boy scout back in the 50s and 60s, we made waterproof matches by dipping the heads of wooden matches into paraffin wax melted in a double boiler. We set them on wax paper to dry and then loaded them into cut off cigar tubes with cotton balls stuffed in each end to keep the matches from falling out or in one of those metal match holders and placed them in our fire starting supplies.

• 

  By Ruth, September 10, 2016 @ 21:48

  Okay-personally, I avoid soy in any form, and in candles especially. It is a known hormone disruptor, especially for women. Paraffin and beeswax are better without the side effects. I make survival candles out of bean dip cans. Wash and dry them completely and set aside. Cut a long thin strip or two off a cardboard box, roll up firmly, but not tightly into a big “cinnamon bun” style roll and set inside the can pull an end up slightly in the center for a wick. Pour in your melted wax and let it cool. Put the lid back on and you have a handy dandy survival candle.

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