Written by There is one mod you can make to a cotton army jacket such as a M-65 field jacket that will really revolutionize performance.
Forget oversized zipper pulls or stitching morale patches on the breast of the jacket. This is about performance.
It’s waxing the jacket. Here’s why it’s valuable.
Why Wax Your Army Jacket?
The main argument for waxing a surplus army jacket is that doing so will basically make the jacket waterproof. It won’t technically be waterproof but it’ll be darn close.
The other thing about waxing a jacket is that wax will bind all the fibers of the jacket together, helping to prevent abrasive deterioration.
A waxed jacket, like waxed boot laces or a waxed bowstring, will last longer because it will stand up to damage better.
So the two-for-one here is you make your jacket tougher and it’ll also protect you from precipitation.
But why not get a lightweight rain shell, you ask? Because they’re terrible, that’s why.
Waterproof tech gear is fragile. Thorns, brush, and abrasive damage from sand and soil will wear out a lightweight rain shell quicker than you think.
A waxed cotton jacket, by contrast, is one of the toughest pieces of outerwear on this Earth.
Now here’s how to do it.
The Basic Jacket Waxing Process
For this project, you only need a few things. You need an army jacket, preferably one made with a cotton canvas, you need wax (you can either use a block of paraffin, beeswax, or get a commercial solution), you need a heat source (a heat gun is a good bet) and you need a bit of time.
The quickest way to do this is to rub the wax bar over the surface of the jacket, ensuring that you coat all surfaces evenly, including folded over surfaces on the sleeves, near the hem, and at the collar.
Pay close attention to stitched areas and around pockets, as these will be the first areas to “wet out,” allowing moisture in if you haven’t adequately applied sufficient wax.
Once you’ve rubbed the wax bar over the entire army jacket, give it a once over with the heat gun .Get close enough with the heat gun that you can see the wax melting and getting absorbed into the fabric.
Now, repeat that process two to three more times, and you have a new waxed jacket on your hands.
When you’re done, test the jacket by spraying it with a spritzer, or better yet, run the sleeve under a faucet. If the water beads up and rolls off rather than penetrating the fabric, you’ve done a yeoman’s job and your jacket is now waterproof-esque.
Oh, one more thing – if you’d bought a waxed jacket, it would have cost you several hundred dollars (on the low end). This method just got you a waxed jacket for a fraction of that price – cheers!
Where to Get a New Army Jacket
Don’t have an army jacket to wax yet? Get it online at Fatigues Army Navy. They carry a wide range of military surplus along with a variety of army jackets and military outerwear, some of which can be waxed in the manner prescribed here.
For more information about Prepper Supplies and Alice Pack please visit:- Fatigues Army Navy & Surplus Gear Co
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