Domke Rugged Wear - To Wax or Not Wax

dave lackey

dave lackey

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Love these bags!!! Had mine for years.

I came across the wax that was included with my 5XB. Has anyone waxed their bags? Do you recommend applying the wax?

If so, how do you apply it?
 
I reapplied the wax to my F10. From memory I warmed the bag a little with a hairdryer, then just smeared it on with fingers (messy). Left it for a bit and then vigorously rubbed off the excess with a Chux.
 
Nice to hear you waxing lyrical about your Domke Dave! :)

Being somewhat funds limited, I'm considering using this technique on the cheap canvas messenger-style bags I bought from the markets (I'll probably use a heat gun rather than the dryer).

Cheers,
 
I would use the actual Domke wax, not Gulf paraffin. Applying with a brush seems like a good idea, though. I think I would apply it sparingly. I wonder if warming it in strong sunlight might be better and safer than a heat gun! Wax is flammable. At most I would use a hair dryer, not a heat gun.
 
Well, just finished putting the Domke wax on an old tan canvas bag I have lying around. Hand application followed with a hair dryer and it really works! The bag is more substantial if that makes any sense and is a shade darker.

Now, Lynn, I am not ready to use my Rugged Wear for a trial yet as I love that bag and how it feels. I use it occasionally for a pillow! So, I don't want to mess it up. I will wait until I see how the old cheapo bag works out.

I am kinda wondering if the wax will rub off on hands or clothes...
 
Over time, the waxed bag will marr your clothes and will make your bag always look dirty. Plus, after a while, the wax doesn't smell good.

I finally decided to wash my own F-803 several times in the washing machine to remove all the wax, and to give up with that.
 
Don't go too heavy on the wax. I remember using a waxed canvas tarp to cover luggage in my truck during a trip to Arizona one summer years ago. The sun melted the wax enough to drip onto everything. As Highway 61 said, wax can transfer with abrasion like when the bag rubs against your side while using it.

Personally, I would forgo the wax and stick to Scotchguard spray for water repellency.
 
I waxed my black canvas Domke F-6 'little bit smaller' bag with some Fjällraven wax intended for their outdoor G-1000 fabric clothing. Looks like a piece of bar soap, slightly yellowish with a faint bee's wax smell. You rub it on the fabric and use a hairdryer afterwards to melt it and it gets soaked in. I never had any trouble with it wearing off / smearing my clothes. Good stuff.
 
We have two RW bags and they seem a bit lighter and more flexible than the regular canvas ones. I've yet to wax them as I really like the feel of them as is.
 
I have a spare can of the Domke Wax that came with my Waxwear F-6. I've thought of putting it on one of my non-wax Domke bags--but have not as yet. I have used spray-on Nikwax with good results on my F-5XB. It darkens the canvas just like the Domke wax will. And it looks nice!

I have had absolutely no staining of clothing from my Waxwear F-6.
 
I put a can on Domke wax on my Filson Small Field Bag, and it looks and feels good, and indeed repels water adequately. I did it the way Filson tells ya to at that link!
 
Barbour jackets and Filson sell high end clothing with similar wax. Might have to try one like that. The Domke wax seems to have soaked in great and my old bag feels really good. Sprayed water on it... Perfect!!👍
 
I've been using Domke bags since 1999 when I used to work at Looking Glass camera store in Berkeley, Cailfornia. I was the "bag salesman" and I remember there were only really two options, Lowepro or Domke. Today we have a lot of choices on the market, but I still use Domke bags as my 'go to' bag. I've never thought (or heard) about waxing them, but next time I'm in a camera store that sells Domke bags I'll take a look at the waxed bags. I like to shoot in the rain and I don't mind when my bag gets wet, just as long as my gear inside stays dry.

I do own an Artist and Artisan bag that I bought here for a really good price, I use that when I'm out and about in Bangkok, because it looks a lot nicer than my beat up, ripped and stained Domke bag, but I feel the Domke is made better.

Cheers, michael
 
michaelbialecki said:
I've been using Domke bags since 1999 when I used to work at Looking Glass camera store in Berkeley, Cailfornia. I was the "bag salesman" and I remember there were only really two options, Lowepro or Domke. Today we have a lot of choices on the market, but I still use Domke bags as my 'go to' bag. I've never thought (or heard) about waxing them, but next time I'm in a camera store that sells Domke bags I'll take a look at the waxed bags. I like to shoot in the rain and I don't mind when my bag gets wet, just as long as my gear inside stays dry.

I do own an Artist and Artisan bag that I bought here for a really good price, I use that when I'm out and about in Bangkok, because it looks a lot nicer than my beat up, ripped and stained Domke bag, but I feel the Domke is made better.

Cheers, michael
Click to expand...

Hi, Michael,

I, too, love my Domke bags as they represent great value and function. The rugged wear is so soft and nice, I may not actually renew the wax on it...LOL. I use it for a pillow at times.:) but I may go ahead and put it on my canvas bags. The old canvas bag I just applied the wax on is really nice. Completely water resistant now!
 
I had a RW F-5X a few years ago and I just warmed up the bag with a hair dryer and used an old t shirt to rub the wax on then warmed the bag again after I applied it and never had any issues. I need to do it to my F-3 tonight actually. I might just cover it all over except the back part that hits my clothes because 1. That part never really gets wet and 2. I don't *think* it'll rub off but I guess just not putting it on that area would be best. I shoot in the rain a lot and walk 2 miles to work rain or shine (Brooklyn) and even without it being waxed in a while it still keeps everything on the inside dry.
 
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