Sheep (mutton) tallow

[GunnyGene]

Something to file away in the potentially useful trivia drawer.

Ever since Roy Underhill wrote about the joys of mutton tallow as a tool lubricant in Popular Woodworking Magazine in the August 2010 issue, readers have been asking where to purchase the stuff. Or, even more alarming, how to render it themselves.

The good news is that Lee Valley Tools has started to carry McQueen’s Pure Mutton Tallow for $2.95 for a 1 oz. tin. That’s quite a bargain – on the mutton tallow black market I’ve seen it go for as much as $11.

What’s it good for? Well just about everything in the shop. I like to use it on saw blades in particular. Tallow is slicker than paraffin and doesn’t seem to wear off the blade as quickly. (OK, it’s greasier. There. I said it. But greasy is good.)

It also works well on plane soles. And Roy explained that the black coating you will find on some old wooden-bodied tools was likely from tallow.

But doesn’t it interfere with glue adhesion, finish penetration and cause sunspots? The short answer: nope. I applied some directly to some cherry a few months ago and then applied oil-based stain and finishes over it. Even though I had smeared on a good bit of the stuff, the stain still penetrated and the finish still stuck.

When you apply any lubricant to your tools, chances are that little or none of it will remain when you get to the gluing and finishing stage of your project. Remember: The cutting tool is removing the wood that you just lubricated. So it’s a non-issue, unless you abuse the stuff.

By the way, mutton tallow is also a traditional remedy for chapped skin and is the foundation for a variety of traditional ointments. You also can slick up that mustache after a day in the shop. I hear nothing is more attractive to women than the smell of lamb chops.

— Christopher Schwarz

http://www.popularwoodworking.com/woodworking-blogs/chris-schwarz-blog/get-lubed-up-in-19th-century-style

 

[JPGLSG]

Gunny you are a cornucopia of news and information. Thanks for all the stuff you post.

 

[GunnyGene]

Gunny you are a cornucopia of news and information. Thanks for all the stuff you post.

My wife says I'm full of it to. :lol: :wink:

 

[JPGLSG]

Aah...there just Women, what do they know about us ???

 

[coach]

I've been looking for something to keep my 'stache under control. Bear grease just wasn't cutting it.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

I'm allergic to mutton tallow and wool. Can't put them on my skin without breaking out. I learned this as a kid because my parents had a tub of the stuff, I'm not sure what for though.

 

[Colonel Daddy]

I'm allergic to mutton tallow and wool. Can't put them on my skin without breaking out. I learned this as a kid because my parents had a tub of the stuff, I'm not sure what for though.

Jimbo, find a local bee keeper and get a little bees wax, if possible straight from the hive. Works wonders for chapped lips and usually tastes like honey. It's easy to get if you find out when the bee keeper is making his first harvest! And some bee keepers make a lip balm from their wax and add some type of flavoring. Bees wax is also good on handlebar mustache's when mixed with a drop or 2 of lanolin.

 

[Jimbo357mag]

Jimbo, find a local bee keeper and get a little bees wax, if possible straight from the hive. Works wonders for chapped lips and usually tastes like honey. It's easy to get if you find out when the bee keeper is making his first harvest! And some bee keepers make a lip balm from their wax and add some type of flavoring. Bees wax is also good on handlebar mustache's when mixed with a drop or 2 of lanolin.

I used to have a bar of hardened Bees Wax that was like a bar of soap. Used it for starting screws in wood. Lanolin is also from Sheep and I am allergic to lotions with very much lanolin in them. I understand Bees Wax makes a good bullet lube.

 

[Colonialgirl]

I'm allergic to mutton tallow and wool. Can't put them on my skin without breaking out. I learned this as a kid because my parents had a tub of the stuff, I'm not sure what for though.

Jimbo, find a local bee keeper and get a little bees wax, if possible straight from the hive. Works wonders for chapped lips and usually tastes like honey. It's easy to get if you find out when the bee keeper is making his first harvest! And some bee keepers make a lip balm from their wax and add some type of flavoring. Bees wax is also good on handlebar mustache's when mixed with a drop or 2 of lanolin.

AAAHH YES!!!!! Bees Wax and screws; On an old fashioned yacht made out of steam bent oak ribs and thick Mahogany planking you'll break your screws IF you don't have the threads well coated with bees wax; especially if she is 24+ years old. A lesson learned the hard way !!