Tightskates and Cheapwads

[kandrathe]

My dad's brother (my uncle) was an old school chemist and metallurgist, so we made many things that other people buy. I remember for wounds, whether they be on a human or animal, we had a thick salve that burned a little but seemed to speed healing tremendously. I know it had some beeswax, and some sulfer in it.

For many things you will need you should consult Online Chemisty Store or your local chemist/hardware/pharmacist.

For instance;

Neutral Color Shoe Polish
Soap flakes 30g (1 oz)
Potassium carbonate 15g (0.5 oz) (K2CO3) that is basic in solution
Beeswax 150g (5oz)
Gum arabic powder 15g (0.5 oz)
Icing (powdered) sugar 45g (1.5 oz)

Slice the beeswax, and add to 568 ml (a pint) of water. Stir in the soap flakes and potassium carbonate. Boil until a smooth paste. Whilst the mixture is still hot (turn off the heat, but act quickly), add and stir the gum arabic powder and icing sugar. For a specifically black polish, 280g (10 oz) of charcoal powder from the chemist may be added at this stage. Pour into tins and let harden, then close tightly and store.

The above recipe uses Potassium Carbonate - potash - whereas the following recipe uses Potassium Bicarbonate, which is not potash.

Black Shoe Polish
120g (1/4 lb) beeswax
284ml (1/2 pint) turpentine
22g (3/4 oz) potassium bicarbonate
30g (1 oz) Black Dye
4.5l (8 pints) boiling water

Melt wax in boiling water and stir in the potassium, using a large pot to allow for the mixture foaming up. Dissolve the nigrosene in a little cold water and stir it in thoroughly, bring to the boil, and simmer gently for some minutes, stirring it until it creams. Take mixture off the fire, and stir in the turpentine. Put away in small tins, tightly closed.

Also, these ingredients are flamable so avoid cooking around open flames.

My wife still *boggles* some times when I get the urge to cook some homegrown stuff. Check out this site. Yup, make your own biodiesel, soap, or you name it. I also got some good ideas from Primitive Ways, which we cannot allow Doc to read. :D "Grow your own bowstrings", Cha! Right!