Re-waxing your waxed jacket: a hair dryer versus a heat gun

When the time arrives to reapply a fresh coat of wax to your beloved waxed jacket, you'll need to gather a few essential items: wax (naturally), a brush or an old cotton cloth, and, crucially, a heat source. It's this modest piece of writing I'd like to point you in the right direction. But first things first. 

The Hair Dryer: designed for drying hair

You may well have a hair dryer tucked away in your bathroom cupboard, and whilst it might seem like a convenient option, there are some significant limitations to consider. Most domestic hair dryers don't exceed temperatures of around 90 degrees Celsius, a sensible safety feature designed to prevent scalding your scalp and evaporating your manes. However, as the name rather plainly suggests, these devices are engineered for drying hair, not for melting waxy substances into fabric.

Should you decide to press a hair dryer into service for this task, do be prepared for rather a lengthy process. More problematically, the relatively modest temperature output means the wax may never become sufficiently fluid to properly penetrate the cotton fibres of your jacket. Instead of achieving that desirable, evenly-distributed finish, you risk leaving the wax sitting stubbornly on the surface, resulting in a patchy and greasy result, missing the point entirely. 

The heat gun: it’ll do the job

When you're still considering whether you should use a hair dryer versus heat gun for re-waxing your jacket, there are several compelling reasons to invest in a heat gun, and I'd like to outline these for you:

Great temperature control: Perhaps the most significant advantage is the precise control over heat output that a heat gun affords. To avoid damaging both the wax and your cherished jacket, it's essential to maintain a maximum temperature of 150 degrees Celsius, whilst keeping a minimum distance of 20 centimetres between the heat source and the fabric. A quality heat gun allows you to regulate the temperature.

Pre-warming your jacket: You can use your heat gun to warm the jacket evenly before applying the wax, a technique I heartily recommend. This preparatory step makes an enormous difference, as the wax will penetrate the cotton fibres far more effectively when applied to a pre-warmed surface, resulting in a more durable and ‘professional’ finish.

Wax application consistency: As wax becomes warmer, it becomes increasingly fluid and thin, which allows it to meld into the cotton weave far more thoroughly. This prevents the common problem of wax remaining on the surface, which would leave your jacket feeling unpleasantly greasy and tacky once the treatment is complete.

Consistent heat output: Unlike a hair dryer, which tends to strongly fluctuate in temperature, a heat gun maintains a far more stable and constant heat. This consistency significantly reduces the likelihood of the newly-applied wax cooling too rapidly before it has properly bonded with the fabric, a crucial factor in achieving a lasting, weather-resistant finish.

A heat gun stands out versus a hair dryer for re-waxing a jacket. But what heat gun to consider? 

Now we venture into somewhat murkier waters regarding specific recommendations. Personally, I use the most straightforward and affordable heat gun one can purchase online, really nothing fancy whatsoever. My sole requirement was the ability to regulate the temperature effectively, which is absolutely paramount for this application.

The most basic heat gun I could get my hands on

If you anticipate using such a device more frequently, perhaps you're planning to strip paint from your wooden garden shed or undertake similar household projects, then by all means consider investing in a more sophisticated model with additional features. However, if this is simply for general household use and the occasional jacket rewaxing, I'd strongly advise opting for the most economical model available that offers proper temperature control.

I conducted a brief survey of the most affordable options that still provide adequate temperature regulation.

But I'd encourage you to undertake your own research or perhaps have a word with your neighbour, there's a fair chance he's got one gathering dust in his shed that he'd be happy to lend you.

Let's look at a heat gun