Why wax thread?

[Nate Brown]

Hi All,
I was wondering what the reason for waxing the polyester thread before hand sewing is? I've also seen some websites that sell handmade plaids, and they list a "waxed and hand purled" fringe. How, and why would you need to wax the purled fringe? Thanks for the info. Cheers.

Nate

[xman]

Waxed thread will catch, tear and knot a whole lot less than unwaxed threads. As for fringing, you got me there.

[sydnie7]

I've also read that waxing increases the strength of the thread, but not sure how that works.

As for waxing a fringe, my guess is for appearance? Making it smoother, less "fuzzy" and more apt to hang (stick) together. But just a semi-educated guess.

[Chas]

Waxing makes the thread slide through the material far easier. Sail makers have been doing this since the beginning of time. People have been waxing sticking drawers for hundreds of years.

As to a fringe, I would never wax it nor want it waxed. It will hold on to dust if waxed. It is only one step from that to dirty and discoloured.

Regards

Chas

[Bugbear]

I've also read that waxing increases the strength of the thread, but not sure how that works.

It might be that it helps a little in that way with that cotton wrapped polyester thread that tends to fray a lot and wad up when the outside wrapping breaks: holds the wrapping in place a tiny bit? I'm not sure it helps much, though…
Wax does seem to help the threads from cutting into things and friction to some degree.

[vorpallemur]

It's less prone to twisting.

[turpin]

What they all said. I always draw my thread (poly embroidery floss) through a lump of beeswax when sewing my sporrans. In the old days the cordwainers made special concoctions of beeswax, pitch,and god knows what else to bit and hold the leather and make the seams watertight.

[vorpallemur]

What they all said. I always draw my thread (poly embroidery floss) through a lump of beeswax when sewing my sporrans. In the old days the cordwainers made special concoctions of beeswax, pitch,and god knows what else to bit and hold the leather and make the seams watertight.

On leather goods, waxing threads serve other purposes than they do when sewing fabric. It's still a lubricant, and anti-twist agent, but it also helps the stitching from coming un done. consider the stitches that hold the sole of a shoe or boot to the mid-sole. As the sole wears, the thread is going to wear too. Soon or later, the thread will get worn through on some stitches. With no treatment, the thread is likely to start working the next stitches undone; the wax (or pitch, or whatever) helps keep that from happening. (I had to fix a pair of boots with a bit of super glue once. Worked pretty well for a while.)

[Jon Lilley]

When pleating, a waxed thread (providing it's not too long) is stiffer and less likely to loop and knot when drawn through the fabric AND its slightly sticky properties (if pulled down taught) keep the thread from pulling back through making for a nice ridge. Intentional knots will not work loose and at pressing time, it all nicely disappears. Unrelated to sewing, but another benefit is; it's used to wax hemp and that keeps moisture from penetrating causing rot in the hemp at the joints on all GHB pipes. Plus, it just smells good. I'd venture to guess that it's probably somehow good for your skin, too.

[Barb T]

And the other thing that waxing does is keep the thread itself from wearing as you pull the thread through the fabric. If you figure that pleats require one stitch approximately every 16th-32nd of an inch, that's a couple hundred stitches per pleat. If the wax is wearing off a little at a time each time you pull the thread through the fabric, the wax is taking the brunt of the friction instead of the thread. If you fail to wax a piece, you'll see the difference - by the time you're half done with a pleat, the thread is kind of shabby looking.