General Chat

According to the web site I found on google, Beeswax in its natural, solid form cannot readily be used for polishing furniture. Simple beeswax polish Hot melt 1 part beeswax in a double boiler and add 3 parts turpentine (genuine turpentine, not petroleum spirit based substitutes). Make at least a pint, because otherwise it's easier just to buy it (your beekeeper often sells it). ************************************************************** Creamed beeswax A softer and easily buffed version that's good for leather. Can leave a residue in the pores of open-grained bone or wood. 5oz beeswax, melted in the double boiler. Remove from heat and stir in 1 pint of turpentine in a large vessel. Mix 1 tablespoon of ammonia with 1 pint of water. Add the ammoniated water to the wax and stir hard. Pot it while still warm. ****************************************************** Glossy wax polish Good for polishing wood or bone to a high sheen. Melt 3 parts beeswax with 1 part carnauba wax. Remove from heat, stir in 3 parts of turpentine ******************************************************* Bull wax Shiny, but hard work. Mix something like 2-3 parts of beeswax, 1 part of carnuaba and 1 part of candelilla wax in the double boiler. Remove from heat, stir in turpentine - about three times as much as there is wax ***************************************************** General guidance on making wax polishes You should usually melt wax to mix it with a carrier like turpentine, then apply it cold. Hot-applied waxes tend to chill when they hit the cold surface and not penetrate. Melt wax carefully with a double boiler, because it can catch fire otherwise. Alternatively use a controllable electric hotplate somewhere where you don't mind large hydrocarbon fires (don't use an exxtinguisher, just put the lid on and switch off the heat) Grating wax on a cheesegrater, or just by shaving with a knife helps it melt more quickly Hope this helps. Gillie.

Ah, what you have to do is melt the beeswax. Place the stick of beeswax in a bowl then place the bowl into a saucepan of water and bring to the boil. When melted and cooled - voila - ready to use. Sylvxx

It's solid and I can't get it to rub--it's mahogany(methinks!) and not varnished.

Is it solid to the touch? Or can you feel it getting slippery when you touch it? If its not solid...... You should just be able to rub the wood with it and then get a cloth and blend it..... be careful tho as it the wood is varnished it won't help at all for being waxed!!

I thought I was being clever and bought a stick of proper beeswax to polish my lovely new, almost antiquy dressing table with--only problem is now I;ve no idea how to melt it or what to mix it with, if anything!! Anyone know? Ta Carol xx