Carnuba wax is the most common type of wax utilized to finish wood goods, although any form of wax may be used: from bee’s wax to paraffin wax. Carnauba wax is obtained from the leaves of the carnauba palm, then refined and bleached.
When to use wood wax
Wax is very poor insulation, and so it has limited applications in the woodworker’s toolkit of wood finishes. The wax is readily worn away, is easily harmed by high heat (such as a cup of tea), offers minimal protection against water vapor, and needs to be reapplied every year or so.
Wax isn’t widely used as a primary finish due to its drawbacks. Wax is most often used to complement other finishes, such as tung oil or shellac. The advantage of wax on finishes like these is that the wax may be buffed to provide a high gloss, and it is simple to re-buff as needed.
Wood wax benefits
The following is a brief summary of the wood wax benefits:
- It is water resistant, though only to a certain degree
- It is acid and alkaline resistant
- It doesn’t leave a color impact on the wood’s finish.
- It’s simple to use (rub on, rub off) and quick to apply.
- It is extremely forgiving when it comes to application.
- It’s simple to restore if the initial finish becomes scratched or damaged.
- This material is completely non-toxic.
- It’s food-safe once the solvent has vanished.
Wood wax drawbacks
- Alcohol can cause damage to the finish.
- Wait for the underlying finish to cure completely before applying wax, or solvent in wax might harm it.
Wood wax types
The variants of wax include:
- Paste waxes or waxes with solvents included. Apply them with a rag, wait, then buff to a high sheen.
- Solid waxes are applied to the item spinning on a lathe
- And finally, spray waxes.
Waxes are used for many different purposes:
Carnauba wax has a slick feel and produces a hard, glossy sheen with a firm feel. It is extremely fragile and virtually impossible to polish after it has dried.
Beeswax is a soft, sticky wax with a wonderful fragrance that buffs out to a calm glow. Even though it becomes slippery when it melts, at room temperature it is too sticky to use for machine surfaces like table saw tops. It is highly sticky and thus good for floors or surfaces that should not readily slide. The scent of beeswax may be unpleasant to some people.
Paraffin or canning wax is extremely soft and slick (almost greasy), and it flakes off if applied too thick. It may be used to make harder waxes buff more smoothly by adding it to the mixture.
Interested in buying the best wood wax for your wooden furniture or other items? Have a look at our wood wax products!
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