Softening beeswax and old floor wax

12/1/18, 6:23 PM #1

don stephan
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Softening beeswax and old floor wax

Don Stephan

Would odorless mineral spirits soften waxes so they are easier to apply? I'm not interested in double boiler heating and mixing with mineral oil to make a cream. Alternatively I could try naptha, which should evaporate more quickly, but I don't know how well either will soften waxes. I'm expecting that regular mineral spirits would leave a lingering odor. A lingering odor would not be a problem when waxing the lathe tool rest but might be off putting say inside a turned lidded box if for some reason I didn't want to use shellac-BLO friction polish.

Re: Softening beeswax and old floor wax

12/1/18, 6:35 PM #2

Clint Searl
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Re: Softening beeswax and old floor wax

Clint Searl

Beeswax in turpentine smells good and may do what you want, plus makes a great screw lube.

Re: Softening beeswax and old floor wax

12/1/18, 7:23 PM #3

Bill Tindall, E.TN.
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Many solvents will soften

Bill Tindall, E.Tn.

Many solvents will dissolve waxes. I make my own wax preparation by heating Carnuba with -mineral spirits, xylene, turpentine. Mix wax and solvent and sit on a hot plate at low heat OUTDOORS! until everything liquefies. Let cool. Control hardness of result by how much solvent you added. I think I use 1 part solvent and two parts wax, but memory is uncertain.

Turpentine takes forever to evaporate from the preparation. I don't use it any more. I used it on some drawer runners and it was sticky weeks later. Naptha will go away quickly.

Re: Softening beeswax and old floor wax

12/1/18, 8:25 PM #4

John K Jordan
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Re: Softening beeswax and old floor wax

John K Jordan

It is usually difficult to soften beeswax/beeswax mixtures without some heat/warming.

JKJ

Softening beeswax and old floor wax

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