Yes, we can use beeswax to seal wood. But there are a few things to keep in mind. Beeswax polish will make water bead up, so it's resistant to spills. But it's soft, so it doesn't provide a lot of protection against scratches.
Adding some coconut oil to your beeswax helps the candle burn more consistently and avoid tunneling. But, you can also make a 100% beeswax candle by omitting it. Pour the wax and coconut oil into your candle containers and let them set for 1-2 days before using.
Basic Recipe for Beeswax Polish
45g oil (olive oil, Hazelnut oil, linseed oil, jojoba oil, coconut oil all work well – some products even use avocado oil!)
Mixing coconut oil into beeswax will lower its melting point, making the wax easier to melt, easier to pour, and the finished candle will have an even better burn quality. Mixing coconut oil into the beeswax base of your candle can make the burn more even and stop the so-called tunnelling phenomenon.
To make a salve or balm, simply heat 1 part beeswax with 3 to 5 parts natural oil of choice in a double-boiler until combined (see detailed instructions below). For example, ¼ cup of beeswax pastilles or shavings and about 1 cup of oil, or 1 cup of beeswax for every 3 to 5 cups of oil.
While there are a variety of methods and proportions for making beeswax furniture polish, I chose to keep it to 2 simple ingredients and a very simple ratio of one part beeswax to three parts conditioning oil. You can also add lemon, lavender, or other scents to furniture polish.
It doesn't dissolve in water or cold alcohol. This hydrophobic property of beeswax makes it widely used in cosmetics, pharmaceutical and food industries. Beeswax will dissolve partially in boiling alcohol, and completely in chloroform or hot turpentine.
Heat the beeswax and add warm turpentine and linseed oil. Stir thoroughly. If this mixture is not solid enough, then either decrease the quantity of turpentine or linseed oil or increase the quantity of beeswax. Melt the Carnauba wax and the beeswax together, heating to 85O–90OC.
Both types of beeswax have unique characteristics and can be used effectively in a variety of products. However, white beeswax is preferred for use in making products with a desired color while yellow beeswax is preferred for use in products having any type of color or yellow color.
After you have applied the Beeswax Finish, let it sit for about 30 minutes. After 30 minutes, use a lint free cloth or rag to polish it. We like to use old t-shirts around my shop.
Beeswax + Borax
Borax, which is an alkaline material, saponifies beeswax to soap. So it's not the beeswax by itself that is the emulsifier, it's the resulting soap.
Perfect for wooden furniture, the Beeswax Polish will not only make the furniture look much nicer, but it will also help protect the wood against stains and spills. Beeswax acts as a protective coating on the surface, enhancing the woods shine and helping keep it looking better for longer.
This is because pure gum Turpentine is the solvent that dissolves the beeswax and carries it into the grain of the wood. Any good furniture restorer or antiques expert will tell you that Beeswax furniture polish from a traditional recipe, (i.e. one with Turpentine), is the best thing for polishing bare wood.
Vinegar can dissolve a bit of wax, but it can take some time to work. You might also need to mix it with a few other things, such as water and distilled mineral spirits, to dissolve the wax faster.
(Slumgum is the crud that separates out of the wax. It's a mix of honey and other impurities cooking into a sticky, frothy brown goo.) The first melt occurs in the crockpot.
Add melted beeswax (about 1/4 cup per cup of oil) to the oil. Stir, cool slightly, and strain through cheesecloth. Add essential oils and other ingredients, if desired. Mix well, pour into containers, and let set.
Instructions. Mix the ingredients: You'll need 2 parts vinegar, 2 parts olive oil, and 1 part lemon juice. Make only as much as you expect to be using, as any extra can go rancid before you get to use it up. Ready the cloth: Lightly dip the corner of one of the microfiber cloths into the polish.
You can make an easy beeswax salve with only two ingredients: olive oil and beeswax. Olive oil is fantastic for the skin, and beeswax creates a thick protective barrier different from everyday moisturizers.
This recipe makes enough finish to last most people months — unless you're cranking out cutting boards daily. If you want to make a bigger or smaller batch, just stick to a proportion of 4:1 mineral oil to beeswax. Natural Beeswax (2 cups): Make sure it's 100% natural and food-safe.