Making a beeswax finish - which turpentine

redline9k said:

Looking through some older source and it seems a popular finish is a blend of beeswax, mineral spirits and turpentine.

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Never heard of turpentine in that blend. What are those older sources, please?

On my banjo builders forum, many of the folks who do wax finishes use heat instead of thinners. they heat the object to be finished so that the wax flows and is then drawn into the wood.

My favorite wax finish by far is a couple of coats of thin shellac (just enough so seal the wood) followed by wax applied with 0000 steel wool and then buffed with a soft rag.
Another option is Osmo PolyX which is a hard wax/oil finish that looks like a wax finish but is much easier to apply and more durable?

It might be easier to just buy a can of Briwax.

redline9k said:

Looking through some older source and it seems a popular finish is a blend of beeswax, mineral spirits and turpentine.

if you're using turpentine in your home-made wax finishing, what brands are you using? It seems like most commercially available brands are no longer 100% pure gum turpentine, more like 30% (even if the label says "pure gum turpentine"). Does this impact the quality of the finish?

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tried bees wax and turps not impresed had luck with wax and linseed oil

wood worm said:

tried bees wax and turps not impresed had luck with wax and linseed oil

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Interesting… How did you mix the wax and Lindseed oil?

Quickstep said:

Interesting… How did you mix the wax and Lindseed oil?

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place a large chunk of wax in a tin half fill with linseed and heat same till mixed pour in jar and keep
cheers woodworm

Caution, this would be a fire hazard.
johnep

I have not heard of bees wax and spirits as a finish. Typically I think the formula is bees wax and linseed oil.
You can make it like wood worm said, buy it commercially here is one quality product https://www.triedandtruewoodfinish.com/products/original-wood-finish/
you did not say what you are working on does it need to be food grade?
Another quality finish that works great is a mix of 40% polyurethane ( satin or gloss no matter) 40% tung oil and 20 % mineral spirits. In fact the formula is not that critical get it close it works.
It is wipe on dries quickly and leaves a buttery smooth feel.
anyway good luck with your project.
calabrese55