The Misty Manor, Mercers

This is a natural and traditional hand-made beeswax wood finishing wax which comes in a paste. Use for finishing or refinishing hardwood fiber tools, furniture, or other items.

This recipe also contains olive oil and uses natural domestic turpentine as the solvent. Flammable.

We use this product primarily to finish fiber tools as the wax provides a smooth surface for the fibers to glide on without snagging. Also ideal for moving parts of spinning wheels or other implements. A traditional wax finish is more work than some modern preparations, but can provide excellent results. We make this in a plain wax which leaves the wood almost its natural tone (will give pale colored woods such as white ash a golden tone) and a hint of honey scent. We also make it in a darker stain (matches what many people call a "pecan" stain) which darkens the wood slightly and is made with unsweetened cocoa.

Application: Treat first with a light oil such as (extra virgin) olive oil, safflower, poppy, linseed, or tung oil. Wipe on oil (especially end grain) and let dry thoroughly. Repeat if desired. Can also be used on top of some varnishes, stains, and lacquers to shine the surface. The oil pre-treatment will soak into the wood and provide moisture protection. Clean surface with an oil-soap if necessary. Then apply a small amount of paste on a soft cloth or linen rag, rubbing thoroughly into the wood. The turpentine helps keep the wax soft at this point and helps some of it soak into the wood. Let the turpentine dry and buff off excess wax. If it has hardened too much by the time you buff it, the heat of repeated rubbing will soften it, or apply a very small amount of fresh product so that the turpentine can soften the wax surface. Thorough buffing gives best results. You may need to apply a second coat after a few months and then every year or so. Occasional buffing will help keep the high gloss. Fiber tools under heavy use may need more frequent wax applications to keep the surfaces smooth.

For walking sticks or similar heavy-wear items, specifically pre-treat with a "drying" oil, one like safflower, poppy, boiled linseed oil, or boiled tung oil for a harder surface. Linseed and tung are considered superior. For cooking/preparation surfaces, we prefer to use a lye soap finish.

Tips/Options:

• Finishing paste applies best when warm. Let the tin sit in sunlight or a warm spot for a few minutes before use. Do not expose to open flame or high heat. Do not microwave.
• We will make this finishing wax with linseed oil instead of olive oil, currently a special order. We will also make without turpentine on request, but it will be harder to work. For batch orders, we can adjust consistency to suit your preferences and discount per-ounce price.
• Do not eat finishing wax.

Recycling: Returned empty tins will be reused and will discount your next order.

Handmade in the Missouri Ozarks.