In Reply to: Re: Need help about Oak Furniture posted by Ed Gilligan on March 01, 2005 at 05:48:34:

Ed. You obviously had a good teacher and know your craft. I would still prefer to work new oak and then if necessary stain to either dark or light according to taste. Fill the grain as necessary with a good grain filler. clean by lightly sanding and then polish with hard bees wax.

I like to make my own and envy you brother as a bee keeper (Apiarist)as he has the very best of materials available when melted down and purified. His bees are the wherewithal to start a cottage industry to supply furniture and bees wax
to the antique and furniture trade.

Herewith my own recipe for soft bees wax suitable for furniture.

1) Take an glass Pyrex Pudding dish and with a cheese graiter flake a couple of cakes of bees wax into the dish. (The cakes can usually be bought from any reputable wood working or hard ware shop or perhaps a local beekeeper)

2) Place the pudding dish with the flaked bees wax into a large saucepan half pre-filled with cold water. Pour over the bees wax half the contents of a medium sized bottle of best turpentine spirit (The type artists use in oil painting).

3 Now comes the really dodgy part so wear protective clothing and eye protectors to avoid burns and scolds.

4 Place the saucepan over a hot flame bringing the water to boil in order to ensure that the wax in the glass pudding dish melts and mixes with the turpentine.

5 Mindful of safety, stir the melting bees wax and turpentine together and once mixed in remove from heat source to a safe place and allow to set to a beautiful soft white cosistancy. At this point,a little lavender oil can be added to give the wax that wonderful aroma we all assocoate with really high class church furnishings.

6 Apply spareingly with a soft duster and using loads of elbow greas, finish with a cheese cloth.

7 a cake of polish thus made should last ages if stored in a cool place and away from dust and contamination. Generally it is good for most timbers and I use it extensively for cleaning floors and church furniture

Don't forget! Think safety! Keep animals, kids and nosy adults out of harns way! Bees wax is also highly inflammable with a fairly low flash point

If anybody's interested I will later post another recipe for cleanig up and the restoration of dulled and dirty hardwood furniture

All the best

PS Hope your move went ok MM. Hows Jean?