Introduction: DIY Finishing Wax (food Safe)
Make this simple yet awesome wax finish for your woodworking projects like cutting boards, toys, tabletops....you name it!
pssst....you can even apply it to your leather shoes/boots to make them impervious to rain and to get the leather shine back like new!
TIP: open and hover over the images with your mouse for description.
Step 1: Stuff You'll Need
- Kitchen scale
- 150 grams of 100% beeswax (sheets melt faster)
- 400 grams of mineral oil (mine was colored red with food coloring, if you don't do that your paste will be yellow- the color of beeswax)
- Pyrex or a sauce pan to heat the oil and mix in the beeswax
- Jar for storage of oil-wax mixture
- Oven glove
- Stick or spatula to mix
- Heat source (if you want to see why I used grill for this check the video embedded or click HERE)
- Thermometer (optional but helpful)
Step 2: Measure Ingredients
Measure 400 grams of mineral oil and 150 grams of beeswax.
If you don't have a scale you can measure by ratio: beeswax 1.5 and mineral oil 4.0 (1 to 4 also works)
Step 3: Heat the Oil and Add the Beeswax
Don't heat the oil too much, you can cause a fire hazard (wax and oil are easily inflamable)!!
Never leave it unattended when heating!
Put the oil into the pan and heat it to 81C (177F).
Mix in the beeswax and stir until the wax is not visible (it melts).
When melted take it off the heat source.
Step 4: Put It in Container and Mix Until Cools!
Put it in container for storage and mix it until gets waxy-like consistency.
The step above is VERY important as if you don't mix the wax and oil will separate during the cooling.
Hooray!
You have your great and non-toxic finish for furniture, cutting boards, toys, leather shoes, dry hands?, etc!
Applying process:
Use Clean cotton rag (old T-shirt) and little amount of your oil-wax mix.
Apply it on in very thin coat onto desired surface, leave it sit for 15-30 minutes and then wipe off the excess (buff it).
When using on shoes you don't need to leave it sit on leather, just butt it in.
Make it and you'll love it!
Cheers,
Andrea A.
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16 Comments
7 years ago on Introduction
Mineral oil is petroleum based. You can buy pure food grade mineral oil at a drugstore. It can be used as a laxative (smooth move there batman) or to soften ear wax plus a host of other in-body uses. I admit I was surprised to learn that mineral oil of the medical kind is drinkable and non-toxic. So this recipe ought to be just fine.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
That's correct! It has to be food safe oil, 100%mineral oil is food safe!
7 years ago on Introduction
I have used nothing but mineral oil years on the toys i make for smaller kids because they always have to chew on them. Have yet to have one get sick from it, as it has been a cure all for year it might even help some of them with all the stuff the DR. have kids on.
7 years ago on Introduction
Question 1: If you add red food coloring to the beeswax is there a possibility that the color will lend itself to the surface of whatever you're applying the wax to?
Question 2: Could one substitute a different carrier oil for the mineral oil, say, coconut oil or would that spoil? Thank you!!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Hi Allison:
I used a bit of red food coloring for my wax finish because I used it on red cedar and I found that it enriches the color of the wood (not by much, just slightly).
I did put it on pine and I didn't find much difference in color change.
I suggest that you go with natural color (beeswax is yellow, so the mix will come yellow) and don't add any coloring! Even though the mix is yellow it will leave transparent finish once dried.
I don't suggest using oils for cooking as they go rancid.
If you're unsure with mineral oil, go with odorless baby oil, I used to do that, but it's a bit expensive. If you don't use much go for it!
Baby oil is supposed to be 100% safe, well you put it on baby's skin!
I hope this helped.
Take care, Andrea A.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Thank you! :)
7 years ago
How is this non-toxic? All mineral oils are derived from crude oil, hence the name! I would never put this on toys chopping boards and such!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Baby oil is actually mineral oil, just read the label on the back!
Reply 7 years ago
You can use baby oil thats child safe or olive oil i got my recipe from toymakingplans.com and they told me to use baby oil
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Check WebMD... Mineral oil can be taken orally for certain medical conditions.
7 years ago on Step 3
Use a double boiler or the microwave. It is much safer, clearer and easier.
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
I just had some grill made so I used the heat to make it (''free energy''). But surely it's safer with the double boiler!
7 years ago
there is a lot to say about the potential health hazards of mineral oils. Lets just say it has an ambiguous reputation. One should consider this before he puts it on babies toys!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
If it is pharmaceutical grade it is recognized as safe by the FDA. I can't stop you from getting all panicky, so you can always use vegetable oil instead. (which will eventually get rancid and smell bad...)
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Exactly, otherwise just use baby oil!
Reply 7 years ago on Introduction
Then use baby oil (aka mineral oil)