Katherine spent the weekend making more non-toxic Soft Wax 2.0, and it is now for sale in her etsy store.
Shown above is Kitty, the oldest of our five cats. And you can see, Kitty is out of craps to give. But she still loves Katherine and Lucy (I am tolerated).
This Soft Wax is my favorite finish for chairs, and I use it on a lot of other projects when I was a low-luster finish that doesn’t create a film between me and the wood.
And yes, this stuff is safe enough that you can use it on your beard. More instructions below!
Instructions for Soft Wax 2.0
Soft Wax 2.0 is a non-toxic finish for bare wood that is incredibly easy to apply and imparts a beautiful low luster to the wood.
The finish is made by cooking raw, organic linseed oil (from the flax plant) and combining it with cosmetics-grade beeswax and a small amount of a citrus-based solvent. The result is that this finish can be applied without special safety equipment, such as a respirator. The only safety caution is to dry the rags out flat you used to apply before throwing them away. (All linseed oil generates heat as it cures, and there is a small but real chance of the rags catching fire if they are bunched up while wet.)
Soft Wax 2.0 is an ideal finish for pieces that will be touched a lot, such as chairs, turned objects and spoons. The finish does not build a film, so the wood feels like wood – not plastic. Because of this, the wax does not provide a strong barrier against water or alcohol. If you use it on countertops or a kitchen table, you will need to touch it up every once in a while. Simply add a little more Soft Wax to a deteriorated finish and the repair is done – no stripping or additional chemicals needed.
Soft Wax 2.0 is not intended to be used over a film finish (such as lacquer, shellac or varnish). It is best used on bare wood. However, you can apply it over a porous finish, such as milk paint.
APPLICATION INSTRUCTIONS (VERY IMPORTANT): Applying Soft Wax 2.0 is so easy if you follow the simple instructions. On bare wood, apply a thin coat of soft wax using a rag, applicator pad, 3M gray pad or steel wool. Allow the finish to soak in about 15 minutes. Then, with a clean rag or towel, wipe the entire surface until it feels dry. Do not leave any excess finish on the surface. If you do leave some behind, the wood will get gummy and sticky.
The finish will be dry enough to use in a couple hours. After a couple weeks, the oil will be fully cured. After that, you can add a second coat (or not). A second coat will add more sheen and a little more protection to the wood.
Soft Wax 2.0 is made in small batches in Kentucky using a waterless process. Each glass jar contains 8 oz. of soft wax, enough for two chairs.
Is the soft wax firm enough to stick a screw to the business end of a screwdriver?
I don’t know!
I don’t see why not. I’ve used ear wax to stick a screw to a driver.
Is an old Western Electric trick. The installers would dig a bit of wax usually coating some nearby capacitor onto their screwdriver blade to hold a screw while starting. I have an Altoids tin full of it on my bench useful for the screw trick and for lubing screw threads. The density of that wax is somewhere between raw beeswax and the stuff that toilet seals are made of. I’ve thought of mixing my own from those materials but one Altoids tin is already pretty much a lifetime supply
how much more non-toxic can you get than just non-toxic? does this suck toxins out of wood?
Yes. And it deposits the toxins in your snake.
Ouch.
How old is Kitty?
She is 16 and still a ball of sass
Is there no risk of spontaneous combustion from using linseed oil on a beard? Linseed oil and a big, bushy beard sounds like a recipe for hipster flambe.
did you hear about the hipster who burned his mouth on pizza? he ate it before it was cool.
You would have to load up your beard with a lot of linseed oil to have a problem. Also, raw linseed oil takes a lot longer to dry (obviously), and it doesn’t seem to heat up as much as the stuff with metallic driers (this is my observation; I haven’t found any data on this).
How do you cook flaxseed oil without having a grease fire on your hands? i thought it is pretty combustible, and it is dangerous to heat treat at home.
We heat it just enough to mix with the melted wax. The wax melts at 151° (F). No flames or sparks involved.
i use my outdoor grill after watching wood by wrights video. my steaks are usually flaming, flames outside are less scary, but the linseed oul has never flamed on me even at 500.
Do you still have the recipe to give away for the soft wax? I went to Etsy and the wax was all sold out!
Yes. I’m going to put it up
On the blog this week
Can Soft wax be used on stained wood?
There are so many stains and carriers and solvents that I cannot say “yes, always.” I have used it over pigment stains and dyes that were fully cured with no problems. I always recommend a test board to confirm things.