Author: Lost Art Press

You can purchase a pair from our online store.

We will be opening the storefront to the public from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 7. We will be selling our full line of books and tools, of course. But more importantly we are here to answer your questions and talk about woodworking.

We have free Lost Art Press yardsticks to give away – one to a visitor. And we also have a lot of blemished books to sell at 50 percent off. Blemished books are cash only. Our storefront is at 837 Willard St., Covington, Ky. 41011

We ask that all visitors to our storefront be vaccinated as this building is also my home. We won’t ask if you’re vaccinated – it’s the honor system. (Please don’t troll me on this personal health decision.) 

Lots has changed here since our last open day in 2019. We have removed the old bathrooms from when this building was a bar. In their place, we have one nice bathroom and one nice kitchenette. So if you were coming to visit my super-tuned urinal, you are out of luck. It’s long gone.

We also have the bench from “The Anarchist’s Workbench” book here for you to check out. Plus a bunch of stick chairs and Dutch tool chests.

While you are visiting, you might grab lunch at The Standard on Main Street. On Saturdays they make some excellent barbecue (try the brisket). Also recommended: Crafts & Vines serves lunch on Saturdays – it’s always something tasty and usually smoked. Or if you want to be more adventurous, try Chako – a Japanese bakery and cafe. 

There’s lots of good food in Covington and Cincinnati.

We hope to see you soon. And we apologize in advance for our awkwardness. We haven’t been around a lot of people lately.

— Christopher Schwarz

Katherine’s cat – aptly named Kitty – is always game to help sell Soft Wax 2.0. And after two long days of making wax in the workshop, Katherine has made another big batch that’s for sale in her etsy store. 

(Side note: Katherine was looking for a summer job. But then she realized that she could make far more money by working for herself. So hence we have more wax….)

This is my favorite finish for chairs and other wooden objects. It is basically non-toxic and is made from flaxseed oil, beeswax and squeezings from orange peels. It’s made and bottled here in our garage by Katherine alone. I couldn’t be more proud of her. 

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.

Bad news: Our warehouse did not receive our latest shipment of dividers in time to get them counted and into our inventory system. So we won’t be selling a batch today. Apologies.

Good news: We assembled another even bigger batch of dividers on Friday and shipped them to the warehouse. So next week will be dividers-a-go-go.