Candle wax to protect wood projects
Using candle wax to protect your small wood projects is an easy way to apply a water resistant finish that looks gorgeous - and only costs the price of a wax candle!
instructables.com
Woodworkers have been using wax and wax derivatives for hundreds of years as a way to protect and preserve wood projects. Most wood preservative products contain wax in one form or another, and using candle wax is an inexpensive alternative to bought products. A single candle costs little and will cover quite a few small wood projects
With some buffing and polishing the finished surface is silky smooth, with a satin finish that is not tacky and gives the wood a beautiful glow, yet offering maximum protection. When coating wood with wax, especially where the project is for a bathroom, laundry or room with high humidity or moisture, it is important to coat the entire project with wax.
For the purpose of this project a bathroom hanging rack was made using a piece of PAR pine. The edges were routed with a round-over bit, but you can get the same look with an orbital sander.
All the necessary holes were pre-drilled and countersunk for mounting the hooks and mounting onto the wall
YOU WILL NEED:
Wax candle
Blowtorch or Dremel VersaFlame
Heat gun
Paper towels
HERE'S HOW:
Hold the wax candle over the surface of the wood and use a blowtorch to melt the wax. Work as quickly as possible and using a blowtorch or Dremel VersaFlame is the fastest method.
Use a sponge applicator to spread the melted wax over the surface while you work.
If you find that the wax is cooling down and solidifying, use a heat gun on low setting to heat up the wax so that it is absorbed into the surface of the wood. Don't hold the heat gun too close - you don't want to burn the wood.
When the surface of the wood is evenly coated, load a paper towel with melted wax and rub this over the surface in small circles. As you rub you build up friction that softens the wax and you will start to see a shine build up on the surface of the wood. Finish off by buffing the wood with a few drops of water and a soft, cotton cloth. The more you buff with a cloth the richer the shine.