How to Make Beeswax Wood Polish

(This recipe for use on wooden toys was originally published in 2006. Has also been published in woodworking and craft magazines through the years with author’s permission.)

Amber Dusick’s Beeswax Wood Polish Recipe:

·   1 part beeswax

·   4 parts oil (options include jojoba oil, walnut oil, hemp seed oil, linseed oil, tung oil, almond oil, even olive oil, etc)

Simple, huh?  Just beeswax plus an oil. 

Instructions: 

Fill a measuring cup with one cup of your chosen oil. If your beeswax comes in a solid chunk, use a cheese grater to shave it into bits. Alternatively, you can smash up chunks with a hammer. This makes the melting process go much quicker. If you are using beeswax pellets, you are good to go.

Add beeswax to your measuring cup until it reads 1 and 1/4 cups.  This means you've added 1 cup oil and 1/4 cup beeswax.  

Next, melt the beeswax.  Heat in the microwave or in a double boiler on the stove top.  It will need to be heated very hot, beeswax has a melting temperature of just under 150 degrees F.  Stir it around and make sure all the beeswax is fully melted and dissolved. Careful, it is hot!  If you want to add essential oils (I don't use them but some people like to use them in furniture polish) now would be the time to blend them in.

Pour it into a container with a wide enough opening for stirring.  As the mixture cools, you'll need to stir it every once in a while to prevent it from separating.  It will cool down and thicken around the edges of your container first, so scrape the sides.  Stirring just a few times over a couple hours is enough.  Stirring will ensure an even, creamy blend of your wood polish.  If you don't stir it at all, the center may be oily while the edges will be harder and waxy and it is difficult to blend together once it is fully cooled.

Use it:  Once fully cooled, gather all the wooden items in your house and rub it into the wood.  Just a little goes a long way.  Wipe off the excess with a cotton cloth.

About Oils:  I used organic jojoba oil on the toys that I sold from 2006-2013, but other oils could work well for you. Jojoba oil has a long shelf life so a batch will last a very long time without going rancid.  

I do not include mineral oil (although it is perfectly safe to use) because it is a petroleum product and not sustainable, eco-friendly or natural. 

About Storage:  Store it in an airtight container, away from direct sunlight.  Jojoba oil based wood polish will last for two years or more.  If you don't think you will use your wood polish very fast, store it in the refrigerator, this doubles the shelf life.