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Closeout: Handmade Blue Coffee Mugs
This is your last chance at one of our blue coffee mugs. We are closing them out this month in the store. Here’s the story. Last year, our warehouse flooded during a freak storm and the failure of our city’s ...
Mind Upon Mind: Benchtop Shavehorse
I wanted to build Peter Galbert’s shavehorse (as detailed in his book "Chairmaker's Notebook"), but I didn’t have adequate floor space in my shop. So I came up with the following adaptation of Galbert’s design, ...
Jan. 29: LAP Open House with James Wright, Rex Krueger & Eoin Reardon
Make plans to be in Covington on Jan. 29 for a fun evening with three of the best hand tool guys on the internet: James Wright, Rex Krueger & Eoin Reardon. All three of them will ...
Meet the Author: Dr. Mike Epworth
Dr. Mike Epworth has spent decades researching and building Jimmy Possum chairs. These enchanting Australian folk chairs, which originated in Tasmania’s Meander Valley in the 19th century, are ...
New Lost Art Press Mugs
Lost Art Press now has new mugs that need a home in your cabinet. Made by Grey Fox Pottery, each mug is hand thrown, and the logos and handles are attached by hand as well. Price: $36. On the bottom of the mug you’ll find a maker’s mark from the ...
Soft Wax & Soft Wax Kits
Our favorite finish for bare wood is Soft Wax 2.0, a finish made of purified linseed oil, cosmetic-grade beeswax and 100-percent pure citrus solvent. It is non-toxic and leaves a low-luster surface on the wood that is easy to maintain.
For years my daughter Katherine made and sold Soft Wax 2.0 from her Etsy store. Now that Katherine works for Lost Art Press, we have ramped up Soft Wax 2.0 production at our Covington factory.
We sell the wax two ways: Either an 8-ounce jar by itself, or as a kit with an 8-ounce jar, an applicator pad and a Huck-weave towel for buffing. (We also sell the Huck towel and applicator pad separately for your convenience.)
About Soft Wax 2.0
The finish is made by cooking raw linseed oil (from the flax plant) and combining it with cosmetic-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 flat the rags that you used to apply the finish 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. (We have it on our kitchen countertops and love it.) 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. It also can be applied over bare wood that has been stained or dyed.
You can easily remove cured Soft Wax 2.0 from a surface by flooding the wood with mineral spirits and wiping it away.
How to Apply Soft Wax 2.0
Applying Soft Wax 2.0 is easy if you follow the simple instructions. On bare wood or over milk paint, apply a thin coat of soft wax using a rag, applicator pad, 3M gray pad or steel wool. Allow the finish to soak in for about 15 minutes. Then, with a clean rag or towel, wipe the entire surface until it feels dry. We recommend a Huck-weave towel, which will not leave cloth fibers behind.
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 Covington, Kentucky. Each glass jar contains 8 oz. of soft wax, enough for about five chairs.
About the Applicator Pad & Huck Towel in the Kit
The applicator pad is a 3" x 6" non-woven abrasive gray pad made by 3M/Scotch Brite. These pads are available at many hardware stores. We selling them here for your convenience. These pads are made in the USA.
The Huck-weave towel (color may vary) measures 14" x 26" and is made by ERC Wiping Products. The towel is made in Bangladesh.
Download the SDS for Soft Wax here.