Beeswax Furniture Polish

Recipe and Instructions for Beeswax Furniture Polish

By Liz Westcott

Ingredients:

190g beeswax, chopped into small pieces

30g carnauba wax granules

500g pure natural turpentine – not turps substitute

Put the beeswax and carnauba wax into a jug and using a bain-marie melt it until it is liquid.  If using a plastic jug make sure the bottom of the jug does not touch the bottom of the saucepan by putting something metal on the bottom of the saucepan for the jug to rest on.  Biscuit cutters, some teaspoons, I use a horseshoe or a metal burger mould.  Put aluminium foil on the top of the jug to keep the heat in – the wax will melt much quicker.

Meanwhile, put a metal receptacle on the scales and measure out 500g of natural, pure turpentine.  Do not use turps substitute.  I use a tall, cylindrical container sold by Thornes for candle dipping.  Stand it in a saucepan of hot water and allow to simmer to warm the turps.  It needs to be more or less the same temperature as the melted wax – about 75C – 80C.  Once again, cover with aluminium foil to keep the heat in.  It doesn’t take long to warm.

Be extremely careful when handling liquid wax and hot turpentine!

Pour the turpentine into the jug of liquid wax. Give it a stir with a stick.  Pour into polish tins and leave to cool.

Polish labels can be obtained from Thornes and they will personalise them with your name and address if you wish.

On the underside of the polish tin should be an exclamation mark and a label saying “Beeswax – contains turpentine.  Harmful by inhalation, in contact with skin or swallowed.  Keep out of reach of children.  Wear protective clothing and gloves.  If swallowed seek medical advice immediately and show this label or tin.