Beeswax furniture polish

Furniture polish is a useful product which is easy to make When making polish remember that beeswax and turpentine are highly inflammable. Never heat either with a direct flame. The polishes can be coloured by adding very small amount of dye. Use rainwater rather than treated water. The following recipes work well.

Recipe I

Ingredients

50g beeswax, shredded

50g white soap, shredded

50g white wax (use candle ends), shredded

1200 ml genuine turpentine

600 ml rainwater

Equipment

Two pans. Heat source. Wide-necked containers with lids

Method

In one pan dissolve the soap in the rainwater, warming it slightly. Place the beeswax and white wax in the other pan with the turpentine and warm very gently until the waxes dissolve. Be careful that this mixture does not get too hot. Pour the warm soapy water into the turpentine mixture, and stir until cool. Pour the resultant polish into the containers.

Recipe II

Ingredients

150g beeswax

25g soap flakes

600 ml genuine turpentine

400 ml boiling water

Equipment

Two bowls, one of which can be placed in pot of water for warming. Heat source. Wide-necked containers with lids.

Method

Put the beeswax and turpentine into the bow] inside pot of water, and warm very gently until the beeswax dissolves. In the second bowl dissolve the soap flakes in the boiling water.

Allow both mixtures to cool then add small amounts of the soapy water to the beeswax and turpentine, stirring all the time, until a cream of the desired consistency is achieved.

Recipe III

Ingredients

50g beeswax, shredded

50g white wax (use candle ends), shredded

50g soft soap

400 ml genuine turpentine

400 ml boiling water

Equipment

One large bowl. Heat source. Wide-necked containers with lids.

Method

Put the waxes and the soap into bowl together with the turpentine, and mix together. Leave for several days and after this pour boiling water on to the mixture. Leave to cool and then place in containers.