Beeswax Polishing

[Briar Lee]

To polish up an old pipe my first choice is grapeseed oil.

But maybe beeswax lasts a little longer, and it’s only a little more trouble and work.

I got this big chunk of beeswax from a local honey producer so cheap I forgot how little. Carnauba wax is likely better but plain beeswax works.
The polishing cloth is a cloth shop rag. Wool is better. But cheap red shop rags work.



The Marxman Benchmade Bulldog looked pretty good using just grapeseed oil.



But beeswax gives a little more luster, for a little longer.

I just fill up a pipe and begin smoking and take the beeswax and apply to the hot pipe. Don’t forget the stem, too.



Enjoy your smoke and keep rubbing on beeswax.

Then polish with the rag.



Take good care of your old pipes, and they’ll take care of you.

That’s a twenty dollar pipe, last month.

It’s 75 years old and will still look that good in 75 more years, if well kept.

 

[condorlover1]

Do you use the wax solely on your pipes or does it have 'other' applications?

 

[Briar Lee]

Do you use the wax solely on your pipes or does it have 'other' applications?

Beeswax makes an excellent lead flux for casting bullets.

It’s the easiest way to seal up the crimp on shotgun shells.

It’s great for the tenons on pipe stems.

You can use it on gun stocks.

It helps zippers zip.

It’s good for shoe laces.

It’s basically a harmless, waterproof oil that clings to a surface.

 

[condorlover1]

So no 'Full Back and Crack' waxing activities then? On a serious note you missed out on its use in candles.

 

[craig61a]

Beeswax makes an excellent lead flux for casting bullets.

I flux my pot with any old wax, or even sawdust. I save beeswax for bullet groove lube.

 

[AJL67]

Do you use the wax solely on your pipes or does it have 'other' applications?

Perfect for waxing on and of course waxing off.

 

[Zeno Marx]

Don't you find straight beeswax to be a little tacky/gummy when met with heat and/or humidity, like moisture on your fingertips from holding onto a tamper or whatever? I even notice it a little when I use Halcyon II Wax, which finishes harder and is formulated to not be so. I get that you're rubbing 99.XX% of it away when you polish, but I still notice it sometimes.

 

[Chasing Embers]

It’s 75 years old and will still look that good in 75 more years, if well kept

Ninety-two years old. No oxidation nor beeswax.

 

[AJL67]

This thread is buzzin' !

 

[FurCoat]

Don't you find straight beeswax to be a little tacky/gummy when met with heat and/or humidity, like moisture on your fingertips from holding onto a tamper or whatever? I even notice it a little when I use Halcyon II Wax, which finishes harder and is formulated to not be so. I get that you're rubbing 99.XX% of it away when you polish, but I still notice it sometimes.

Have you tried Renaissance Wax?
I like it better than Paragon and Halcyon.

 

[didimauw]

Don't you find straight beeswax to be a little tacky/gummy when met with heat and/or humidity, like moisture on your fingertips from holding onto a tamper or whatever? I even notice it a little when I use Halcyon II Wax, which finishes harder and is formulated to not be so. I get that you're rubbing 99.XX% of it away when you polish, but I still notice it sometimes.

This was my experience. I attempted to use it on my buffer and ruined the buffing wheel. It turned hard as a rock. And then my pipe was a little tacky too. Not a fan. Carnauba is my wax of choice.

 

[Coreios]

Looks great!

 

[Briar Lee]

Ninety-two years old. No oxidation nor beeswax.

View attachment 199837

Gorgeous old pipe.

How do you keep it up so well?

 

[Briar Lee]

Don't you find straight beeswax to be a little tacky/gummy when met with heat and/or humidity, like moisture on your fingertips from holding onto a tamper or whatever? I even notice it a little when I use Halcyon II Wax, which finishes harder and is formulated to not be so. I get that you're rubbing 99.XX% of it away when you polish, but I still notice it sometimes.

Yes it’s a little gummy.

Rub it a little more with the rag and it gets better.

There’s some kind of magical art involved in the final finishing and polishing of a fine briar pipe I don’t understand how it happens, but all oil or wax or any other potion does is refresh the original shine.

About 1925 or thereabouts WDC started putting a patented aluminum tube inside of their Milano pipes, so this Milano Extra without any tube is about a hundred years old.

Beeswax can’t hurt one. It always rubs off.

 

[orvet]

I use hard carnauba wax and applied with a loose Muslim buffing wheel. I don't apply it heavily and wipe off the excess with a soft cloth. I use the same method for certain types of wood knife handles, usually very hard woods like desert Ironwood, African Blackwood, ebony and certain of the harder varieties of rosewood. It helps keep moisture in the wood and prevent it from drying out.

 

[craig61a]

I don’t smear beeswax all over my pipes.

A quick buffing with carnuaba after wiping off the outside suffices.

 

[jhowell]

T

This was my experience. I attempted to use it on my buffer and ruined the buffing wheel. It turned hard as a rock. And then my pipe was a little tacky too. Not a fan. Carnauba is my wax of choice.

That's what a wheel rake is for...

 

[Briar Lee]

I do own a couple of double wheel bench grinders, in my garage and also one at the farm. I have buffing wheels for them.

I own Dremel tools, electric polishers, and I have a good supply of different grits of sandpaper, and too many different varnishes and oils to number.

But I’d kill a Kaywoodie if I stuck one to buffing wheel, and I know it.

One advantage of 4/0 steel wool, Everclear, grapeseed oil and beeswax is even a two thumbed amateur like me doesn’t hurt anything an expert can’t fix.

And it does make ‘em pretty for awhile.

 

[Sobrbiker]

I flux my pot with any old wax, or even sawdust. I save beeswax for bullet groove lube.

Mixed with olive oil about 70/30 (50/50 if you don’t live in the desert) it’s great cap and ball black powder grease too.

 

[Zeno Marx]

Have you tried Renaissance Wax?
I like it better than Paragon and Halcyon.

I have not, but it has been on my radar for a while. I'll grab some when I run out of Halcyon II.