Making carnauba wax that can be applied by hand
Maybe a lot of you guys know about this, but I thought it a good idea to share this fantastic concoction.
What you'll need to make 100gr (about 1/3 of a 170gr coffee jar)
1. Two metal pots. One larger than the other. The smaller one must fit inside de large one
2. 70gr carnauba wax (flakes)
3. 30gr virgin or pure bees wax
4. 250cc (1/4 liter) to 300cc turpentine
5. One old screw driver or similar
6. One air tight jar
Procedure
a. Shred the bees wax in a cheese grater or cut it in small pieces with a knife
b. Fill half of of the larger pot with tap water
c. Put the carnauba wax flakes and grated bees wax in the smaller pot
d. Place the smaller pot floating inside the larger pot
e. Place both pots over a medium/low setting on your stove (this is called a double-boiler or bain-marie)
f. Wait till both kinds of wax melt down. Bees wax will melt first, carnauba a few moments after.
g. Once all the wax is in liquid state mix well with the old screw driver and turn off the stove
h. Let the mixed wax sit and cool for a few moments, till it starts to glaze and solidify
i. Start to slowly pour in the turpentine. Don't do it while the wax is still too hot because the turpentine will evaporate as it has very low surface tension. Mix well while pouring in the turpentine.
j. Move the mixture to the airtight jar
k. Close the jar an allow to cool
l. Voilà
Once the mixture cools down it should have the consistency of car wax or floor wax. If it seems a bit hard, just add some more turpentine and mix well. If it feels too soft just let sit for a few minutes with the jar open for some of the turpentine to evaporate.
To polish a pipe just grab some mixture with a soft clean rag and spread it over the wooden part of the pipe. Allow to dry till the pipe looks dull. Then polish the pipe with a clean soft rag such as an old tshirt. It takes about 5 minutes of elbow grease per pipe.
The pipe will smell of turpentine for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then the smell is gone.
The results are amazing and last very long. Apply as often as you want.
You can use this mixture to finish your new pipe or your resto project.
You can also apply it with a polishing wheel if you have one. I have one, but I find it much easier and risk free to do it by hand.
That's all for today folks. I hope you find this post helpful.
Jay
Maybe a lot of you guys know about this, but I thought it a good idea to share this fantastic concoction.
What you'll need to make 100gr (about 1/3 of a 170gr coffee jar)
1. Two metal pots. One larger than the other. The smaller one must fit inside de large one
2. 70gr carnauba wax (flakes)
3. 30gr virgin or pure bees wax
4. 250cc (1/4 liter) to 300cc turpentine
5. One old screw driver or similar
6. One air tight jar
Procedure
a. Shred the bees wax in a cheese grater or cut it in small pieces with a knife
b. Fill half of of the larger pot with tap water
c. Put the carnauba wax flakes and grated bees wax in the smaller pot
d. Place the smaller pot floating inside the larger pot
e. Place both pots over a medium/low setting on your stove (this is called a double-boiler or bain-marie)
f. Wait till both kinds of wax melt down. Bees wax will melt first, carnauba a few moments after.
g. Once all the wax is in liquid state mix well with the old screw driver and turn off the stove
h. Let the mixed wax sit and cool for a few moments, till it starts to glaze and solidify
i. Start to slowly pour in the turpentine. Don't do it while the wax is still too hot because the turpentine will evaporate as it has very low surface tension. Mix well while pouring in the turpentine.
j. Move the mixture to the airtight jar
k. Close the jar an allow to cool
l. Voilà
Once the mixture cools down it should have the consistency of car wax or floor wax. If it seems a bit hard, just add some more turpentine and mix well. If it feels too soft just let sit for a few minutes with the jar open for some of the turpentine to evaporate.
To polish a pipe just grab some mixture with a soft clean rag and spread it over the wooden part of the pipe. Allow to dry till the pipe looks dull. Then polish the pipe with a clean soft rag such as an old tshirt. It takes about 5 minutes of elbow grease per pipe.
The pipe will smell of turpentine for about 15 to 30 minutes. Then the smell is gone.
The results are amazing and last very long. Apply as often as you want.
You can use this mixture to finish your new pipe or your resto project.
You can also apply it with a polishing wheel if you have one. I have one, but I find it much easier and risk free to do it by hand.
That's all for today folks. I hope you find this post helpful.
Jay
