Hey everyone! I've been experimenting with creating my own wood finishes and testing out various recipes. Right now, I'm using a mix of beeswax, raw linseed oil, mineral spirits, and a touch of carnauba wax, which has given me decent results. However, I think I could improve it further. I'm considering using denatured alcohol as a solvent since it evaporates quickly, but I'm uncertain if it would impact the finish negatively. I generally prefer a matte or satin finish and don't buff too much. My main priorities are a fast curing time and easy application. Does anyone have any recipes they could share? I'm open to trying different ingredients like tung oil, waxes, or solvents!
3 Answers
I’ve read that Limonene is what Lost Art Press uses in their wax mix, which includes linseed oil and beeswax for better spreadability. Looks like it could be a good option to explore!
Yeah, alcohol isn’t effective here. Wood turpentine is solid, but remember it has a fair amount of VOCs. Alternatively, D-Limonene (a.k.a. citrus solvent) works almost as well and has less harsh VOCs. For recipes, I’d suggest a standard mix of 1 part wax, 1 part oil, and 1 part solvent by volume. Make sure to leave room in your container for adjustments – if it’s too hard, add a bit more solvent! For kitchen items, I prefer a blend of 2 parts mineral oil with 1 part wax without any solvent.
Just a heads-up, alcohol won't actually dissolve wax or linseed oil. Only the linseed oil cures, and raw linseed oil can take its sweet time. If you're looking for a natural solvent, I'd suggest wood turpentine – just be mindful of its strong odor. Mineral spirits evaporate quickly and work well too! For quicker curing, try using sun-thickened linseed oil instead. You might also want to explore adding candelilla wax or shellac wax for a harder finish if that's your goal.
Just a note, though, while limonene is less toxic, you can develop sensitivity to it. I’ve used it in waxes and varnishes, and it smells a lot better compared to traditional solvents. If you mix 3 parts mineral spirits with 1 part turpentine, you get a similar effect without the downsides!