Chris Schwarz’s Soft-Wax Recipe – FineWoodworking

At my first woodworking job—at a door factory—we sprayed finishes with solvents that were so toxic we had to wear full respirators and body suits. Even with all that protection, I could still smell the solvents, and they made me queasy. Since that experience in my 20s, I’ve switched to finishes that have little or no nasty chemicals such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). That means shellac, waxes, natural oils, linseed oil paint, and soap.

All these finishes can be made without toxic VOCs or driers that contain heavy metals. My favorite of these finishes is soft wax, a finish made from beeswax, raw linseed oil, and citrus solvent. A batch of soft wax takes about 15 minutes to make, is inexpensive, and is easy to apply. Plus, you don’t have to dress like an astronaut to make it or use it.

Soft wax doesn’t create a hard film finish like lacquer or shellac, so it’s not…