Beeswax wood finish and beeswax furniture polish has become more popular in recent years. People are searching for a natural alternative to modern wood finishing products containing chemicals such as toluene.
This resurgence in the use of beeswax as a wood finishing product is a classic case of ‘what’s old is new again.’ Because beeswax has been used for centuries to protect wood and help bring out its glossy natural patina.
And while a beeswax wood finish or polish does offer many advantages, it comes with a few disadvantages too.
The Advantages of Beeswax Wood Finish
Beeswax is completely natural and safe
The most obvious advantage of a finish or polish made of beeswax is that it’s natural – or at least the beeswax portion is natural. As concerns mount about pollutants in our homes (you’ve probably heard that the most polluted air you breath may be in your own home), many of us are actively seeking ways of eliminating some of those sources of pollution.
And a furniture polish containing ‘bad’ ingredients can be a significant source of indoor pollution. After all, we not only breathe the air that may have been contaminated by the polish, our skin is in constant contact with it as we use the wooden furniture for its intended purpose.
So eliminating furniture polish as a potential source of indoor pollutants makes a significant contribution in making our homes safer and healthier.
Be aware, though, that there are products that combine beeswax with a solvent such as toluene or other questionable ingredients. So if you’re buying a commercial wax or polish, be sure to read the ingredient list carefully. The fact that a product contains beeswax doesn’t eliminate the possibility of that product also containing a less desirable substance.
Note: Toluene, which for many years has been a mainstay ingredient in many wood finishing products, could definitely be considered ‘a less desirable substance.’ Toluene has been associated with a range of illnesses, and is suspected of being linked to certain birth defects. Click here if you’d like to read the Environmental Protection Agency’s hazard summary for toluene.
Beeswax provides a natural looking finish Beeswax is great for bringing out the true beauty of wood. It forms a rich, glossy patina that embellishes rather than distorts the natural beauty of the wood. It also leaves wood silky-smooth to the touch.
Beeswax can be ingested safely Beeswax is perfectly safe for human consumption. (I eat it intentionally every time I chow down on comb honey!).
So a natural wood polish or finish containing beeswax (again – check the other ingredients) is a great choice for children’s toys made of wood. And of course, beeswax is perfect to use in a salad bowl finish or a cutting board finish.
The Disadvantages of Beeswax Wood Finish
Wax finishes don’t provide the same level of protection as other finishes As a primary wood finish, a paste wax made with beeswax (or other waxes such as carnauba) doesn’t offer as much protection as other finishes such as lacquers, shellacs, varnishes and oil finishes. But beeswax is excellent when used as a polish over another type of finish.
Wax finishes must be reapplied frequently A beeswax wood finish simply won’t last as long as other finishes.
Beeswax is Great for Leather, Too
Beeswax has historically been used for conditioning and waterproofing leather, and it still works great for that purpose. It helps to protect leather, makes it soft and supple, and also gives it a nice shine.
