Peter wrote

> When I started dipping bee boxes I tested the timber for penetration of 
> the wax by cutting across the grain after dipping for different time 
> periods and then
> standing the cut end in ink for a short while, then washing and observing 
> the ink penetration.

Way back in 1970 when I started my training in the timber preservation lab 
at the Forestry Department, one of the first things taught to me was that 
when looking at penetration of any preservative you do not cut the timber. 
I was told all this did was smear the preservative on the cut surface and 
when applying the chemicals to look at penetration you got a false reading. 
We had to split the timber and test on the split surface as this was not 
contaminated by smears.

Not sure if this is the same with wax but it would pay to check.

FWIW

Trevor Weatherhead
AUSTRALIA 

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