Hei! Gordon Scott wrote: > we sell a beeswax > polish, which is a fairly popular line. However, some people ask for > a 'cream' rather than a polish. All the recipes I see for these creams > use soft-soap as an ingredient........ I produce beeswax polish from beeswax and pure natural turpentine (lovely smell!), by varying the proportions one can obtain anything from a hard shoe polish consistency to a creamy butter-like consistency. Why use soft soap? If one must, beeswax soap might be the answer?(instructions for making can be found on the net) As additional info I submit the following from Rick Buchanan <[log in to unmask]>, dated 15th. June 1995 >Take it from someone who has a long history of cabinetry etc. >Don't use bee's or any type of wax on your furniture. >It will soften the finish over the years. sometimes older >furniture will have a sticky feel. No amount of polish will remove >this. It is the finish s-l-o-w-l-y dessolving. Despite the comercials, >oil is best. Go to a kitchen store find PURE lemon oil. Use an old t-shirt >that is damp (make that humid) and apply 3-4 drops of lemon oil to the cloth. >Apply. Wipe with a dry t-shirt. >This works for varnishes and french polish (shellac). For lacquer, add >1/8 tsp of pure softened carnuaba wax (pure) to 1/8 cup pure lemon oil. >Apply a few drops to a humid t-shirt and polish. Wipe w/ dry t-shirt. >The carnuaba wax will keep the lacquer from crazing. For plastic (polyester, >vinylester, epoxy, polyurethane, etc.) use lemon oil and water only (same >as for varnish). >Here is why.... >Silicone, if used, will imbed itself in the finish. Refinishing the piece will be >near impossible. Wax, especially soft wax like beeswax, will attract >dirt. This dirt becomes imbedded in the finish and turns it dark. >The only reason to use wax (and it must be a hard wax) is to prevent >crazing. A minute amount is needed and needs to be fully buffed out. >Oil will remove grease and oil. Lemon oil is a light oil so it will flow out > well and remove soot and fingerprints. Do not use too much wax or oil. >One wants to remove dirt and grease, keep the finish plyable so it won't craze, and >to leave nothing on the finish when finished. >If you can't find lemon oil, you can substitute banana oil. Where does one get banana oil from??! >This actually works better (than lemon oil) because it flows >out even better than lemon oil does and thus less is needed. >However it is very expensive. If the type of finish you have requires a wax, >remember... a little carnauba goes along, long way/ 1/4 tsp will wax a >large car. >Beeswax instills confidence that you are doing the best thing >for your furniture, and unbelieveable as it may sound, some cabinet and >furniture builders even recommend it! Forget tradition. Use what won't >do harm to your finish. Stay away from commercial polishes, silicone, and >beeswax. I can't comment on this but it seems I've been doing it all wrong for the last 30 years!! Cheers Tony. --------------------------------------------------------------- Anthony N. Morgan (Tony) Fax: +47 73 89 62 86 "Stavshagen" E-mail: [log in to unmask] Midtsandan Sor-Trondelag College 7563 MALVIK Elec. Eng. Department Norway 7005 TRONDHEIM, Norway ----------------------------------------------------------------