What paste wax is
Minwax describes its Paste Finishing Wax as a blend of natural and synthetic waxes in mineral spirits, which protects and adds lustre to stained wood. The solvent carries the wax; once it evaporates, a thin layer is buffed to a soft sheen. Minwax recommends it for interior stained surfaces 'that do not need the hard protective coat of polyurethane' — wax is a light finish, not a substitute for a film where a surface takes wear or spills.
| Product | Composition | Apply | Maker's limits |
|---|---|---|---|
| Minwax Paste Finishing Wax | Natural and synthetic waxes in mineral spirits | Thin coat; polish after 10–15 min; a second coat for more lustre | Interior; stained wood not needing polyurethane; 24 h after staining |
| Paraffin wax | Paraffin (canning wax) | Melted and brushed or dipped (FPL) | Suggested by the Forest Products Laboratory for cutting boards and small toys |
| Hardwax oil (Osmo Polyx-Oil) | Plant oils and waxes, driers, solvent | Two thin coats | An oil finish, not a paste wax; see the oils guide |
From Minwax's data sheet, the Forest Products Laboratory and Osmo's product information. Minwax gives 500 sq ft per pound for its paste wax.
Choosing among the waxes for a particular piece is covered in how to choose a wood wax.
Applying and keeping a wax finish
Minwax's instructions
Start on a dry, clean surface
If the wood is newly stained, wait 24 hours, Minwax says.
Apply a thin, even coat
With a clean cloth. Minwax suggests putting a little wax inside a double layer of cheesecloth so only a thin film works through.
Let it dry, then polish
Allow 10 to 15 minutes, then buff with a clean cloth, a weighted buffer or an electric polisher.
Add a second coat for more lustre
Repeat the same steps.
Maintain it
Clean with a slightly damp cloth and mild detergent, then buff lightly.
Wax over a film finish
Wax is often used over a cured film to change its sheen or feel. General Finishes, for example, uses its finishing wax as a lubricant when buffing a fully cured topcoat. But Minwax advises against waxing its Fast-Drying Polyurethane, because the wax would have to be removed before another coat of polyurethane could be applied. Decide before waxing whether the surface will ever need recoating. See polyurethane.
Wax and food
For items that touch food, the Forest Products Laboratory suggests paraffin wax — the kind used for home canning — as one of the simplest finishes for cutting boards, and notes that paraffin does not go rancid or support microbes. That is a statement about paraffin, not about a solvent-based furniture wax: Minwax's paste wax is labelled harmful or fatal if swallowed. The scoped claims are in food-safe wood finishes.
Safety— Solvent waxes
Minwax labels its paste wax combustible and calls for adequate ventilation and a constant flow of fresh air; keep it away from heat, sparks and flame.
Using wax
- A surface that does not need a hard protective coat
- Stain dry for the maker's time — 24 hours for Minwax
- A thin coat, buffed after it dries
- No wax where polyurethane will be recoated later
- Paraffin, not a solvent furniture wax, where food is involved
- Ventilation while the solvent evaporates
Sources
Wax's role is described as its maker describes it; no durability figure is published, so none is given. Beeswax and coloured waxes were not among the products whose documents were reviewed, and no claim is made for them.
- 1.
Technical Data Sheet, Minwax Paste Finishing Wax. Minwax.
Used for: Paste Finishing Wax as a blend of natural and synthetic waxes in mineral spirits, for interior stained surfaces that do not need the hard protective coat of polyurethane: a thin coat, 10–15 minutes to dry, then polish; a second coat for deeper lustre; applied 24 hours after staining; about 500 sq ft per pound; maintained by buffing after cleaning with a damp cloth and mild detergent; labelled combustible, with adequate ventilation required.
- 2.
Minwax Product Guide. Minwax.
Used for: Waxing Fast-Drying Polyurethane not recommended, because the wax must be removed before another coat of polyurethane.
- 3.
Technical Data Sheet, High Performance Topcoat. General Finishes, 2019.
Used for: Finishing wax used as a lubricant when buffing a fully cured topcoat.
- 4.
Mark Knaebe. Finishes for Wood Bowls, Butcher Blocks, Other Items Used for Food, and Children's Toys (FinishLine). USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2013.
Used for: Paraffin wax as one of the simplest finishes for cutting boards, butcher blocks and small toys.
- 5.
Christopher G. Hunt. Wood Handbook: Wood as an Engineering Material (FPL-GTR-282), Chapter 16: Finishing Wood. USDA Forest Service, Forest Products Laboratory, 2021.
Used for: Paraffin wax and oil not becoming rancid or supporting microbes; any clear material in the surface cells deepening the look of wood.
- 6.
Product Information, Polyx-Oil Original. Osmo, 2020.
Used for: Polyx-Oil as a hardwax oil combining plant oils and waxes.
About this guide
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