Thread: removing wax on wood

thanks for prompt reply-what I have are small blocks of 4 or 5 different Australian Hardwoods which I intend using to make small boxes.
What I really would like to know is how I remove the wax before I use the timber.

You will more than likely find that the timber is still green. Turning blanks dipped in wax, are generally done so when green to stop them splitting and preserve the feature of the timber for display purposes. :confused: Since they are only small pieces I would assume that they are turning blanks.
If you intend to turn your boxes, you can turn the wax off. Otherwise, any sharp tool should be able to remove it. Check the moisture content as green timber will move.

Kev

I bought a stack load of Tassie timber at the Melb working with wood show 4 years ago which was sealed in wax to prevent cracking and equalise drying as doorstop mentioned.

I' ve used some of it recently to make small boxes and to remove the wax I placed newspaper over the wax coated timber and went over it with an old clothes iron set on the highest heat level.

This melts the wax and the newspaper absorbs it. You'll need a ton of newspaper though because you can't use the same sheet more than once when it is coated with wax.
The boxes finished up well ie. the timber was dry enough not to distort or crack.

Hope this helps

You might try simply pouring boiling water over the wax. I find it melts and washes away most of the wax cover in one go. Not in the sink though, preferably out on a piece of bare ground.