Things You'll Need:
- Solid wax
- One pint glass container
- Turpentine, mineral spirits or naphtha
- Pot of hot water
- Stir stick
- Colorant such as rottenstone or dye (optional)
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Step 1
Buy solid wax, either in brick form or in flakes. If you buy a brick, you must grate it into flakes with a standard cheese grater. Place 1 lb. of flakes into a glass container.
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Step 2
Add half a pint of turpentine, mineral spirits or naphtha to the container of wax and allow the solvent to dissolve the wax. Put the container in a pot of hot water to speed up the melting process, stirring as necessary.
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Step 3
Let the wax cool, then test the consistency. It should be as runny as softened butter for a good working texture. To thicken the wax, add more wax and reheat; to thin it, add more solvent and reheat.
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Step 4
Add colorant to the paste wax if you want it to blend with the color of the furniture or make it darker for an antique look. Use rottenstone, pigment or oil-soluble dye, but dissolve the dye first in an appropriate solvent. Blend the mixture thoroughly to get a consistent color.
