The three best finishes you're (probably) not using

Рет қаралды 147,662

3 ай бұрын

Soap. We all have it (I hope). We use it every day (again, hopefully). But did you know it's also a fantastic finish? No? Well then, may I present to you the three best finishes you're (probably) not using. Hopefully it's helpful for you!
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Items I use in this video (some are affiliate links which help sponsor this content):
Castile Soap: amzn.to/3UvIS8p
Soap Flakes: amzn.to/4bpYQXI
Beeswax: amzn.to/3Upc5BO
Tung Oil: amzn.to/48YXC3N
Heat Gun: amzn.to/42ng0B4
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Glue:
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TotalBoat Epoxy:
For 5% off any TotalBoat product, visit www.totalboat.com/encurtis
My Finish Mix:
Minwax Polyurethane: amzn.to/3kPgpuO
Liberon Finishing Oil: amzn.to/3kXkIEf
Danish Oil (alternative): amzn.to/3Njlabs
Liberon Beeswax: amzn.to/3Jm2yFN
Turpentine: amzn.to/3SWFznB
Mineral Spirits (alternative): amzn.to/3oKU83h
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Пікірлер: 326

@pinkerbot 3 ай бұрын

As a Dane, i appreciate you spreading the word about our traditional finishes 🙂 That said, i have never seen soap applied just like that. First of all, the soap we use is soap flakes, but if you cant get that i guess what you showed works. Just make sure it is pure soap with a high grease content. For floors, you just wash them with a solution of the soap flakes, but for furniture i usually prepare a thick almost gel form of flakes and water. I then apply this generously to the wooden surface and let it sit for a while, and then wash it off with clean water.

@BigHenFor 3 ай бұрын

Castile Soap comes in liquid form, as well as flakes and bars, but that aready has water in it. Soap flakes arent used as much with the proliferation of front loading washing machines, but it saves on the grating and cutting of bars.

@darren4392 3 ай бұрын

I'm surprised that you didn't point out that Danes are from Denmark, not Sweden.

@williammaxwell1919 3 ай бұрын

Before "soap flakes" there was (and still is) "lanolin"

@pinkerbot 3 ай бұрын

@@darren4392 😁 i didn't understand it like that, though. I think he meant that the soap finishing technique has spread to other Nordic countries...

@pinkerbot 3 ай бұрын

@@williammaxwell1919 exactly! Our soap flakes has a high lanolin content (which is why they are also used for washing wollen sweaters and such).

@anaphylaxis2548 3 ай бұрын

Two of my hobbies just collided! I'm a soap maker and amateur woodworker.

@ocelot-makes 3 ай бұрын

first rule of wood club? never talk about wood club!

@sule2318 3 ай бұрын

@@ocelot-makesbut then would do I know how much wood the wood chuck chucked if the if the would chuck could chuck wood?

@douglasyoung927 3 ай бұрын

I've been making 'period' finishes for wood and leather for a while and my favorite is an equal parts mixture of flaxseed oil and beeswax, sometimes with a tablespoon or so of terpentine. Historically it would sometimes be boiled with oxides (like bronze, iron or lead oxide) to make it cure faster. Boiled linseed oil from the hardware store is actually not boiled. Its flaxseed oil that has be altered with heavy metallic solvents and preservatives and often contains some solution of cobalt and manganese. I strongly recommend boiling your own flaxseed and beeswax mixture at home. Apply it to warm wood once a day for a week, once a week for a month, once a month for the first year, and once a year for the life of the tool (assuming the tool gets a lot of use and spends a lot of time outside and exposed to heat and sun, dirt, weather and moisture). This builds a durable, deep penetrating finish that is easy to grip, smells great, and increases the durability and life of tool handles by years. I have inherited a shovel and a splitting axe with thier original handles that have been treated/maintained in this way that have been used continuously on a farmstead for nearly a 100 years.

@debluetailfly 3 ай бұрын

I believe the hardware store 'boiled' linseed oil is why linseed oil has a bad reputation. According to the Solvent Free Paint site, it still has the proteins in it, which causes it to mold badly. The oil should sit in tanks until the proteins have settled out and the remaining liquid is then pumped off. They say the hardware store stuff could be explosive it you tried to boil it. I use lots of raw linseed oil produced in the Nordic countries.

@Obscurity202 2 ай бұрын

Be very careful boiling oils at home

@Obscurity202 2 ай бұрын

ie probably just don't

@douglasyoung927 2 ай бұрын

@@Obscurity202 yeah, I would never recommend heating or modifying anything that is a finished product that you buy from the store. But if your combining a pint of beeswax and a pint of flaxseed oil with a tablespoon of turpentine and you do it at an appropriate temperature there's really not much of a risk compared to most other things we do. Just do it slowly, do it outside, don't do it over an open flame, use a thermometer so you don't exceed the flash point, keep the lid to the pot near by to extinguish the flames and an oil safe extinguisher near by just in case.. it's not what I would call a safe activity, but I've been doing it for years with 0 problems. Even if you don't know what you're doing, 20 minutes on Google makes it pretty easy to mitigate the risks. Just pay attention to what you're doing. People have been heating volatile and oily substances for thousands of years so it's not like there's a part of this equation that is unknown.

@drakeschaefer2491 3 ай бұрын

What I've been doing recently is using a really small slow cooker in my shop for preparing heated waxes/finishes. A few crock pot brands make dip or queso warmers about 16oz in size. They heat up quickly, prevent me from making too much at a time, and I found mine in a thrift store for literally $1. And since it's a dedicated device, I never have to worry about contaminating any of my kitchenware.

@jimcarter4929 3 ай бұрын

I use a wax heater for my hide glue, I suppose that would work for beeswax preparation. Kind of like a double boiler when I put water in pot.

@SweSuf 3 ай бұрын

Swede here: 30 years ago my wife and I bought a dining room set, in a modern version of late 18th / early 19th century style. The table is finished with soap (which we haven't reapplied...😳) and is still very good and smooth 😊!

@JamesSmullins 3 ай бұрын

I had forgotten about soap until this video. The town I grew up in had a old hotel that Russian Jews turned into apartments when they fled to the US during WWII. That hotel had some absolutely beautiful woodwork throughout and those older guys used soap as the finish and yes it's silky smooth. I miss those people, they had lots of stories that helped me appreciate what we had here. Eventually those people died of old age and the hotel was torn down but someone went in and took all the wood trim and furniture out to preserve and likely sell, building materials were at that time well over 100 years old and a lot of furniture was as well. All of it had that soap finish. I sure hope whoever has it now kept that finish and knows the history of the pieces.

@aaronwarner2762 3 ай бұрын

Wow! Something I can finally speak about with some personal experience. I'm a beekeeper among other things. I've been mixing my own beeswax finish for years. I have used food grade mineral oil. One cheap option if you trust is mineral oil (by the gallon) meant for horses. A gallon is 20-30 bucks and should last you a decade. My country folk engineering method of application is to put the piece to be finished in my junky SUV to heat up in the summer and start applying finish after is has sunbaked/heated up for a good part of the day. Now this might not be good for fine woodworking, but that's not what I've done. Man, it just drinks up that finish. A walnut mantle I simple put outside on a hot day and it absorbed so much heat, I could barely touch it bare handed. Again, drank it up like a dehydrated camel. Put about 10 coats on it and it's the simplest and sexiest woodworking project I ever make. Somehow I lucked out in working it to have a perfect sapwood arch in the piece. I do the same with my wooden spatulas. They're smaller, so I slather it on and put them in the Prius under the trunk glass. They get supers hot and soak it up. Peace out! Caution, a walnut bench I made was put outside and gets water spots if left outside. Never said I a smart woodworker.

@user-lb4dg2fl9n 3 ай бұрын

I've been a carpenter/woodworker my whole life. I've been using beeswax for years. Heated up in a small boiler. With a heat gun. I've seldom seen it mentioned in other vids............ I never do social media. I have never subscribed to any channel. Ever. I've seen thousands of woodworking vids, but yours Sir, I find very interesting. I think your vids are great. Almost makes me want to,............(dare I say it?).........subsc.............

@brianm.9451 3 ай бұрын

I use a beeswax olive oil paste wax finish for a lot of my personal pieces. I’ve recently added shellac as a durable finish (not water proof but close enough). I’m looking into tung oil with a citrus solvent next. Ideally I want it to be as low VOC as possible.

@TomHaley-cy4cc 3 ай бұрын

@brianm.9451 I really like it. I use tung, beeswax, and citrus oil solvent. If I wanted it a bit "harder" or shinier, I add a bit of carnuba wax too. You just have to heat it longer.

@williammaxwell1919 3 ай бұрын

Welcome to the delemer of "I don't subscribe to KZfaq a because.. yet, I want to see ENC 's next video drop". Enjoy watching a maestro distill his learnt knowledge and accumulated experiance to enable others to excell to his level (I would love to physically attend his classes ~ too many K's and time zones away). How you can pay it (subscription) forward is to ask a question of Eric that extends him and also expands the "knowledge base" of the subscribers... knowledge needs to be shared and Eric does this in spades

@toonybrain 3 ай бұрын

50/50 beeswax pellets and food-grade mineral oil

@kb6dxn 3 ай бұрын

I like the laid back method of teaching, great music and real down to earth methods. Old school methods are hard to find and I like how hand rubbed oil finishes look on furniture.

@Paul_C 3 ай бұрын

Even made a chest of drawers and finished it with soap. It was a project I finished in my third year as a cabinet maker. That was in the Netherlands, even made a few chest for the kitchen, finished with soap, and regarding cleaning: use soap 😂 PS, at 65, I never understood why 'the old methods' went out of fashion.

@BrokensoulRider 3 ай бұрын

I think it's because people think it's too much work. IDK though.

@debluetailfly 3 ай бұрын

The old methods going out of fashion. Too much to write in one comment. In general people were taught to trust in science, any new development was hailed as an improvement. Crisco really caught on big, but we know hydrogenated oils are terrible for health. Homogenized milk was such a great thing because you no longer had to shake the milk bottle! We were taught that new is better. New and improved. People are drawn to maintenance free. The plastic finishes were touted a tough and indestructible. Everyone thinks they must have laquer on kitchen cabinets because it is the only thing that will hold up. Someone said if you think any finish is tough, just give a 3 year old a nail, and turn them loose on that finish. Now we see people going back to some of the old ways. I now mow with a scythe instead of a gas mower. A lot of old ways are really better, but they don't make big profits for corporations who don't care a whit about you, only what is in your pocket. They want you to believe nothing can match their 'proprietary' product.

@wannabefunnyman 3 ай бұрын

I’ve been watching you on and off for a couple of years now. I don’t mean to shit on your earlier work, because there was good stuff in there, but I must say that over the last year or so the fit and finish of your videos has come to match the quality of your woodwork. You’re now must-see TV for me. Between the improvements in presentation, more confident speaking, and some pretty interesting and thoughtful topics I am really enjoying your stuff.

@cj-ef1rp 3 ай бұрын

Danish relates to Denmark. Swedish relates to Sweden. Different countries, different finishes 😊

@markhiggins3054 3 ай бұрын

Totally agree - bit disappointing but enjoyed the video

@tc9148 3 ай бұрын

Wonderful, so informative and helpful. Thank you.

@gravityundone8697 3 ай бұрын

I haven't seen anyone else use the beeswax finish before. I use wax + olive oil to a soft paste, rub it in then get a clean paper towel and rub like heck so it heats up and that lets you get that super smooth finish. I love the look of it on pine and it feels so good to the touch.

@StaticReplication 2 ай бұрын

That's a simple version of what's called "paste wax". There are endless varieties of pastewax, and lots of people make their own formula but the simplest is wax + oil. People say to avoid some oils since some oils go rancid quicker than other and might start smelling bad, but like every woodworking topic there is a lot more talk than actual good info.

@timch5227 2 ай бұрын

Yeah that "rub like heck" part is gonna get really intesinve on big tabletops and intricate spots

@ResinEssenceByCheri 2 ай бұрын

Use printer paper or the rolls they use for newsprint.

@bjsmithart 3 ай бұрын

I love when you do these videos. I make frames for my artwork and I like experimenting with different finishes. I’ll definitely try these.

@Zillustration 3 ай бұрын

I don't use heat in my beeswax/turp mix. I shave the wax with a sure-form planer, like a cheese grater, filling the shavings in an old jelly jar and pour turpentine about 2/3s up the jar. It then sits on the shelf for a couple of days to become a creamy emulsion that I use for wax finishes and screw lubricant. I place my assembly screws in there like a bunch of snow monkeys in a hot spring, pulling them one by one as needed.

@mikec8451 3 ай бұрын

I totally agree, that soap finish is one of the most underrated finishes - I’m using it regularly for years, the surface gets very smooth almost like silk and if it gets a bit dull just soap it again

@RDH0255 3 ай бұрын

I absolutely love the information in these videos. Your insight makes this channel invaluable 🔥

@terryrogers1025 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, appreciate your video, will try out all the finishes you brought forward.

@Ian-xy7xi 3 ай бұрын

Enjoyed that one - thanks for taking the time to get it out there+++++++

@einsteinbpc 3 ай бұрын

Love the idea of the soap finish. I’m going to make some up today. Thanks for that.

@halsonger1317 3 ай бұрын

Nice tutorial on making the soap finish. It's definitely one I want to try. For my beeswax finish prep I picked up a mini crockpot for a few dollars at the thrift store to handle the melting and mixing for my cutting board butter. It's a "set it and forget it" process, not as quick as the heat gun but you don't have to worry about fire or handling a hot jar. You can start with the oil base to get it warmed before adding the beeswax shavings. I also put a small foil pan from the dollar store in the crock pot to aid in cleanup. You can use those over and over for the same type of mixture.

@angelaburt3266 3 ай бұрын

Superb presentation. Thanks for sharing.

@JimmyJamesMarquees 3 ай бұрын

One of the most interesting wood finish videos out there. Thanks mate!

@rubecountryman 3 ай бұрын

I make a mix of Bees wax, Carnuba flakes, and mineral oil. It's fantastic for furniture but it's also fantastic for cutting boards/charcuterie boards too. I change the mix depending on my use but generally speaking the first coat is thin so it really sinks into the wood pores then the last coat is almost like your soap mix where it's more waxy/fluffy? Great stuff 👍

@johnhiemstra1464 3 ай бұрын

Thank you for another great learning experience. I love the idea of those finishes because my finishing place is where my furnace is. Gonna try them!

@davidhutchins8144 3 ай бұрын

Love this. I just tried your DIY finish (poly/oil/turp) and it was easy to make and so easy to apply. It was for a dining table so curious to see how it holds up... its for my family so I will see that first hand. Look forward to trying one of these. Thank you!

@chrishunter2097 3 ай бұрын

Best vids going right now, I look forward every week. Entertaining and great content. Thanks!

@freezemanrjbr 3 ай бұрын

I make a wax mix, using beeswax + carnauba wax (Brazil wax / palm wax) with a little of mineral oil. I use the heat gun on it, just like you did with the beeswax. It become really gorgeous. (Do I need to say I'm Brazilian?) Great video. One more follower.

@tabitha2706 3 ай бұрын

Thank you, Erik! This was great. I’ve settled on beeswax for most small things I'm making, and for larger projects that i want a more durable finish, tung oil, with a coat of beeswax applied after the tung oil cures. I love the feel and look of them, and it’s all natural! It’s great to hear validation of my decision in your video!

@kylerhea1356 9 күн бұрын

You can also use walnut oil to finish wood. You just apply it until it stops soaking into the wool. You sand it with a sanding sponge just like when you are finishing lacquer. You keep applying in coats until it no longer soaks into the wood. It is one of the smoothest finishes I have done. It also works when your cabinets in the bathroom gets a little worn out. It makes them look like new. It is sold in the grocery store and the safest finish I have found.

@johnwachter6975 3 ай бұрын

Great information very informative keep videos coming.

@peterturner8766 Ай бұрын

I have used beeswax as a finish on a flat surface but I also service my own skis. So I used an old iron (not the one I use for my skis) and hotwaxed it with beeswax, scraped t back (and collected the scrapings for reuse) and buffed it the same as I do with my skis.

@BillMSmith 3 ай бұрын

I've know about soap for a few years, Chris Schwarz has mentioned it a few times. I should find a reason to try it one of these days. I use beeswax and tung oil frequently, I keep a couple of containers with different mix ratios on hand. I did have a first a couple of years ago. I gave a neighbor a turned bowl from a tree from her property, finished with beeswax, and she hated the smell.

@Mainbusfail 3 ай бұрын

Erik, he who has touched alot of wood. Priceless.

@Bastelcontainer 3 ай бұрын

Soap finish is (was) really common in rustic furniture in southern Germany, too. Espacially kitchen tables are often soaped. If it gets dirty, you simply use common soft soap "Schmierseife" to clean it. Really nice Video 👍

@mmerc9838 3 ай бұрын

Loving the videos on finishes. As someone who is trying to be a little more professional, im working on learning how to get away from the film finishes i have been using in the past.

@redhm1989 Ай бұрын

the last finish reminds me of the finish i use from Jonathan Katz-Moses, 4 parts beeswax, 1 part mineral oil. I use that finish all the time, love it!

@TWC6724 3 ай бұрын

Loving these finishing videos. I’m still waiting to try some dyes/toners. Can’t wait.

@alejandrodelavilla 9 күн бұрын

Soap paste is also used to seal leather. If you want food safe finish, use 3 to 1 mix of food or medical vaseline (usually bought at pharmacies) with food grade beeswax ( natiralistis food shops usually have it)

@ryanm2214 3 ай бұрын

Had no clue! Thanks for this sir!

@user-dj6fh2dw7p 3 ай бұрын

Thanks so much for this. I love the old, tried and true ways. I’ve never tried soap, but I will. My go to finish has been beeswax and walnut oil (1:3 or 1:4). Keep up the great work!

@terrytopliss9506 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for the video Eric, really interesting.👍👍

@budlloyd3127 3 ай бұрын

just followed the podcast! I always look forward to your videos!

@SWA-Projects 3 ай бұрын

Thaaank you for posting this just at the perfect timing👍🇩🇰

@brianm.9451 3 ай бұрын

Chris Schwarz mentioned soap finishes in a video years ago. I’ve wanted to try it but never did. For 2023 I resolved to use more VOC free (or low VOC) finishes. For personal projects I use a beeswax olive oil combination. It’s food safe and I love the satin feel. I also use shellac thinned with mineral spirits for durability.

@KOutOfMyYard 3 ай бұрын

Your face when you tried to put your hand in the jar!!!!! Excellent video again and the sculptures were amazing!!!

@GlenfinnanForge 2 ай бұрын

I used Chris Schwarz’s recipe for a soap finish on some nightstands I built and it’s a beautiful finish. I reapply it about once a year.

@Strange-Viking 3 ай бұрын

Interesting fact, soap as well as candles used to get used lots on the sliders and bottoms of drawers (also on zippers). They just rubbed a bar over the wood. Works a treat to reduce friction if you got antiques that have no metal sliders. Making wood slightly damp when the wood is very dry (just with a damp cloth nothing more) will pull soap in allot deeper.

@debluetailfly 3 ай бұрын

Soap helps, but some furniture wax makes drawers really slide good. Johnson's was a good low cost choice, and kept nearly forever. I still have a can from when stores stamped prices on products with purple ink. It was 72 cents. Now I hear Johnson's has stopped production. Sad! There are other brands of wax, but they are more pricey.

@nickbrutanna9973 3 ай бұрын

Madness.... Mayhem.... Soap! 😀

@zirconiumzach8601 2 ай бұрын

if you are a wood worker of 3+ years you have touched sooooooo much wood, man i love your channel

@chapiit08 2 ай бұрын

For those who make their own hand tool handles, like axes, hatchets, chisels, hammers, etc. the beeswax finish portrayed in the video is the best there is, it provides protection to the wood and the right stickiness for a secure grip when the tool is being used.

@chrismoore6359 3 ай бұрын

The soap blew my mind: so cool and that will be the next one I try! Also, it seems more common to and I use ~ a 3-4:1 oil:beeswax. Thanks for the informative video!

@christopherjacklin7589 3 ай бұрын

Love this! I've actually just been experimenting with your other main finish (the poly/oil/turps mix) and have been loving the results, but I do find the VOCs an issue. These look great fun and I can't wait to try them out.

@goatfromhell666 29 күн бұрын

I literally just got done making a food safe paste wax for a cutting board I made. It's 1.5 parts beeswax to 4 parts mineral oil. I got the recipe from a guy at work. Melt, mix, and let it cool. It's supposed to be a buffable finish, so we'll see how it works. From my experience making polishing compounds, I may experiment with adding a little powdered acetic acid (vinegar) to harden it a bit if I'm not satisfied with the hardness of the finished product.

@johnlebl 3 ай бұрын

I've used old wax shoe polish as a finish and colorant all in one, with the help of a heat gun. Mine is variable temperature, so I can keep it set low

@PaulTWOS 3 ай бұрын

Nicely done Erik. I have never used the soap, but I do make my own waxes with variations of beeswax, carnauba wax, and microcrystalline wax, and tung oil is my preferred oil as opposed to mineral oil (which NEVER dries). Microcrystalline is very pleasing tactile finish also and has some very nice UV protection. Carnauba wax is like putting a turtle shell on whatever it gets finished with. HIGHLY DURABLE, and very easy to correct in a client's home.

@robertberger8642 3 ай бұрын

Good information, thanks!

@scottboettcher1344 3 ай бұрын

Not only is this an eye-opening, informative and useful video, but the comments below have all kinds of gems I want to try. Bookmarked!!

@susanp.collins7834 2 ай бұрын

Erik - I just made a batch! It really is soft and smooth and silky.

@JamesWilliams-en3os 3 ай бұрын

I have been using the beeswax-oil-turp (well, I use mineral spirits instead of turpentine because I really dislike the smell of turpentine) for a while now, since viewing your older video on your fave finish. Initially it was a bit thin, so I added beeswax to get the consistency I want, but the point is that it is an awesome finish for all sorts of things, from carvings to shop furniture to kitchen doohickies to actual real household furniture that I let my guests see and use. And it is a cinch to prepare and apply. It is my go-to finish now.

@brianhawes3115 3 ай бұрын

I finished a table for my cousin with turpentine and beeswax, and a few years ago he said of all his furniture that one was the most durable and wanted to know what I used, and I thought, wow no glass rings? So it’s more durable than I ever imagined

@shanksjeffcott8598 3 ай бұрын

Well didn’t know about soap finish im off to make and give it a try , cheers

@harrisric128 3 ай бұрын

Beeswax tung oil is my favorite thing. I am going to try your finish at some point

@walterrider9600 3 ай бұрын

thank you EN . neat info . had a chuckle also .

@Kiviat 3 ай бұрын

Love the Saturday morning drop. Watched while having breakfast and a home made espresso. Now it’s time to clean up the shop after delivering a project last night. Next project starts when the shop is back to clean….and after this video, I’m thinking that some sort of beeswax finish will be applied. Keep it up bro.

@gregoryw.jenkins8036 3 ай бұрын

I read several comments (15 Page Up's) to see if anyone noticed and commented on what I saw. No one did, so I will share with you all. When you started talking about the beeswax/oil mixture, I was waiting for a revelation that should have come but didn't. You can use the beeswax/extra virgin olive oil solution to create handlebar mustashes, tame and train unruly facial hair.

@sarahconner726 2 ай бұрын

Note from someone who grates soap too often: those barrel style cheese graters like they use at Olive Garden are amazing. I can grate through a bar of Fels Naptha in minutes.

@marchuvfulz 3 ай бұрын

Great video, thanks!

@Kelvallontan 2 ай бұрын

Hi Eric. I'm getting closer to putting some kind of finish on my project. I've just tried the soap cream on some offcuts. I'm going to try beeswax/oil/turp on another offcut tomorow, and am going to see where to go from there. Thanks a lot for sharing!

@robohippy 3 ай бұрын

I am mostly a bowl maker. My favorite finish for my bowls is walnut oil and some carnauba wax. Kind of surprised that you didn't mention carnauba wax. Main reason I prefer it to bees wax is because it offers far better water protection than bees wax. For furniture, if I wanted a carnauba wax finish, I would use Kiwi neutral shoe polish which is carnauba and turpentine. Another variation is Butcher's wax, they have 2 and one is a 'bowling alley wax, and the solvent is turpentine. The walnut oil is very slow to cure, like a week or so. Oh, you forgot some thing. When you where whipping the soap mix, you should have cued in the old Devo song, "You must whip it, whip it good!"

@patrickbink4617 3 ай бұрын

Glad to see someone else who also uses carnauba wax, though mine is a mix with beeswax and mineral spirits. I should try the walnut oil.

@robohippy 3 ай бұрын

I use the walnut oil from the Doctor's Woodshop. Mostly because he is also from Oregon. Also a fine product from Mike Mahoney, an internationally known turner. Never worked with tung oil, which is also a nut of some sort. Without driers, it takes a long time to cure. The Doctor, PHD in chemistry, 'microagregates' his carnauba wax. Not sure exactly what that means, he explained it once, but his wax mix will go on without needing solvents or heat to get it to flow and/or spread around evenly.

@anthonyseiver7000 3 ай бұрын

I make both beeswax finishes with three variations, natural turpentine (from pine sap) as a thinner, boiled linseed oil (as in heated and polymerised oil not synthetic driers from the art supply shop). Thirdly I have been making a hard wax variation with carnuba wax. It has a higher melting point so longer in the double boiler but very effective for desktops and high use surfaces. I get the carnuba wax from a local finishing company (in Australia) All of these have zero VOCs, smell wonderful, and totally foodsafe.

@JamesZaraza-wv3gt 2 ай бұрын

Had my first opportunity to play with citrus oil recently, and I have to say, it is so much better than mineral spirits. As a bonus, it redissolves stain in a very mild manner, making it easy to blend and even out darkness with a light touch. However, once the substrate is coated, the stain is much more mobile. Additionally, applying stain over a treated piece is like painting with water colors. Sorry to ramble, but new materials always get me.

@jdkemsley7628 3 ай бұрын

Lovely info and pleasant presentation! I'll be trying out a soap finish for sure. 17:36 -- your planer may need some sanding followup to get rid of the ridges

@antonybrinlee8166 3 ай бұрын

I also use a shellac flakes dissolved in everclear. It's a great sealer prior to the beeswax mixture. Of course you know all this. Thanks for sharing.

@roberthahn8555 3 ай бұрын

I tried soap finish on a desktop and holy cow it is SO FREAKING GOOD this recipe is almost impossible to screw up and if you’re not happy with what you have, just add more water or soap to fix. I feel that the desire for ultra durable, plasticky finishes is born from a place where no one wants to spend any time repairing or maintaining their finishes. I’d you’re willing to relax that constraint a bit you’ll find maintaining work finished with soap to be so fast and rewarding you would WANT to spend more time doing it. I hope to experiment with beeswax and tung oil sometime soon but I don’t know, friends, it’s hard to imagine wanting to use anything but soap finish!

@brennik05 3 ай бұрын

Does the soap finish keep its texture in the sealed tub? Does it get too hard? Do you have to warm it every time you want to use it? Would love to try it on my woodturned ornaments. Just wondering how big of a batch to make. Sorry if the questions are dumb but I’ve never heard of that finish before

@roberthahn8555 3 ай бұрын

@@brennik05 I think those are very sensible questions! I tend to keep my mixture harder than you saw in Eric’s video, more like coconut oil than meringue. The mix hasn’t gotten harder - but if it does I’d just add more boiling water to it. Unlike Eric I add boiled water to soap flakes and stir, rather than combining both in a pot on the stove. This finish is hard to mess up in that the consistency can range from a soup to a harder consistency than coconut oil - the thinner it is, the more layers you’d need to apply. I understand that the soup finish is probably better for washing/finishing floors than furniture. I made a pint jar (500ml?) to cover both sides of a desktop that’s 28x40” and that worked out well. If you add hot water to cold flakes and blend, you’ll have good control over how much you make, and I think the volume doubles from the flakes-only. But I wouldn’t worry about making too much. If it is too much and you don’t like it you can use up the rest as hand soap. But it definitely won’t go bad like an oil finish would. Hope that helps!

@brennik05 3 ай бұрын

@@roberthahn8555 thank you for tips! Definitely going to give it a try

@Kelvallontan 2 ай бұрын

I've got to agree with this. I've tried the soap on some offcuts of the desktop I'm making, and it really looks gorgeous, moreso because I'm not fond of pushing the tint towars yellow. I'm making the oil/beeswax recipe as we speak, and am going to try it out as well. I also agree with the second message: at worst, if you don't like the finish, mix your leftover soap meringue with sawdust, and it makes an excellent heavy duty hand cleaner. I'm a heating systems tech, often work on pellet/wood boilers, and it does wonders to remove the thin soot in the skin pores.

@davidegerton-warburton1311 3 ай бұрын

Thanks, very useful video

@user-ew4xp5bx1d 2 ай бұрын

Someone below mentioned "limonene" which is a citrus solvent extracted from orange or lemon peels. Technically it is a volatile compound but it's environmentally friendly and evaporates faster than turpentine. Pure, raw tung oil gives a non-shiny natural finish and use of citrus solvent thins it so it soaks in deep, esp. for early coats.

@dowtingtomas.695 2 ай бұрын

Awesome !! Thanks

@briancollins2230 3 ай бұрын

I was late to the party on this video. But I still made it. Great video as always. Now time for me to top off my cup.

@georgetumillo446 2 ай бұрын

So I made a thing but more importantly I used your 1:1:1 beeswax/oil/terp recipe and WOW. Buttery smooooth as advertised. Unless there is a specific customer request I can't talk them out of or an exterior project that demands it, I'm done with store bought finishes. Pigments are next. Thanks for sharing your knowledge, please keep it coming!

@michaelzimmerman635 3 ай бұрын

I made a jar of beeswax and tung oil last year that will probably last me a lifetime. Living in Turkey, I just set it in a south facing window for awhile.

@route13customs 3 ай бұрын

And yet another teaching from my dude that I’ll absolutely keep in the toolbox for the rest of my days. Thank pal. Question though, if you happen to see this… if I have already applied 1 coat of odies oil to a walnut bandsaw box could I use the soap finish overtop? The odies was applied a week ago and is completely buffed down. I’ll wait another couple weeks for the recommended full cure as well.

@robertjackson1407 3 ай бұрын

Thank you 😊

@susanp.collins7834 2 ай бұрын

Erik, yesterday I made a pot of 'wood butter' from beeswax and coconut oil. While I was clearing up I was rubbing it on my mouth. I had a cold sore and my bottom lip was VERY scaly. This morning? My bottom lip was KISSABLE! And I did all my friend's wood handled kitchen utensils. After which my hands felt WONDERFUL. Let's leave the chemically treated products on the shelves and go natural. I made the spoon butter for my first spoon that I'd made (excuse me while I laugh at your sense of humour!) and my little spoon looks LOVELY!

@ourtube4266 2 ай бұрын

Thanks, I’m going to do soap on my dining table since it’s just a stained pine build. I don’t need it to last forever because I’m a novice and I’m sure I’ll do something nicer in 10 years when I have the skills.

@Foxhound330p4 3 ай бұрын

I have just built my first shooting board and I was at a crossroads on whether to apply finish to it or not. I certainly did not want to use several coats worth of my expensive oil on it. I'll now just finish it with soap and call it a day. Thanks!

@Foxhound330p4 3 ай бұрын

For anyone wondering how this may turn out, I did it. Short story short, it worked fine. My shooting board is all made out of plywood and 3 coats were needed. One can tell frequent reapply will be required, especially the surface where the plane rides. The finish is not very slippery, so wax is still needed in that same area. I was satisfied enough to use the same finish on my sharpening stones board.

@zionosphere 3 ай бұрын

Thank you again Eric for showing other alternatives and providing uses for them beyond some poly/oil blend. I also wonder if you could do a soap/beeswax/oil blend to get some of that tactile element with a bit of the wax protectiveness. Soap is an oil/base blend so it should theoretically work with a beeswax/oil mixture.

@leif913 3 ай бұрын

Love your videos. Nice job. Tung has no VOCs and is great food safe finish ( pure tung oil, not big box tung oil finish). I mix with limonene ( lemon oil) for a great cutting board finish. Have to let it cure for a few days to a few weeks but it is much more durable than mineral oil. I have also been experimenting with tung oil linseed mixes. It was not clear in my research if boiled linseed has zero VOCs but I it is very low (possibly due to some heavy metal additives to hasten the drying time). Lin tung and besswax are a nice mixture for not only wood finish but wax for cast iron tools.

@theScamBKLYN 3 ай бұрын

There are a few companies that make "true" boiled linseed oil (i.e. w/o heavy metals). Tried and True Danish Oil and Allbäck Purified Boiled Linseed Oil are the two that I know of.

@Martins_Woodshop 3 ай бұрын

„I,ve put my hands on a lot“ 😂 Normally your videos are "just" great. This one was outstanding.

@RnRWoodworking 3 ай бұрын

I didn't realize that you could use soap as a finish. Thanks for the input.

@bloggalot4718 3 ай бұрын

Thanks for posting these tips, I have some orange oil so I may try this with beeswax and it will hopefully smell nice as well.

3 ай бұрын

Using soap surprised me. I knew about beeswax. Thanks for giving us a cheap alternative to try out. 👍

@thijspluis9998 3 ай бұрын

I love oil and wax. I tried multiple combinations. I just have to try them more to see with one i like the most and then stick with that

@darrylbrook5968 2 ай бұрын

Great topic Eric.. An old electric fry pan is a great prep tool for these style of finishes. You tend to end up with a bench covered in beeswax but coupld be worse.... HAvn't tried the soap finish.. but no wit has been raised... Hmmm. Keep up the great stuff.. and yes go make a thing!

@deltasquared7777 3 ай бұрын

You might want to try a mini-crockpot instead of a double boiler. It stays at a controlled low temperature so there is no problem with fires if you are using any flammable components.

@WedoweeHandyman 3 ай бұрын

Hey Erik this episode inspired me so I made a finish parody video yesterday after watching this episode. 😂

@joeleonetti8976 3 ай бұрын

Thanks Erik. I am a chemist by day and woodworker by night and weekends. I generally dislike commercial finishes. In an effort to keep their specific formulas secret, their (material) safety data sheets are maddeningly vague to me. As such, I prefer to often make my own like you have done. I often will also use the Tried and True partially polymerized linseed oil and beeswax.

@johnplusquellic7963 3 ай бұрын

Another great video, fun, educational and inspiring. What are your thoughts on using these traditional finishes on exotic woods? Looking to expand my bowl finishes. Thanks

@adamguinnmusic5871 3 ай бұрын

So I'm all about the natural finishes. But real new to wood working. Coming over from framing houses. So one thing thing I'm unclear on is how would you get some color behind that soap finish? Add it into the mix? Or do something before the soap? Like I guess I'm just not sure if you ever do two things separately or is a finish always all in one all at once?