Beeswax alternative

[barb.j.enders]

I was at my local Michael's store, which is similar to Hobby Lobby, and was wandering the aisles.  Dangerous, I know.  I stopped in the candle making section looking at the beeswax granules.  I noticed they also carried soy wax granules.  The soy wax was about $10 less than beeswax for the same weight.  Has anyone used soy wax with mineral oil for a finish?  Any thoughts on using it as a substitute? 

[WayneMahler]

I have never used soy wax for anything. The first that comes to mind is would the wax chemically bond with mineral spirits ? Soy wax is a lot softer then bee's wax so what king of protection would it offer ? Maybe someone can give you a definitive answer for this. I know my wife shops at Michaels and you can definitely beat their everyday prices. So Cindy will watch for coupons sale ads etc. I'm going to try and follow this out of curiosity as to what others opinions or experiences are.

[kmmcrafts]

I've seen soy wax but have not tried it.. Many of my customers like the sweet smell that the natural beeswax gives my woodwork pieces and as Wayne mentioned.. I don't know how it'd do with the mineral oil. I don't use Mineral Spirits in my wax mix.. just the oil and beeswax and heat it until the wax melts down. I know supposedly the MS will evaporate but how will the smell affect the mixture.. My wife can't stand the smell of the Johnson's wax whatever is in that.. be the beeswax she likes the smell of.. Might have to watch her to make sure she's not eating my beeswax mix. 

[BadBob]

18 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

Johnson's wax whatever is in tha

Stoddard solvent.

[barb.j.enders]

20 hours ago, kmmcrafts said:

I've seen soy wax but have not tried it.. Many of my customers like the sweet smell that the natural beeswax gives my woodwork pieces and as Wayne mentioned.. I don't know how it'd do with the mineral oil. I don't use Mineral Spirits in my wax mix.. just the oil and beeswax and heat it until the wax melts down. I know supposedly the MS will evaporate but how will the smell affect the mixture.. My wife can't stand the smell of the Johnson's wax whatever is in that.. be the beeswax she likes the smell of.. Might have to watch her to make sure she's not eating my beeswax mix. 

I wasn't thinking anything about Mineral Spirits.  I was just wondering about switching the beeswax to soy wax.

[Egon Mattsson]

I bought 10kg unfiltred beewax of a beekeper and filtred the i mixed 50%linsed oil and smelted the beewax .