3 Reasons Why Beeswax is the Queen of Wood Preserving
by Ryan Rackley
July 29, 2019
There is an unmistakable elegance and warmth about wooden structures gracing a home or any room. They seem to emit a sense of connectivity to a natural world which you unconsciously (or consciously) want to protect and preserve.
This connectivity to nature is probably what compels us to take care of our wooden properties and ensure their utmost longevity, especially that wood is sensitive to temperature changes, light, and moisture. Aside from that, they are also vulnerable to wood-harmful organisms such as fungi and most insects.
But how can we best preserve our wood? There are a number of available products in the market which are generally classified into the following varieties:
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Oil-borne wood preservatives - These contain chemicals used both as a pesticide and a disinfectant.
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Water-borne wood preservatives - These may be cheaper but they are more loaded with chemicals than the oil-borne type. They could pose long-term health risk in case of frequent exposure to them.
Fortunately, there’s a safe and wood-friendly alternative to all these commercial products: beeswax.
What is beeswax?
Beeswax is produced by bees to build the walls of the honeycomb where they store their honey. It varies according to geographic locations, and depending on the bees’ age and diet, the colors of the wax also vary from yellowish to almost black.
Beeswax is considered a miracle animal wax secretion because of its multiple uses and benefits. It is most commonly used for candles but it’s also a great ingredient for cosmetics, wax paper, and ointments. But what makes it the best alternative to wood preserving products?
Here are 3 reasons why:
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It’s natural. We want to extend the wood’s purpose and usability for as long as we can while also avoiding the toxic materials present in most commercial preservatives. Beeswax, being non-toxic, is therefore safe to those who come in contact with the wood. This way, we are not preserving just the wood but human health as well.
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It guarantees durability. Beeswax contains high-carbon paraffin which not only feeds into the wood but also seals and protects its surface especially from moisture and sunlight. This ensures its much needed durability. While a varnish may also serve as a protective coating to wood, it doesn’t quite penetrate like beeswax does.
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It gives a shiny finish. Beeswax transforms dry, dull, and sun-damaged wood surfaces into naturally smooth ones, giving them a nice sheen. A varnish on the other hand is made of resin resulting in a dry, hard wood finish. With beeswax, a sparkling home and furniture set is within reach.
Homemade beeswax wood preservers are also easy to make, and there are plenty of online references you can use. Usually they are mixed with natural oils such as jojoba and mineral (for food-safe wood) or linseed (for non-food-safe wood). For a ready-to-use beeswax wood preservers, checkout Touch of Beeswax Wood Preserver.
With a safe product that’s easy to source and produce, beeswax no doubt is the queen of wood preservatives.
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