Working With Wax Efficiently on the Lathe
Paste wax is at its best on decorative turning. It gives a soft, high gloss with very little film, provided the base is right and the coats stay thin.
In this Workshop Extras film I show the efficient route I use at the lathe. Start with clean sanding, lay a whisper of cellulose sanding sealer to close the end grain, then de nib lightly with a grey Scotch Brite pad. The surface should feel smooth and even before wax goes near it.
True Gloss paste wax (formerly Hampshire Sheen Gloss Finishing Wax) is then applied in a thin coat with the lathe stationery, allowed to dry a little, and buffed to a sheen. A second thin coat adds depth. Thick coats look quicker but slow you down and leave a smeared, dull result.
Two points to keep in mind. First, end grain is a bundle of straws. Without a sealed base it will drink and patch. Second, this approach is for decorative objects only, not for bowls or boards that will see food or water.
If wax has felt hit and miss before, try this restraint at each stage. Thin, even, repeat.