Renaissance Wax Polish

Renaissance Micro-Crystaline Wax Polish (dang, now that’s a title!) is THE most expensive wax I’ve  yet to purchase.   Now it’s not a “new” product (been around for 40+ years!), it took over five years of looking at it on the shelf to finally take the splurge … an I’m sure glad I did.  Now, I’m no chemist … so I don’t know the nitty gritty details of why this wax is so special — but put some to use and you’ll fall for it.

The Renaissance Micro-Crystaline Wax Polish is available in several sizes.  The one I use of the 200 ml tin (pictured).  Renaissance has a different smell (not bad, just different) and consistency that the other waxes I’ve used (primary being car waxes based with carnuba).  It’s solid, but soft and when applied wipes on AND OFF with ease.  Apparently it’s a “safe” finish and is used on many museum and gallery pieces.

Like most waxes, it will protect your tools from water (and thus rust), as well as finger prints.  It provides for a very slick surface, which is especially nice on a tablesaw, jointer or planer to name a few.  I’ve even begun to put this product on my hand planes.  One nice thing about this wax over traditional waxes is just a dab will go a long way.  It has a thinner consistency than others, and seems to spread easier.

Renaissance is SAFE on the following:
Wood; raw & finished. Leather, Parchment & Paper. Metal; Silver, Silverplate, Gold, Copper & Copper Alloys (Bronze, Brass, Tin, Zinc, German Silver, Nickel), Lead & Pewter, Iron & Iron Alloys, Tin & Tin Alloys. Damascus; Stone, Marble, Onyx, Limestone, Granite, Brick, Tile, Terrazzo, Obsidian, Alabaster; Gems, Glass, Porcelain, Holloware, Bone, Ivory, Horn, Shell & Mother-of-Pearl, Gutta Percha, Dammars; Gilding & Gold Leaf, Patinas. Enamel, Lacquer, Japanning, Cloute, Pose d’Or, Pique Point, Varnish, Marbleizing, Stains & Artificial Graining. Plastics, Formicas, Paints, Polyvinyl Acetates, Esters of Polymethyacrylic, Polycyclohexanones, Fiberglas Epoxy Resins, and much more! (From http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.html)

A little history:
How, RENAISSANCE Wax, the “Perfect Wax” was created: Prior to 1950, the only polishes available were based on beeswax and carnuba wax. Unfortunately, these natural, saponifiable products could cause damage when acids arose spontaneously through oxidation or hydrolysis. To solve the problem, a consortium of international conservationists directed a scientist from the British Museum to conduct research and find the “perfect wax.” When he could not find any that met their exacting standards, he created a new wax in his laboratory. The revolutionary formula he invented is a semi-synthetic microcrystalline fossil-origin wax entirely free of, damaging acids.
It remains chemically neutral and is therefore completely safe, even on vulnerable surfaces.
The British Museum approved manufacture for its own use and for distribution to the public. That “perfect wax” is now available internationally under the name RENAISSANCE WAX.  (From http://www.woodfinishsupply.com/RenWax.html)

While I still grab for my carnuba from time to time, I do prefer the Renaissance.  The biggest reason for choosing it is the ease of removal, and how long it lasts.  I’ve used it around my shop on just about everything for several years, and I still have half the container left — unbelieveable.  It does come at a higher price point, so it won’t be for everyone — but if you want to treat your tools and yourself to some of the best quality wax … then you should give it a try.  I’ve seen smaller containers, so you could test the water for about $10 or so.  The 200 ml container usually runs closer to $20.

Note: Of course, this wax could be used as a finish on a project (virtually any project in fact, it’s a “safe” wax”), but I’ve yet to do it so I can’t comment on it.

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