Liming for a Song

I would like some more explanation of liming wax and how to use it. I am not familiar with it. You are advancing in your turning and finishing rapidly BTW, good on you. I see how it makes open pore wood like red oak more dramatic. I walked away from the lathe awhile ago, got bored…you have resparked my interest. Open pore wood like elm, plain old elm for example, would take this finish and make a nice piece.

-- Urban logger, http://nelsonwoodworks.biz/

Hey Daren. Thanks for the nice compliment. Liming wax is a white pigmented paste wax. Briwax manufactured what I used, but others make it also. You basically rub it on like any paste wax and buff it off. It fills in the open grain of wood. I purchased mine from Woodcraft in Indianapolis. I have also used it on Catalpa with a two-tone dye, see Inside Rhapsody. Hopefully that answers your question.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

aha – now I’m seeing all sorts of color combination possibilities with this technique. Easter eggs anyone?

-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/

Gorgeous! Some day I am going to have to try my hand at this

Keep up the great work! We are all getting an education.

-- Fred, Springfield, Ma

Thank you, Joe! I can see a hybridization of Daren's two tone wood-dye technique and your liming technique brewing at my lathe soon. I truly appreciate your honoring my request for details. Good luck with your juried contest. I’m sure you will do very well.

-- "Bordnerizing" perfectly good lumber for over a decade.

Great lesson for this old man Joe, a lot I never new about dyes, waxes and other things I’ll have to try, thanks,

-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com

BriWax also has a toluene free version for those that need it.

I make my own waxes and add pigments for liming and accenting wood.
Other than a white liming wax, I also use black, yellow, blue and green.
Of course difference base colors are needed for contrasting the pigmented wax.

I’ve also used powdered mica in the wax for interesting effects.

I mix up small batches of the liming wax as needed with a spatula.

-- Randy, Rustic Artisan (sixth generation) - "I am a seeker, not a follower."

Thank you!

Very unique!

-- -** You are never to old to set another goal or to dream a new dream ****************** Dick, & Barb Cain, Hibbing, MN. http://www.woodcarvingillustrated.com/gallery/member.php?uid=3627&protype=1

Hey Randall, what kind of pigments do you add to your wax?

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.

I use natural Earth and mineral pigments from several sources.
Here are several good vendors:

Real Milk Paint

Lee Valley

Earth Pigments

I also use some natural pigments that I gather in the wild.

-- Randy, Rustic Artisan (sixth generation) - "I am a seeker, not a follower."

Good one Joe.

-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python

Thanks for the great links and information, Randall. The pigments certainly open a whole new world of possibilities.

-- My favorite piece is my last one, my best piece is my next one.