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Renaissance Wax — Microcrystalline protective wax
Renaissance Wax — Microcrystalline protective wax
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21,95 €
Regular price
28,99 €
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21,95 €
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Renaissance Wax — microcrystalline wax in paste form, ready to use
Renaissance Wax is a microcrystalline wax in white spirit, supplied as a solid white paste. It was formulated at the British Museum research laboratories in the early 1950s and has been made by Picreator Enterprises, in London, since 1968. It differs from microcrystalline wax sold in blocks or pellets in that it comes ready to use: there is no need to melt it in a water bath or to prepare a white spirit solution beforehand.
What is it used for?
- Smooth leather on a book cover: in a thin coat and after a test on an inconspicuous area, as the manufacturer advises
- Protecting interior brass, copper, steel or pewter after cleaning, on hardware, mechanisms and historic house objects
- A sacrificial layer over an existing finish, on the parts handled daily: handles, pulls, catches and moving components
- Protecting wood finishes without a prior sealer, on furniture, carving and French polish
- Marble and polished stone, against staining from coloured liquids
- The varnish of stringed instruments, against hand perspiration and rosin residue from the bow
Why choose Renaissance Wax?
- It came out of a test, not a recipe. Accelerated ageing tests at the British Museum rejected every commercial wax based on beeswax and carnauba because they contain acids capable of spoiling original finishes over time. That is why this formulation is microcrystalline, refined from crude oil
- The proportion is set by the manufacturer. A wax solution prepared in the workshop depends on who prepares it — published treatment reports record proportions ranging from 2 % to 1:1 — whereas here the ratio of wax to solvent is the same in every tin
- Clear film. Applied thinly and rubbed out to full lustre it stays clear, and the manufacturer states that repeated use causes no loss of clarity and no darkening of the surface beneath
- Reversible. The manufacturer states that it can be completely removed by rubbing with white spirit
- The manufacturer declares it free from acids
Presentation and storage
- Presentation: 65 ml, 200 ml and 3 l tins
- Store in a cool place with the container tightly closed and upright, away from heat, direct sunlight and any source of ignition
- Shelf life: the manufacturer states several years with the tin firmly capped, thanks to the wax's solvent-retention capacity
- Contains white spirit: apply in a well ventilated area. The manufacturer recommends nitrile, polythene or PVC gloves
Getting the most out of it
- Renewable sacrificial coating: outdoors it is maintained by periodic reapplication.
- It gives its best results on preserved natural patina, according to published tests on microcrystalline waxes.
- For use below 50 °C.
- On archaeological iron it is applied together with relative humidity control, which is the factor that governs that case
- Apply to a clean, degreased and dry surface.
- It is removed with white spirit, and comes off best the sooner it is renewed.
- Always in a thin coat, including in crevices and mouldings.
Frequently asked questions
Is it suitable for an outdoor bronze sculpture?
Yes: outdoors it works as a sacrificial coating, with periodic maintenance.
How does it differ from microcrystalline wax in blocks or pellets?
In that this one already comes dissolved, as a paste. Solid microcrystalline wax has to be melted, or made up into a white spirit solution, before it can be applied; that is what published treatment reports describe. If you are looking for wax to prepare your own solution, this is not the presentation you want.
Does the object need to be warmed before application?
Treatment reports published in Spain describe microcrystalline wax applied cold, with a pad or brush, and then polished with a soft brush. Pre-heating belongs to a different practice — molten wax on monumental bronze — and there what is heated is the support, not the tin.
How is it removed when it needs renewing?
The manufacturer states that it is completely removed by rubbing with white spirit; it comes off best before it ages.
Can it be used on silver?
On silver, its documented use is as an anti-abrasion layer over an existing finish, on the parts that are handled.
And on wood?
Yes. The manufacturer indicates it on furniture and carving, both to protect an existing finish — French polish included — and applied directly to sanded hardwood, with no need for a sealer.
How far does a 65 ml tin go?
Applied in thin coats, as the manufacturer indicates, consumption is very low.
Any questions? Write to us on WhatsApp, visit innovart.art or email info@innovart.art and we will advise you.
