Preservation.

[Hugh]

<img border="0" alt="[bigbye]" title="" src="graemlins/xyxwave.gif" /> There was an article by Wayne Goddard (Knifemaker) in the april 2003 issue of BLADE Magazine detailing an experiment he conducted on various waxes and their rust preventing properties. He tested 1. Zymol Liquid Car Wax, 2.Johnson's Paste Wax, 3. Butcher's Bowling Alley Wax, 4. Butcher's Boston Polish Paste Wax, 5. Renaissance Wax, 6. Trewax, 7. Briwax.

He prepared two pieces of bandsaw steel by grinding the surfaces to give a flat, oil & dirt free surface. He then used acetone to clean the steel, and applied the waxes to different areas of the steel using the manufacturers instructions for the wax application. Some areas of the steel were left unprotected for comparasion.

Four drops of tap water were applied to the center of each test area to make one big drop. After one hour, there were some small spots of discolatation under each water drop except for one; the Briwax. At three hours all the water drops except one (Briwax) were becoming cloudy. He then went to bed. The next morning the water had evaporated and all the areas showed a rust spot EXCEPT FOR ONE. The one spot not showing any rust was the Briwax. <img border="0" alt="[oops]" title="" src="graemlins/oops.gif" />

Not satisfied, he repeated the experiment with two more pieces of steel, using only the Renaissance Wax and the Briwax. After coating the two pieces of steel with the two waxes, he splashed several large puddles of water on each one. After 18 hours, the water had evaporated and there were rust spots on the Renaissance Wax sample and none on the Briwax sample.

Briwax won the test hands down. He admitted that he was suprised by the results of the test, having believed that the other waxes would give more protection than they did.

I have been using Renaissance Wax on my guns and knives, but am now sending my order in for some Briwax!
Info is available at www.briwaxwoodcare.com. It is imported from England and is more expensive than the other products.

I have no vested interest in any of the products mentioned, no does Mr. Goddard. This information is presented here for the members benefit only. <img border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" title="" src="graemlins/bigok.gif" />