How do you remove this wax from wood blanks?

[Alan Lilly]

I have a small project I wanted to build with some beautiful and dense wood.. so I bought these 2 bowl blanks from rockler.
One is cocobolo and the other is lignum vitae.
I'm not going to turn them ... I will probably cut, router, sand and drill them into the final project.
Before I remove the wax, I was curious how you guys/gals remove the protective wax from these expensive blocks of wood?

http://home.comcast.net/~panofish/pics/wax1.jpg

http://home.comcast.net/~panofish/pics/wax2.jpg

[Larry Fox]

Card scraper here for me.

[Sean Troy]

If you can cut your project out of those blanks, you might not have to worry about the wax plus it's a good lube for your blades. remember that that wax is there for a reason and most likely, the wood is still somewhat green.

[Alan Lilly]

That's good to know... I didn't realize the wood might still be a bit green.

[Bill Huber]

From what I have heard it is best to turn bowl with somewhat green wood.
So they seal the blanks so they will not dry out and can stay on the shelf longer.
I would also go with the card scraper.

[Alan Lilly]

That makes sense... but I will not be turning a bowl with these ...
The final shape will be similar to what they already are +- 1/2" or so.

Another good response I got was this...

Remove the wax from every face, leaving the end grain sealed. Use a scraper, razor blade, wipe with mineral spirits, whatever works for you.
Stick the blanks out in the garage.
Retrieve blanks from garage in 6 months.
Remove wax from ends.
Stick blanks back in garage.
Retrieve in 2 months.
Work.

[Jack Briggs]

Scrape, then naphtha.