Beeswax “sweating” on new cutting boards - Suggestions or thoughts
My new end grain cutting boards are “sweating” after an application of beeswax. By sweating I mean the oil comes back to the surface in tiny droplets after drying.
I had previously finished the boards in two coats of mineral oil and got my usual good results. After letting the two boards dry nicely for a week I decided to follow up with the popular beeswax/mineral oil wax mixture, something new that I have not done before. I purchased the pre-mixed wax at a recent woodworking show.
With everything at room temperature I applied a light coat, wiped off the excess, then set the boards aside to dry for 30 minutes before buffing. Instead I found the boards continuously “sweating” oil on some end grains. After 15 minutes of wiping and wiping some more the sweating continues. I suspect the oil is separating from the beeswax and not absorbing. I am not worried about fixing as either time or a good wash and refinish should fix the situation.
But, what can I learn from this? What is causing the problem and how to prevent in the future if I want to use beeswax/mineral oil. Has anyone experienced this problem? Thoughts?
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