This Topic was moved here from Turning Talk by David Hamann.

Totally Turning is a regional show that takes place in Saratoga Springs each March.  Coincidentally, it's happening this weekend.  The first year I went, I saw a demonstration by Richard Raffen in which he used Howard's Feed'n Wax to finish a walnut bowl.  He commented that it was commonly used in Australia although it's not widely discussed.

So I bought a bottle to try.  And the first observation is that of all the materials promoted as finishes for woodturning, Feed'n Wax has to be the most widely available.  Just about every hardware and big box store carries it.

Feed'n Wax is a simple oil and wax finish - the oil is a predominantly orange-based citrus oil, and the wax is a blend of beeswax and carnauba.  It easy to use - sand the piece, wipe it on, and buff it in.  It enhances the grain while leaving a nice soft glow in the wood.  And it smells good!

I have a 'coin dish' on the night stand next to our bed that was finished with Feed'n Wax.  After four or five years, I decided that it needed to be refinished - all that was required was to remount the dish, wipe on a fresh coat of Feed'n Wax, and buff.  The point is that while it is simple to use, it's not a hard finish, and it may need to be refreshed periodically.  But that's easy to do.

The label doesn't say anything about 'food safe', and the MSDS implies that it contains mineral spirits. 

Bottom line - I like it.  It's not my first choice (I tend to prefer finishes based on Tung Oil), but it's a simple, quick way to finish a turned piece that doesn't need to be fancy.

One other point - Feed'n Wax is part of a family of products that can be used to clean and recondition older pieces without actually refinishing them.