Properly sealing and finishing wrought steel is very important. If left untreated, forged steel can rust in a matter of hours. Without any coating, steel will simply rust away to nothing. This is an unfortunate property of steel, and one of the reasons why museums to do not have the same amount of iron forged artifacts compared to precious metals.

At Church Mouse Forge, I take pride in saying my work will last for lifetimes. This is because I finish every piece that leaves my shop with some sort of very durable coating. Jewelry usually gets an industrial grade skin-safe clear coat. Other pieces are brushed with a brass brush and sealed with many thin layers of enamel. The majority are finished using an ancient method of burning a mixture of beeswax and oil right into the surface of the steel.

If you have ever seasoned a cast iron skillet, the process is very similar. This block of beeswax and oils is applied as the forged work is cooling down on the anvil. Simply run the block of wax over the hot work, and it will melt on and soak into the rough forged texture. It takes some experience to find the right temperature to give the steel a rich, dark color and durable protection for the elements. The wax should smoke just slightly, otherwise the steel is not hot enough. If it burns away or catches fire, then it is too hot. Once the work is coated, I go over it with a wire brush to remove any excess wax. If the wax did not darken entirely, simply hold over the forge until it heats back and you will have a very durable and attractive coating that will last years.

I use extremely locally sourced (right down the street) organic beeswax in my wax products, along with boiled linseed oil, a drying agent, mineral spirits, and a few drops of essential oils to improve the smell.

This block of blacksmith's finishing wax is the perfect addition to any blacksmith or bladesmith shop. Just a very small amount is enough to coat a project, so be sure to use sparingly and it will last a while.

This listing for a block of finishing wax that measures 3" x 2.25" x 1" and weight at least 3.5 oz. This is enough finishing wax for many, many projects and should last a careful smith months.