Waxing the mandolin

[keith.rogers]

Does Minwax paste finishing wax have silicone?

No. it's primarily the automotive products, and (at least historically) sprays like Pledge that you have to be concerned with. You can find the data sheets on almost any products with a bit of googling around. Meguiar's (e.g.) has some parallel product lines where some have silicone and some (sometimes called "pro") do not, if you must resort to an abrasive kind of polish. At least then you know what you're removing finish with, and potentially leaving behind. (This may have been covered on a thread around here before.)

Me, I'm an occasional waxer, but only Renaissance Wax on wood finishes other than poly. I do use Minwax (dark) on fingerboards. Been doing it for 40 years without problems, but I'm not a purveyor of dogma - wax or not wax, it's up to you. (Also, it's the exact same can of Minwax for all those years, if that's any indication of my parsimonious nature!)

[Charlie Bernstein]

No. it's primarily the automotive products, and (at least historically) sprays like Pledge that you have to be concerned with. You can find the data sheets on almost any products with a bit of googling around. Meguiar's (e.g.) has some parallel product lines where some have silicone and some (sometimes called "pro") do not, if you must resort to an abrasive kind of polish. At least then you know what you're removing finish with, and potentially leaving behind. (This may have been covered on a thread around here before.)

Me, I'm an occasional waxer, but only Renaissance Wax on wood finishes other than poly. I do use Minwax (dark) on fingerboards. Been doing it for 40 years without problems, but I'm not a purveyor of dogma - wax or not wax, it's up to you. (Also, it's the exact same can of Minwax for all those years, if that's any indication of my parsimonious nature!)

Thanks! Just found some Butcher's Boston Polish in the basement. My strings happen to be coming off today, so I'll give it a try.