tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post1280647251507235178..comments2024-03-27T18:20:35.784-04:00Comments on The Beading Gem: Is Renaissance Wax Safe to Use for Jewelry?The Beading Gemhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comBlogger13125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-27622955774735911102023-04-20T13:46:02.713-04:002023-04-20T13:46:02.713-04:00If you want your skin to be super safe from benzen...If you want your skin to be super safe from benzene, you shouldn't use nitrile gloves, because benzene readily penetrates through them. PET gloves also don't protect you well. Latex gloves also don't offer good protection, and therefore (I read it in an OSHA document), Viton, Neoprene or polyethylene vinyl alcohol (PVA) gloves are recommended. However, benzene is also volatile, meaning that even if there are traces of benzene in the wax, they will evaporate fairly quickly. If the concentration is <0.1%, I'd not worry, unless you use this wax extensively every day at work.Aethhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08251475641347868915noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-25935348285327579792023-01-20T15:29:30.848-05:002023-01-20T15:29:30.848-05:00Good point. Some ski waxes contain PFASs and PFOAs...Good point. Some ski waxes contain PFASs and PFOAsThe Beading Gemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-25461856911301752552023-01-20T15:26:17.277-05:002023-01-20T15:26:17.277-05:00No, there is no PFAS in rennaisance wax - just a b...No, there is no PFAS in rennaisance wax - just a blend of microcrystalline waxes and white spiritThe Beading Gemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-87208829523006556332023-01-20T10:44:38.309-05:002023-01-20T10:44:38.309-05:00Beautiful snowy day here. Thinking about how much ...Beautiful snowy day here. Thinking about how much old ski wax we probably need to dispose of as hazardous waste. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-53598133883488838862023-01-20T10:41:21.454-05:002023-01-20T10:41:21.454-05:00Hi Pearl, just running over old ground here. I hav...Hi Pearl, just running over old ground here. I haven't read the ingredients; wondering off the cuff in 2023 if PFAS might also be a consideration as well. <br /><br />https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/pfas/health-effects/exposure.html<br />Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-6829805290571343542011-06-08T18:20:13.378-04:002011-06-08T18:20:13.378-04:00You are absolutely right Brenda Sue about concentr...You are absolutely right Brenda Sue about concentration and exposure. Something toxic might be in such low concentration that it is not going to be harmful. How long and how often someone is exposed to something potentially harmful is also significant. Occasional use is very different from all day and often use.The Beading Gemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-23840683444551799892011-06-08T17:34:54.152-04:002011-06-08T17:34:54.152-04:00Hey Pearl, great post! I think Renwax is fine for...Hey Pearl, great post! I think Renwax is fine for jewelry use.....and the benzene made my eyebrows go up, too, as I am a cancer survivor! So I particularly loathe this chemical. It calls for research and balance: It is nearly impossible to find products of quality to use for all facets of jewelry making that do not have element of risk. For ex, much to my dismay I recently found out that a miniscule amount of lead may appear randomly in brass sheet, even in the United States. The key is, I think, ALLOWABLE amounts and LIMITED exposure. Use proper ventilation, nitrile gloves if you have sensitive skin, buff out the Renwax well, let it gas off before wearing/selling.... and clean up after use. And don't use it every day, all day long. Artists also need to keep healthy habits. Don't eat in the studio while using chemical-laden product, limit exposure, don't stay up all night working, get plenty of rest, eat right and maybe consider some detox herbs on a regular basis. I like Essiac tea. This is a fine product and I think no more dangerous--or possibly much less so!---than learning how to use a jeweler's saw or Liver of Sulfur. Learn what you can, be sensible, and enjoy your craft. If anyone would like to try it, we carry it and Gilder's Paste at B'sue Boutiques.<br />Thanks again for a great post! B'sueBrenda Sue Lansdownehttp://www.bsueboutiques.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-15388478347332214632011-01-05T22:24:18.622-05:002011-01-05T22:24:18.622-05:00More complex all the time. Not sure my old brain ...More complex all the time. Not sure my old brain can handle all of this stuff.BetteJohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11650981249204116251noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-59342567230693377362011-01-05T13:45:52.759-05:002011-01-05T13:45:52.759-05:00Renaissance wax is 80% mineral spirits (not to be ...Renaissance wax is 80% mineral spirits (not to be confused with mineral oil) which is a solvent (paint thinner). It is an irritant so proper ventilation is required to ensure it evaporates safely.The Beading Gemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-34921246586501738772011-01-05T10:00:34.011-05:002011-01-05T10:00:34.011-05:00Thanks for this informative post Pearl. I think I ...Thanks for this informative post Pearl. I think I will stick to the non-chemical methods like tumbling. I have a silver-polishing cloth, I wonder what chemical is embedded in that? I must do a search on this!Willinoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-48230556986469261772011-01-05T09:58:16.568-05:002011-01-05T09:58:16.568-05:00I bought some Renaissance Wax in November of 2009....I bought some Renaissance Wax in November of 2009...after opening the container I was concerned with the odor...I decided to discuss it with the people from the Renaissance company, with a silversmith and even a fellow from a chemical company. <br /><br />The following is an excerpt from the email I received from the Renaissance Wax company...<br /><br />"In answer to your question , the smell is not oil, but mineral sprit which is the solvent carrier used in the production of the wax. This solvent completely evaporates shortly after applying the wax , leaving just the wax on the surface of the item being polished. The blend of waxes in Renaissance is "food-grade" and safe to use, in fact we know it is used extensively by silver and copper jewelery craftsmen here in the UK and in the USA.<br />Use the wax sparingly and buff each layer gently after a few moments. In this way you can build up several layers of the wax Allow some time between each coat of wax for the previous layer to mature and harden."<br /><br />The silversmith who has been using if for years, swears by it...I know other jewelers who use it as well. <br /><br />The fellow from the chemical company wasn't so sure about the safety of the product...he wouldn't come right out and say it wasn't safe but he didn't say it was safe either! <br /><br />I've used it sparingly on copper earrings but I'm not happy with the smell in the container, which does disappear after a short while once it is on the metal...even so,the smell has always concerned me!<br /><br />It all comes down to personal choice...<br /><br />I do tumble my silver but copper is the metal I would most like to find something for. I continue to look for something "non-toxic", eco-friendly...call it what you will just as long as I'm comfortable with the product!!!<br /><br />Great post Pearl...<br /><br />CheersAzure Accessorieshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14909773759269019279noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-9843012014315525622011-01-05T07:55:39.131-05:002011-01-05T07:55:39.131-05:00That's a good suggestion - be sure to check th...That's a good suggestion - be sure to check the list of ingredients first!The Beading Gemhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10373750828368944711noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7312145685876120575.post-26067751198626401382011-01-05T07:53:57.785-05:002011-01-05T07:53:57.785-05:00Before I learned about Renaissance Wax I had used ...Before I learned about Renaissance Wax I had used a floor wax (made from petroleum) to polish metal with a petina as suggested in online research. Fenaissance worked better so I switched as it was lower in carcinogens. I'm wondering if some of the eco-friendly floor polishes might be a good alternative to protect petinas...I'll have to give it a try! Great post, got me thinking!ClickNCamerahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/07775320977344237076noreply@blogger.com