(not sure if this is better here or in Alchemy and Formulas-seemed good here, but moderator please move it if it is better in the other location)

I have recently finished a big project for a friend's son's boy scout troop- a cooking spegalia type set-up with a dozen S hooks, and he wanted them finished with a carbon finish coated with beaswax. So, I ran it back in forth through a coal fire to get that nice carbon on it, and applied the beeswax. However, now after it has cooled overnight, it is still a little bit sticky.

Is there anything I can do to keep it from being too tacky?

THanks!
~RidgewayForge

When I use bees wax, I get the metal hot enough to catch the wax on fire. It will carbon up and turn black, but won't be sticky. Hope that helps. :)

Well, at this point I cannot get it back into the fire- I'm going to be away from the forge and smithing for a few months, unfortunately.
I just think there must be some way to do it cold. But next time I will try igniting the wax. Thanks CurlyGeorge!

Let them heat in the sun and rub them down real well with rags will help.

However most methods of "drying" the wax involve toxic materials that I do not suggest for cooking items.

Look into "seasoning them" like a cast iron skillet for the next ones.

A small hand held propane torch or plumber's torch will easily apply heat by you or from a novice. Have some of you next treatment available at the time and when near black hot , hold the temp awhile to allow a preburn of the beeswax then apply newest treatment to suit. Pretty easy for most...very easy for a BoyScout...almost nothing to it at all for an EAGLE SCOUT!
Carry on

Go SCOUTS!