Free UK delivery on orders over £24
Black Engravers Wax is for the repair/restoration of decorative inlays and Clock Dials along with engraving work.
Black Engravers Wax is a traditional restoration wax used for filling engraved lettering, numerals and decorative channels with a clean black finish.
It is particularly useful for clock dial restoration, including engraved clock dials, chapter rings and numerals. It can also be used for decorative engraving and inlay work where a black contrasting fill is required.
The wax is supplied as a convenient stick and is available in two grades: Black Hard Wax and Black Soft Wax.
The hard wax provides a more traditional and durable finish, while the softer wax is easier to work and is particularly useful for very fine or thin engravings.
The approximate size of each wax stick is 1cm x 8cm.
We offer Black Engravers Wax in both Hard and Soft formulations so you can choose the most suitable wax for your particular engraving.
Black Hard Wax is the more traditional option and produces a hard-wearing finish once it has been applied and levelled.
It is particularly suitable for deeper or larger engraved areas where durability is important. The hard wax is more difficult to work than the soft version and requires gentle heating to melt it into the engraving.
Black Soft Wax is easier to apply and is particularly useful for very thin or fine engravings.
Because it is softer, it can be worked into small engraved details more easily. It is less stable in larger or deeper engravings than the hard wax, so the hard formulation may be preferable where a more durable fill is required.
Black Engravers Wax is primarily used to restore the appearance of engraved details by filling the recessed areas with black wax.
Typical applications include:
It is especially useful where the original black engraved detail has become worn, damaged or missing and needs to be restored without disturbing the surrounding dial surface.
Black Engravers Wax is applied by gently warming the wax so that it can be worked into the engraved channel.
Use heat carefully. The purpose is to soften or melt the wax, not to overheat the clock dial or surrounding materials.
Always test your method on a spare piece or inconspicuous area before working on an important or valuable clock dial.
Black Engravers Wax is particularly useful when restoring engraved clock dials and chapter rings.
Engraved numerals and markings can lose their original black fill over time. Filling the recessed engraving with black wax can restore the contrast between the dial surface and the engraved detail.
This makes the numerals and markings easier to read while retaining the character of the original engraved dial.
For clock dial restoration, the wax can be used alongside other traditional restoration materials such as clock dial silvering powder, finishing powder and suitable dial lacquer.
When re-silvering an engraved brass clock dial, Black Engravers Wax can be used to fill the numerals and engraved details before the silvering process. Any excess wax can then be carefully levelled so that the dial surface remains suitable for silvering.
Black Engravers Wax can also be used outside horological restoration wherever a black contrasting fill is required in a recessed design.
It can be useful for decorative engraving, lettering and inlay work, particularly where the black colour is intended to emphasise the engraved pattern against the surrounding material.
The choice between hard and soft wax depends on the size and depth of the engraving and the level of durability required.
Black Engravers Wax is a traditional black wax used to fill engraved lettering, numerals and decorative channels. It is particularly popular for clock dial and horological restoration.
It is used for restoring engraved numerals, chapter rings, clock dials, decorative lettering and other recessed engraving where a black contrasting fill is required.
Yes. It is particularly suitable for clock dial restoration and can be used to restore black engraved numerals and markings on suitable clock dials.
Yes. Black Engravers Wax is suitable for filling engraved chapter rings and other engraved clock markings.
Black Hard Wax produces a more traditional and hard-wearing finish and is better suited to larger or deeper engravings. Black Soft Wax is easier to work and is particularly useful for very fine or thin engravings, although it is less stable in larger engravings.
Black Soft Wax is generally easier to use for very thin and fine engravings because it is softer and can be worked into small details more easily.
Black Hard Wax provides the more traditional hard-wearing finish and is generally the better choice where the filled engraving needs greater stability.
The wax is gently heated until workable and then pushed or melted into the engraved channel using a small metal knife, spatula or similar tool. Once cool, excess wax can be carefully removed from the surrounding surface.
Prior warming of the workpiece can help the wax attach securely into the engraved channel. However, heat should be used carefully to avoid damaging the dial or surrounding materials.
Yes. Black Engravers Wax can be used to fill engraved numerals and details as part of a traditional clock dial restoration before silvering the dial surface.
Yes. It can be used to fill suitable decorative engraving, lettering and recessed designs where a black contrasting finish is required.
The wax sticks are approximately 1cm x 8cm.
Occasionally the wax may break during transit. This does not normally affect its usefulness. Broken pieces can simply be warmed and applied in the same way as an intact stick.
The hard wax is designed to be gently heated so that it can be melted into the engraving. Heating makes it substantially easier to apply and helps the wax fill the recessed area properly.
Wax can generally be removed or reheated during restoration work, although the method required depends on the surface and surrounding finish. Always take care when working on original antique clock dials.
When the wax has been melted this does appear to have a green tint especially in the thin areas where there is no engraving but once buffed this will look Black again, please see the images below:
From our customers
Verified ownerPrice right and on Time
Verified ownerAlways excellent
Verified ownerGood service and product. Thanks.
£34.95
Priory Polishes Clock Case Restorer cleans and revives the original finish without damaging the
Price range: £12.95 through £129.00
Price range: £15.95 through £23.95
Priory Polishes, No 1 Ammoniated Clock Cleaning Concentrate Solution is for the
Price range: £11.95 through £90.00
Price range: £8.95 through £13.95
Horotech Rinse is a spirit based rinse for watches, clocks and instruments.
Price range: £18.95 through £69.95
£52.99
Price range: £6.99 through £10.00
Ready when you are
Choose your finish and tin size above, then let the grain do the talking.
Hand-mixed in Britain
Made in Clitheroe, Lancashire
Trusted brands
Fiddes, Liberon, Osmo & more
Family run
Three generations of restorers
Curator Bluing Salts for creating deep blue-black oxide finishes on steel. Ideal for metal
£15.95
Rustins Button Polish has been manufactured from refined shellac dissolved in industrial alcohol. This
£11.29
Priory Polishes Shellac French Polish has been created using the finest quality Shellac Flakes
£29.99
