I was wondering what you guys have found to be the best way to remove the wax from exotic woods. Most of the turning stock wood I buy is coated in wax to keep it from drying to quickly. I usually just scrape it off but that's a pain, and I also tried putting it in a hot box to melt it off but that caused the wood to dry too quickly and check. I just wanted to see if anyone knew of a good quick way to remove the wax so it doesn't cause a problem with glue up? I thought maybe there might be some sort of chemical liquid that may wipe it off? Thanks, Steve

I use acetone, not only to remove wax, but to prep the sanded pieces before joining. The glue seems to work better when you wipe the natural oils fromt he two surfaces you are joining. I always sand first to flatten and rough up the surfaces. This serves to get rid of most wax anyway.
                                 Lin

I scrape, then wipe with acetone. Scraping is a bit of a pain, but that's just the way it is

I've also found that some exotics are real oily too.  With cocbola I'll acetone then seal it with a thin layer of CA glue to get a better adhesion with what ever glue I use on a knife handle...Doc

While we're on the subject, has anyone ever sized the exotic woods with some thinned down epoxy prior to a glue up? (Say, warm up the wood with a heat gun, then brush some thinned down epoxy on there to soak in to the wood?)

Tom, That's pretty much how I try to stabilze oily woods and bone but use watery CA glue to soak in...Doc

Jeff: What about applying a finish to these oily or waxy woods? I have not found acetone alone to be adequate. I heard that scrubbing with a little Dawn dishwashing soap and water followed by acetone will work.