Kauri Gum Wood Polish
A WildwoodPens Guide to Crafting Kauri Gum Wood Polish
Natural finishes, native materials, and craftsmanship that lasts
At WildwoodPens, every piece we create is grounded in respect for New Zealand’s native timbers and the stories they carry. The finish we apply isn’t just about shine—it’s about depth, warmth, and letting the wood speak for itself.
One of the most traditional and rewarding ways to achieve this is by making your own polish from kauri gum—a material uniquely tied to Aotearoa’s landscape and history.
Why Kauri Gum?
Kauri gum is a fossilised resin from ancient kauri trees, often discovered beneath the forest floor. When refined into a polish, it produces a warm amber glow that enhances grain without overpowering it—perfect for the kind of handcrafted work we value at WildwoodPens.
It aligns with what we stand for:
Thoughtful use of natural materials
Low-waste, small-batch processes
Finishes that age beautifully over time
What You’ll Need
Clean kauri gum
Natural solvent (pure gum turpentine works best)
Glass jar with lid
Cloth and strainer
Optional: linseed oil or beeswax
Keep it simple. The beauty is in the process.
Step 1: Prepare the Gum
Start by cleaning your kauri gum—remove soil and impurities. Then break it down into small pieces. This doesn’t need to be perfect; irregular chunks are fine. You’re preparing it to slowly release its character into the solvent.
Step 2: Slow Infusion
Place the crushed gum into a jar and cover it with turpentine. Seal it, and let time do the work.
This is not a rushed process. Over days—or even weeks—the gum dissolves into a rich, golden solution. Give it the occasional shake, but otherwise let it rest. At WildwoodPens, we believe good finishes come from patience, not shortcuts.
Step 3: Refine the Polish
Once dissolved, strain the mixture through cloth to remove any residue. What you’re left with is a smooth, resin-rich polish base.
From here, you can gently tailor it:
A touch of linseed oil for depth and flexibility
A little beeswax for a softer, hand-rubbed feel
We tend to keep it minimal—just enough to enhance, never to mask.
Step 4: Apply with Intention
Using a soft cloth, apply thin layers to your timber. Whether it’s rimu, tōtara, or reclaimed native wood, the polish will draw out grain and colour in a way synthetic finishes can’t replicate.
Work slowly:
Apply thin coats
Let each coat dry fully
Buff lightly between layers
The finish builds over time—subtle, tactile, and honest.
The WildwoodPens Difference
A kauri gum polish isn’t just a finish. It’s a continuation of the story behind each piece we make.
Where modern coatings can feel uniform and artificial, this approach creates variation—slight shifts in tone, texture, and depth that make every item unique. It’s especially suited to handcrafted pieces like crochet hook boxes or turned timber goods, where the feel in the hand matters just as much as the look.
Final Thoughts
Making your own polish reconnects you with the materials in a way that buying a tin off the shelf never will. It slows the process down, asks for care, and rewards you with a finish that feels alive.
That’s the philosophy behind WildwoodPens:
crafted, not manufactured—finished, not coated.
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