Anyone use beeswax as a wood finish?

[MotherCharlotte]

I'm asking this for my husband. He's currently working on a batch of wooden toys that he's going to be selling at a fair this September. One thing he's been making is hardwood baby rattles. They are similar to these:
http://www.ogunquitwoodentoy.com/rattles_catalog.htm

Those ones are apparently finished ONLY with walnut oil and then buffed with beeswax. It seems to me to be a good idea to use a 100% natural finish if a baby is going to be putting the thing in his mouth. So we have tried to copy this, but--we aren't sure how to get the beeswax on. Usually beeswax is mixed with other things, like mineral oil or even turpentine, to create a wood finish--but we don't want to put anything non-natural on these rattles.

We tried just melting some beeswax and rubbing it on, but it hardens instantly and doesn't seem to soak in at all.

Does anyone have any experience with using beeswax this way, who might be able to offer some hints? Thanks in advance! :)

[MotherCharlotte]

Well, never mind, I think we figured it out. He's just rubbing the beeswax on when it is still hard and this seems to be working okay. :)

[jott]

If you are still having problems getting the wax into the wood a hair drier works well, as you are working it.

[Rock]

Mineral oil is food safe and will cause no harm if a child (or adult) puts it in it's mouth. Any other thinner, once dry leaving just the beeswax, would also be non-toxic .

Shellac is another a great finish for baby/child items as it dries non-toxic and is very easy to apply, clean-up, and repair if needed.

[madmac]

I know this is a little late but I use a mixture of 50% beeswax and 50% crisco for my blackpowder gun as bore lube and to wipe the gun down with after shooting. My gun stock is both shinny and water proof. Best formula I have ever used and I have been shooting blackpowder guns for over thirty years.