Wax Finishing a Kiwi 3

Hi everyone!

I purchased my first wheel, an unfinished Ashford Kiwi 3, and it will be arriving soon.

I have some questions about finishing the wood that I can’t find an answer for and I’m hoping to find the answer but also make this a thread for anyone in the future who is in a similar place.

I’ve already narrowed it down to using only Ashford Finishing Wax instead of any stains or oils and other finishes.

Okay here is my current plan

• lay out and dust off all the pieces
• tape off all metal (or non-wood) parts to make sure no wax is applied to them
• finish it with Ashford Finishing Wax using a sponge on the scrubby side (I can’t remember where I saw this tip but opinions on it are welcomed in case it is incorrect)
• wipe off excess wax within 5 minutes
• let dry for 24 hours before assembly

My questions are

1. What do I need to avoid aside from non-wood parts?
   • the well of the wheel/whorl/bobbins because of friction?
   • I’ve read that the wheel itself is made of fiberboard and should be treated differently that the rest of the wheel but I am unsure what is best for it?
2. I may want to paint small designs on certain parts but not at the current time. Can this be done say 6 months after applying finishing wax or would it need to be sanded down?
3. I see people mentioning sanding prior to finishing is this necessary everywhere or just where you see imperfections?
   • I think I may sand the treadles well regardless just so spinning barefoot is nice and smooth

Any other tips are welcomed! Thank you to everyone who reads this and helps, or even gets help from it!