What's to be made of the cup grease cutdown? Was there a chemical reaction (hardening of finish as suggested by Salopian) or was the grease just a carrier for the pumice like linseed or water?

I'm going to order that tree-bleed stuff (balsam gum or Venice turps or whatever) from Hansli's vet supply tomorrow and do the "simmering" infusion as per Dig's instructions (probably outdoors over an electric hotplate. Anybody go with strait beeswax rather than carnauba?

jack