Gamblin Cold Wax Medium

Gamblin Cold Wax Medium is a white oil painting medium made from pure beeswax, Gamsol and a little alkyd resin. It is a soft paste with a texture that’s ideal for use with a palette knife. Cold wax can be mixed in with your oil colours as a painting medium, combined with Galkyd mediums and Gamvar varnish to adjust their gloss level, or applied to a finished painting as a matte varnish.

When mixed with oil paint, Gamblin Cold Wax Medium makes the colour thicker and also gives the paint a matte finish. This wax can be used straight from the tub as a paste, or modified with Gamsol to give it a thinner consistency. For more uses click on the ‘More Information’ tab above.

Download the Gamblin Cold Wax Medium SDS Datasheet.

Using as a Painting Medium

Cold Wax Medium is great for oil painting. It makes oil colours thicker and gives them a matte finish. Use the medium straight from the jar to thicken colour, or dilute with a little Gamsol for a more brushable consistency. Paintings done with Cold Wax Medium will only ever become as hard as a beeswax candle. If you use more more than 1/3 wax medium to 2/3 oil paint, it's best to paint on a solid surface like wood to avoid cracking. For flexible surfaces like canvas, mix equal parts Cold Wax Medium and Galkyd Gel.

Using as a Matting Agent

Cold Wax Medium can be added to Galkyd Mediums and drying oils to reduce their gloss. You can use up to 25% wax with other mediums without affecting their strength and flexibility. For thicker mediums you will be able mix Cold Wax in with a palette knife. For fluid mediums you will need to first dilute Cold Wax Medium with Gamsol. This mixture can then be added to the fluid medium as a mattifying agent. Make sure the wax and medium mixture is mixed thoroughly and has a uniform appearance and texture.

Using as a Varnish

Straight Cold Wax Medium can be applied to a dry painting as a removable, matte varnish. Once applied, the Cold Wax can be left to dry for a matte finish or gently buffed for a soft luster. Cold Wax Medium can also be used to reduce the gloss level of Gamvar Picture Varnish.