Liquid wax is a white or colourless soft solid, derived from petroleum, coal or oil shale, that consists of a mixture of hydrocarbon molecules containing between twenty and forty carbon atoms. It is solid at room temperature and begins to melt above approximately 37 °C (99 °F);[1] its boiling point is >370 °C (698 °F).Wax additive is added to the final layer of gelcoat (without wax) or to the polyester laminating resin (without wax) on the final layer of a wet layup to produce a tack-free surface. When you’re building up the layers in a wet layup application, you don’t want wax in the polyester resin because you want the layers to bond chemically, resulting in a stronger bond. It’s only the final layer that needs wax additive in order to cure. The wax creates an air barrier so the resin can cure to a tack-free state ready for sanding and finishing.The statement below indicates how much additive to add to wax-free gelcoat or polyester resin. Avoid using too much wax as it will result in fish eye and other undesirable results. Amount of Gelcoat or Polyester Resin w/o Wax , Quantity of Wax Additive Required [1 ounce , 20 drops] [16 oz. (1 pint) , 1/4 ounce] [32 oz. (1 quart) , 1/2 ounce to 1 ounce] [1 gallon , 2 ounces to 4 ounces].