Thanks all for the support in these difficult times.
I will be going parrafin wax as Geoff suggested. Sounds right and i like the smell of hot parrafin in the morning. It reminds me of my cross country skiing days in the Sutton Québec area, a place called Farmer's Rest.
Next set of boxes i will try Oak or Beech and see what result it gives.
Thanks all for the very good info.
Leaving the net ( as Terry said ) for a few days, off to Sherbrooke tomorrow for the brother's funeral on sathurday.Sad.