Wax for Fine Finishing Top off your work with a fi nal lustrous touch.

By Craig Bentzley

Wax has been used for steel wool and other abrasives, And you can use it to rejuvenate centuries as a protective coating and polish for wood, and is still the application, a waxed a relevant product for today’s alsocreating more a abrasionmore light-reflective resistant dull or aging finishes. Whatever woodworker. While modern andsurface. easier Waxed to keep finishes clean arethan that begs to be touched. surface has a fine tactile quality moisture and scratching, wax truly waterproof, but it can surprising to think that many finishes are more resistant to preventan unwaxed damage finish. from Wax spills isn’t woodworkersGiven the benefits, have omitted it’s wax Although a buffed layer of that are mopped up quickly. waxstill offersmay be many only benefits.a few microns Wax alone isn’t a good surface More than ever, it has a rightful thick, it serves several purposes. treatment for objects that see from their finishing regimen. hard use, but it works great as Here’s what you need to know place in a finisher’s bag of tricks. minuteWax enhances scratches the left sheen behind of film- by items such as picture frames. forming finishes by filling in a quick finish for decorative to improve any finish or apply 62 woodcraftmagazine.com Oct/Nov 2010 wax as a stand-alone finish. Types of wax Wax is derived from animal, vegetable, or mineral sources (Photo A based wax is beeswax. Grated and dissolved). The in oldest turpentine, animal- it served as a furniture polish up through the 18th century. However, pure beeswax remains sticky for a long time and is too soft to provide much protection, so better waxes replaced it. A The most common vegetable Carnauba wax (A), beeswax (raw and refi ned) (B), an array of commercially wax is carnauba, obtained prepared waxes (C), buffi ng and applicati on brushes (D), grater (E). from the leaves of a Brazilian palm tree. Its hardness offers Wax To Watch Out For high shine and good durability, Toluene, a solvent used in some blended waxes, can wreak havoc on fresh shellac and lacquer. Read the label. If the product contains consistent sheen, which is why toluene, let these fi nishes cure for at least a week before waxing. mostbut it’s commercial difficult to paste buff to wax a formulations combine it with beeswax. Paste wax that’s heavy Having tried homemade and offers some protection on carnauba is targeted to the concoctions, I recommend against scratches, abrasion, sticking with premixed cans. and water damage. can be used on furniture, but Raw ingredients are expensive, The secret to wax application theyflooring require industry. serious Floor elbow waxes is “less is more.” Since virtually grease or a power buffer. and heating mixtures can be all of the applied wax is removed, Mineral waxes, such as hazardous.preparation Plus, is labor-intensive, the results a heavy coat is wasted. Put a dollop of wax in the center of the commercial brands you a soft cotton cloth, pull up the Unlikeparaffin beeswax and microcrystalline or carnauba, likemay best disappoint. and stick Instead, with them. find corners so the wax oozes through thesewax, are synthetic refined waxes from crudeare oil. the cloth, and apply with light, Steps for a fi ne fi nish overlapping strokes (Photo B). Wax is most often used as metals.non-acidic (Although and won’t a bit degrade pricier, leaving a uniform haze, remove microcrystallineantique finishes or has corrode become When the solvent flashes off, shellac,the final lacquer, step for or a premiumvarnish. It harder and more durable.) impartsfilm finish, an whetherunparalleled it is luster orbitthe wax sander, with as flannel, shown terry in Photo cloth, C . my go-to wax, because it’s or a buffing pad on a random-

B C Use dark wax on dark woods, since clear waxes can Wipe excess wax off with a soft cloth. A buffi ng pad turn white with age, highlighti ng pores and crevices. will quickly bring up a mirror-like shine on fl at surfaces.

Photos: Craig Bentzley Oct/Nov 2010 woodcraftmagazine.com 63 D E Remove as much wax as you want to Leave plenty of wax in recessed areas to achieve the look you’re after. create an antique look instantly.

Many craftsmen apply two or more coats of wax, assuming wiped off the excess wax down the piece with mineral that they’re creating a thicker withsolvents a soft to cottonflash off, cloth. and then spiritsbest approach or a proprietary is to first cleanerwipe to After letting the wax set up for remove any old wax, grease, and strategy might catch any spots a couple of hours, I applied clear dirt. Rub until a fresh rag shows theyfilm. mayWhile have the missed,two-coat it’s wax to seal the colored layer, then no discoloration, then smooth almost impossible to build up burnished it with a denim cloth. any rough areas with steel wool. layers of wax, since new wax Adding colored pigments to white After cleaning, apply wax as you will dissolve the old layer. wax or using other colored waxes would on a new piece of furniture. will achieve a multitude of effects. If the piece isn’t a true antique, Wax as the sole finish you can use any wax. If the piece wax as shown in Photo E. has antique value, I recommend frames, mirrors, or carvings For the opposite effect, use ebony going light on the cleaning process thatFor decorative aren’t subject items to likehandling, picture Rejuvenating an old finish and using a microcrystalline wax wax serves as a quick and easy A fresh coat of wax can often as shown in Photo F. Buff off the revive old furniture almost as wax to reveal renewed color and like oak or ash, consider using sheen as shown in Photo G. n afinish. liming For wax open-grained (Photo D woods sand to 120 grit, raise the well as a complete refinish. The grain with a dampened). cloth, First, lightly resand, and then scrub the wood with a stainless steel brush to open the pores. accented the oak with golden oakFor aniline these dye.frames, After I first it dried, I worked the wax into the pores and carved details with an old toothbrush. I allowed a few minutes for the wax Tip Alert If canned wax has gotten too G thick to spread, stir in a bit of F Use a stiff shoe or wax brush mineral spirits to soften it up. Work the wax into carvings to remove excess wax from with a soft bristle brush. carvings and crevices.

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