Any expert advise appreciated- I am trying to decide what is the best thing to tell customers who have purchased a piece that has been finished with my own mixture of beeswaxand carnuba and hand rubbed in. I need a good product for overall protection, dusting and rejuvination, that is easy for the customer.Anything on the market that you all know of? I am very interested in what everyone else is using.
Thanks. EB
Replies
A dry dustcloth and coasters so no white rings from wet glasses.
thanks for being so helpful
Believe it or not, I WAS being helpful--and honest, which will help you with your customer. That is a beautiful warm finish. I wish it was a better one 'cause I love the look. But as others seem to be following me to say, it is very "fragile" if you will. I have an antique dealer friend who does this finish on a lot of her furniture to sell. It is very quick to do and looks great. The first time a sweating glass or warm plate is on it there will be a white ring and it isn't easy to fix--that might fall to you to do. Hence, my helpful advice. I would not put any furniture "treatment" on it either. It will just glom dust to it. Dry dust cloth often.
Gretchen
Edited 9/30/2006 8:41 am ET by Gretchen
Eb, a wax finish, alone, doesn't offer much long term protection. Generally, a top coat of some type is used first. Without a top coat, the wax will have to be renewed, regularly. Most better, furniture manufacturers recommend using a paste wax once or twice a year. I think this is one of the best furniture polishes around. It's not as easy as spraying Pledge or something similar but it offers better protection from spills, dust and grease. Some of the furniture polish products may actually strip off some of your wax finish and could even cause marking. Most of the polishes only last a few days. I've used many. Using a light application of Johnson's, Butchers or Minwax paste wax out performs any off the counter polish I've used.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
As has been said, a wax treatment provides little water and watervapor protections and little scratch or heat resistance. While it can make a fine finish, it must be taken care of.
First, it should be protected by tableclothes and pads, or by place mats and coasters. Anything wet or hot will quickly penetrate the wax and leave a mark.
As to periodic maintenence, a wiping with a just damp, soft cloth and a coat of furniture paste wax like Johnson, Minwax or Butchers. The problem with this is that the wax builds up to a gummy surface and needs to be removed sooner or later and the whole process started over.
One thing that shouldn't be used is a supermarker "furniture polish" like Pledge. These products contain silicone and will cause serious problems with any future refinishing.
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