I’ve been given a lovely 50s mid-century rift-cut white oak dining set that originally had an awesome limed finish on it (I think). Two of the pieces still have that finish, and they’re both in excellent shape. Unfortunately, the previous owner stripped the wax finish off the table and polyurethaned it.
I’m planning on stripping the table and refinishing it using liming wax, and then applying a few top coats of just standard paste wax. Is that going to be enough to duplicate the look of the other furniture? Are there different products or workflows that were used to create that white wash effect?
I’ve attached a picture of the finish I wish to duplicate, next to a white card to help you gauge color.
Replies
Wax Finish
Liming wax followed by paste wax isn't going to give you the ability to match colors nor will it provide real protection for a D/R Table top. I think you need to consider other finishing products. The wood sample you posted is more of a natural white oak color than a limed color ? My idea of limed is the white wash finish that is used on red oak floors.
SA
I'm not looking for an exactly color match; I can go ahead and strip all the pieces and refinish them at the same time to get them to match -- I just want to make sure I can duplicate that look! I don't think just staining white oak is going to bring out the grain the same way that picture does.
I mean, I definitely see whiteness inside the wood pours, which makes it look like a liming wax was wiped in, and then wiped off. I'm not sure if it was stained afterward, or if the yellowness is just the natural color of the wax as it aged. There are also darker wood tones -- not sure where those come from.
For what it's worth, I put some Briwax liming wax on some edge grain of some red oak scrap I had laying around, and the white part of it looked very similar.
I would be open to doing a non-wax finish to provide better durability for the table, but again, I just don't know how you accomplish that look without a liming wax.
Duplicate the Look
There are always a few methods to get to the same result. It's difficult to give you an exact formula because even if I was doing this job I'd have to do tests and samples. On a sample board try this > strip, clean, and sand sample to 150 grit. Seal - wash coat with an amber shellac. Get a natural color grain filler and apply to a small area - check match. Than with the same grain filler add a small amount of white universal and make another sample. See if that gets you close - if not at least you have a base line to follow from. Another method would be to wipe on and wipe off an off white color paint over a sealed surface or an unsealed surface. Keep making samples until you get to the look you're after.
You're a lot better off not using wax alone as your final finish. However after the wood has it's last coat - using liming wax to fill the grains is done all the time. You can make your own wax color or add color to your wax for the effect you're looking for.
SA
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