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I am working on a small dresser top box with two drawers and a mirror on top. I am finishing it with tung oil and wax. I have put one coat of oil on all parts, inside and out of the body and drawers and plan to put up to three or four coats on all exposed parts of the piece, i.e. drawer fronts, exterior of body and mirror frame. When applying the wax should I follow this same pattern and only wax the fronts and sides of the drawers and exterior of the body and mirror, leaving the interior without any wax? This seems to be the logical method but I just wanted to get some input. Also, should I put some sort of shellac or varnish on between the oil and wax? I have never used either of these two finishes but have seen them being used often. What are their respective compatabilities with oil and wax? Thanks.
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Replies
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Steve, you didn't mention the type of wood you are using, but i would oil the entire inner parts of the drawers, and wax the drawer guides and the parts of the drawer that contacts the guides. Bees's wax works well for the drawers also. I am not sure about the shellac/oil/shellac/wax method. I believe i would use one or the other, then wax.
Rick
*I'm always a bit wary of using oil finishes on any internal parts, especially pure tung oil. The problem is when you open a door or drawer there is a rancid, or musty smell, that hits you. The bad smell can be diminished by applying shellac over the oil some weeks or months later, but I prefer to avoid the problem altogether by using something else. It's not unusual for me to spray pre-cat on hidden parts, and oil externally. Purists might say that this is unbalanced, but I've never had a problem with this strategy.Candle wax or French chalk on the moving parts after finishing helps reduce friction, i.e., runners and sides.
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