Replies

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 17, 2004 05:33pm | #1

   Wax will not generally add gloss and never adds additional protection. Wax does not prevent water and water vapor absorbsion.

   Once you start with wax, you will have a lifetime job.

   Howie.........
2. 
   Michmesquite | Sep 17, 2004 07:53pm | #2

   MinWax Tung Oil isn't pure Tung Oil.

   If you want to wax the piece then BriWax is excellent and can be poished to a high sheen. http://www.briwaxwoodcare.com/

   Like Howie said, wax doesn't give much protection, but it does make a nice finish to look at.

   _________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 17, 2004 08:47pm | #3

   I would not recommend using Briwax Original on any new finish. Its solvent is toluene which will react with oil based finishes that have not fully cured. Briwax was intended as a restoration wax and the toluene works very well to clean old surfaces. Best to wait a year before using Briwax Original.

   Briwax has a new, non-toluene version which will work fine. I like it when I need a colored wax but I do not find it to be any better than other paste waxes.Howie.........

1. 
   user-3252481 | Sep 17, 2004 09:15pm | #4

   Thanks,

   I know that the minwax is an oil/varnish mixture.  I'm asking because I like the protection that the varnish provides but the feel that you get from wax.  Do you feel that most paste waxes are equivalent?  My query was basically trying to find out if there is a "preferred" wax out there.  Do you think I would be better off without wax?  Thanks very much for your feedback.

   John M.

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 17, 2004 11:26pm | #6

   I have used Simonize (when it was still being made), Butchers, Minwax, Trewax and now have 1 1/2 cans of Johnson Paste Wax which will probably last me longer than I will live. Mostly, I use the wax on my cast iron but occasionally use it as a lubricant to get a satin finish on cured varnish.

   I can not say any one of those waxes performed materially better than the other. When you follow the direction the were equal. The key is not to apply wax until the finish has completely cured. That may take 25-30 days for varnish.

   As I said earlier, once you start waxing, you are committed to it forever. Every few months you will have to rewax to maintain the look and feel.Howie.........

2. 
   Michmesquite | Sep 17, 2004 09:18pm | #5

   I used true Tung oil to finish my workbench and then applied Briwax Original to form a glue/stain/whatever barrier and it is doing the job nicely.

   I dropped some epoxy glue on the workbench last night and after it dried I just popped the glob off with my finger nail._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 17, 2004 11:29pm | #7

   There is a big difference between real, 100% tung oil and a faux "Tung Oil Finish" like Minwax. Minwax is primarily an oil and varnish mixed together with a thinner. It's the varnish component that will be affected by the Briwax. Briwax will not affect a pure oil.Howie........

1. 
   Michmesquite | Sep 17, 2004 11:47pm | #8

   I knew about the difference between Minwax and Tung oil, didn't know about the Briwax conflict with the faux Tung oil stuff from Miinwax. Thanks for the head's up._________________________________

   Michael in San Jose

   "In all affairs it's a healthy thing now and then to hang a question mark on the things you have long taken for granted." Bertrand Russell 

2. 
   leehold | Sep 19, 2004 03:28am | #9

   I have been using Minwax tung oil with good results but suspected that it was not pure tung oil. A couple of books I've read by pros claim that they finished their projects with tung oil. I wonder if they were using pure tung oil. Any idea if the pure stuff would be better than minwax and if so where would buy the pure stuff?  Lee 

3. 
   HowardAcheson | Sep 19, 2004 07:46pm | #10

   >>I wonder if they were using pure tung oil.

   Only way to know is to ask them what "brand" of finish they are using. David Mark's does NOT use a real tung oil inspite of what he says on the program. His web site tells you exactly what he uses and it is not a real tung oil product.

   Real tung oil will say either "100%" or "Pure". If it doesn't say one of those two, it ain't.

   My question to you would be why do you want to use a real tung oil? True oils do not make a good or durable finish. I find them best for coloring but you can get the same coloring from other products. And, products like "Tung Oil Finishes" are almost indistinguishable from real tung oil and give you a better, more protective and durable finish.Howie.........

4. 
   leehold | Sep 20, 2004 03:26am | #11

   Howie: Thanks for the info. I'll stick with minwax tung oil which has worke fine for me.  Lee