Todd Burch
02-14-2004, 3:12 PM
Or really, just wax on. (Am I dating myself with a line from Karate Kid?)
A few years ago I was watching a NORM episode and he was in England looking at new "antiques", where this particular shop was taking old pieces and old wood and making fake, but very nice, antique pine cupboards, hutchs, amoires, entertainment centers, buffets, tables, etc.
One of the "secrets" that the innkeeper shared was using wax to color the "fresh" end of the saw cuts so they weren't white whereas the rest of the non-cut (or slightly planed) surfaces still had a nice patina.
What waxes are used for coloring? How would one apply it? Keith Outten's post a while back about using a random orbit sander got me interested in wax. Also, I've been working with a flooring company and they use a significant amount of wax to "protect" their floors and bring them to a high gloss.
This confuses me, as "Understanding Wood Finishes", by Bob Flexner, goes into a lot of prose about wax being a fairly poor protectant.
So, what's the skinny on "wax finishes": 1) coloring and 2) depth? Yeah, I've used some wax myself, but I'm starting to think that there might be other ways to use it for different effect. Typically, I will rag it on (with #0000 steel wool or an abrasive pad), let it haze and wipe it off. Sometimes (most times) I've done this, and while it does take dust nibs off, when done, the result is lacking in what I think it ought to have in depth or gloss.
I've used Johnsons, Minwax regular, Minwax dark and butcher's wax too. I've used Hut wax on turnings (several years ago, mind you) and the finish was much different (better) than what I can produce, for instance, on a drawer front, mouldings or a table top.
So, who's a wax expert? (or wexpert??)
Todd
A few years ago I was watching a NORM episode and he was in England looking at new "antiques", where this particular shop was taking old pieces and old wood and making fake, but very nice, antique pine cupboards, hutchs, amoires, entertainment centers, buffets, tables, etc.
One of the "secrets" that the innkeeper shared was using wax to color the "fresh" end of the saw cuts so they weren't white whereas the rest of the non-cut (or slightly planed) surfaces still had a nice patina.
What waxes are used for coloring? How would one apply it? Keith Outten's post a while back about using a random orbit sander got me interested in wax. Also, I've been working with a flooring company and they use a significant amount of wax to "protect" their floors and bring them to a high gloss.
This confuses me, as "Understanding Wood Finishes", by Bob Flexner, goes into a lot of prose about wax being a fairly poor protectant.
So, what's the skinny on "wax finishes": 1) coloring and 2) depth? Yeah, I've used some wax myself, but I'm starting to think that there might be other ways to use it for different effect. Typically, I will rag it on (with #0000 steel wool or an abrasive pad), let it haze and wipe it off. Sometimes (most times) I've done this, and while it does take dust nibs off, when done, the result is lacking in what I think it ought to have in depth or gloss.
I've used Johnsons, Minwax regular, Minwax dark and butcher's wax too. I've used Hut wax on turnings (several years ago, mind you) and the finish was much different (better) than what I can produce, for instance, on a drawer front, mouldings or a table top.
So, who's a wax expert? (or wexpert??)
Todd