Do you wax your junk?

Discussion in 'Antique Discussion' started by bluemoon, Oct 1, 2016.

  1. bluemoon

    bluemoon Member

    I tend to use furniture waxes and "antique waxes" to protect pieces of furniture (interiors mainly, exterior surfaces sometimes if there's no actual top coating), or even other wooden items. Do you think it hurts the value of a piece or is it a common practice? I want to know before I 'destroy' more items with that brown wax jar..
     
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  2. Calico

    Calico Well-Known Member

    That's a very personal question. :woot:
     
  3. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    I use wax quite often but only on my good furniture ...... I don't wax my junk :wideyed: :woot:

    All kidding aside, it won't hurt anything and often enhances the look and durability. It can be removed for the most part and is compatible with most oil-based finishes that one might use in the future. Some wax residue will usually amalgamate with these finishes. It is not compatible with water-based finishes, including latex or acrylic paint, and must be removed completely before using them.
     
  4. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    The only thing I use is a little lavender wax about once a year, if that. My dad used an old silk scarf on our lovely 18th C dining table. Worked a treat.
     
  5. Shangas

    Shangas Underage Antiques Collector and Historian

    I trim it from time to time, and perhaps use a razor if it's really irritating me, usually in hot weather. But other than that...

    ...wait. What are we talking about here?
     
  6. judy

    judy Well-Known Member


    :facepalm:;)
     
  7. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Use wax quite a bit, the different shades of Briwax can be very helpful in refreshing furniture (does have a very strong chemical odor), and for decades, Johnson's paste wax has been my go-to for all sorts of materials. Used to do a lot of sponge painting and faux-finishes, most was sold, but I still have a few at my house, including a bath vanity and medicine cabinet that have endured 16+ years of steam treatment - all done with whatever latex paint was handy, small accent batches tinted with artist's acrylics, sometimes lightly smoothed with 400-600 grit sandpaper, and always waxed with a couple of coats of Johnson's and gently hand-buffed (though I've switched to Howard's now, lighter and much better scent), gives a depth and sheen that I like...

    Quick and crummy cell phone shots at Mom's (somehow, these never got moved after the ex and I bought our house), this old medicine cabinet and spice rack were painted about 20 years ago, used the same latex paint as on the wall, sponged with a bit of white and a couple of tannish shades I mixed up, not sanded, but waxed with Johnson's:

    91201616612.jpg

    91201616646.jpg

    ~Cheryl
     
    Last edited: Oct 1, 2016
    lloyd249 and Mill Cove Treasures like this.
  8. komokwa

    komokwa The Truth is out there...!

    None of yer damn business......but I do like that smooth cool feeling !! :rolleyes:
     
  9. Calico

    Calico Well-Known Member

  10. verybrad

    verybrad Well-Known Member

    I prefer Johnson's over several other brands. Have never tried Briwax.
     
    lloyd249 likes this.
  11. DragonflyWink

    DragonflyWink Well-Known Member

    Briwax is potent stuff, the only wax I bother using gloves to apply - have also used the colors on unfinished and stripped wood, produces a nice even stain, will be using it again soon to restore my Mom's 1950s maple kitchen cabinets. Did have a scare on the English Deco cabinet in my foyer, assume the toluene in the Briwax started dissolving the finish on the top (the other surfaces were fine), had to let it set back up, sand the top down and use Johnson's. I'm loving the citrusy Howard's, but still find myself reaching for the old can of Johnson's at times...

    ~Cheryl
     
    lloyd249 likes this.
  12. pearlsnblume

    pearlsnblume Well-Known Member

    Some of the responses made me LOL
     
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  13. Ownedbybear

    Ownedbybear Well-Known Member

    The lavender wax I use is pure beeswax with a little lavender oil. It's lovely.In a tub, none of yer sprays.
     
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