UPDATE on WAX: HOW, WHY, WHAT???

UPDATE on New Technique used in waxing.

I wanted to answer a few questions 

regarding my previous post. 

Formula:

20% minwax oil based stain

80% Howard's Feed n Wax

Use even a little less stain when using a very dark color.

I found these both at Home Depot.

  This is a wax formula so it protects like wax. 

Like all waxes, 

you may need to redo the tops of pieces 

a few times a year 

or even once a month for heavily trafficked tops! 

My dining room table top is a tinted wax on plain wood,

with creamy painted legs.

 Love it! Love how it wears.

Black blob on table is my very needy kitty.
 

I would just use the plain 

Feed n Wax (or your preferred wax) 

for a touch up as needed.

Here is a little lesson on how wax works:

There are emollients or dissolvent like deals in the wax.

(whatever!  with the right word here)

"It" is in all waxes, the smelly stuff.  

I am very technical!

Because of this "it", you can apply wax, 

otherwise they would be too hard. 

These ("it") evaporate...

with the yucky smell the emit, 

thank goodness, 

as the wax cures, 

leaving you with a hard finish.

You may buff to a high gloss 

or lightly rub for a more matte finish.

When you reapply the wax,

"it" dissolves the old, 

removing some of the old wax  

and then reworks what is left into the new wax.  

 The beauty of this is that you do not get build up.

So let's say you hate the color of wax 

you used in the finish...

rub off using a clear or plain wax.

If you hate the wax, 

you can wipe with mineral spirit to remove.

(Hasn't worked well for me...just saying.)

I use a soft brush for application 

and soft rag for wiping excess and then buffing.

Now I am going to tell you that 

tinted waxes can be a bit tricky.

Practice.

I love a tinted wax because it adds 

patina 

to a newly painted piece. 

It is what makes it rich, layered and oh so lovely.

Plain wax or clear protects and deepens the color a bit.

Experiment with tints too.

The color of stain or tint can 

really change your paint color.

An oak color stain or tint 

makes a blue paint a bit more of a robins egg blue...

yellowish tint added to blue makes it more green.

I love this new formula because of the ease.

I have been using wax, primarily Briwax, 

found at better furnishing stores,

for 12 years now.

It is work but the results are beautiful.

Another hint: 
Wax melts in heat...like a hot summer day of sitting in my garage,
the wax turns to liquid. 
MUCH easier to apply and work in this form.  
You can set your Briwax in a tub of very hot water so it goes to a more 
soft, liquid consistency and it is easier to apply and manipulate. 
It is a combustible product so do not heat on a stove or get near ANY flame.
Remember a little goes a long way.
The Howard's Feed n Wax is already in a liquid-like form
but I will always use my Briwax too!

I am hoping you find this new formula 
a bit less (always good)

WORK.

Molly

Whew...long winded, 
I could talk all day about this huh?