When you hang it and look at it, it will resemble glass on a window. Most brands of waxes make colored waxes also. 66 Comments. I always wait about a day after buffing. Does the wax build up or how do gi ou buff the ornate details? This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. :). I also use her “white” colored wax on my kitchen table – which gives the unstained wood a whitewashed look. Applied with a cloth – … I’ve been thinking of doing over the world’s ugliest triple dresser and the color you used is exactly what I had in my head! This post has helped me better understand using wax as a top coat! Then, I bought Minwax water based polycrylic. NOT GOOD! Just to be on the safe side, next time you do a detailed project it wouldn't hurt to give it a thin coat of Mod Podge over the design part and then when thats dry go for the polycrilic coat. I think I would use a satin finish poly, not a gloss though. I do this after the large areas are dry so I don’t smudge adjacent areas. the chest has been stained and ‘varnished’ MANY years ago. I also used it to paint faux French enameled door signs for the hallway of darkness in my house. Sometimes it takes a new skill that takes time to learn. I don’t like to paint outdoors in the summer months and if I have to, I paint the pieces right in place inside my house with the AC on. Buffing is simply the process of taking a clean, soft lint-free rag over the surface in a circular motion with some muscle behind it until the cloth slides across the surface. (I consider you my go-to professional.). Immediately, the red paint ran into the white, ending up with a pink and white Razorback. Let the coat dry overnight to make sure it is completely dry, then apply another light coat. Hi Kristen – It is safe to use your dresser right after buffing the wax. All are good. Has it yellowed? It has been a while since I last shared any of the updates in the room with you. I flatten a big cardboard box to make a dropcloth to place the furniture on. A couple years ago, I used homemade chalk paint to paint a small desk and sealed the top with Minwax Poly. It can take up to 4 weeks to fully cure. Thanks for an inspiring post! I just painted kitchen cabinets and my kids/husband WILL NOT be careful when using them. Suggestions? Oooh, thanks so much, Diane! Let the painted surface dry for four hours. Two questions…how does humidity affect application? If the answer is yes, I usually poly vs. wax since I don’t know how to paint over it. We used two coats of eggshell followed by one coat of satin. The Matte Tough Coat wipe-on poly was hard to apply evenly over the large flat surface which made it look streaky when dry. Wipe on polyurethane vs brush on polyurethane. I always remove the poly and then apply the wax? I have so many posts deep in my archives that I plan to re-write to update them to answer all the questions I receive. The buffed wax makes a piece look like the piece has a smooth factory finish. It is soft and smooth. I live in Chapin, so I have the same situation – the hot humidity of living in SC. I would always use a coaster for glasses. In my little world I wouldn't put an oil based polycoat of any kind over a water based paint. I don’t do anything with them so no worries if you are afraid it will be shown or sold. Lesson learned :-). Hi! To keep the matte finish and keep the paint looking nice, you should seal it with a matte or flat water-based polyurethane. It is still going strong and I have never had to add another layer of wax. Kim was unhappy with how the clear coat poly she used looked on her newly painted piece of furniture. The solvent in the poly dissolved your paint! Since then I have used the water based poly with good to very good results. I would say i probably have about 20 coats on there so far. i used a metal flake paint for color. Great for furniture, railings and trim. You can make one easily (no-sew) like I did for an outdoor swing. Use a water-based product if you're concerned about color because it won't yellow as much as an oil-based one. 2- 3 coats will create a durable finish. I believe the issue might have been that the paint felt dry to the touch, but was not fully cured. It is just the way my brain is wired. I relied on Minwax Wipe-on Poly for my dining table makeover. Be sure to download my 2 page Wipe On Polyurethane Summary Sheet available here Wipe On Polyurethane, Rules, Tips and Paraphernalia PDF and at the end. What kind of paint did you use under the final clear coat? I am, hopefully, on the downside of a furniture makeover goof project myself, and your words have helped me to lighten up over the mess I’ve made. One wall of cabinets are matte black and I want to protect them and make sure that they are sealed, for their own protection while staying as matte as possible. It is wonderful. Keep sanding until they are gone. I thought the question was very timely since for the desk I painted recently, I tried a “new-to-me” poly to seal the painted finish. This will help the seat wear better. If you do use Polycrylic, make sure to get the satin finish. Minwax Polycrylic – Is the best water-based poly to use to seal painted furniture. If you have to touch up poly, they you will see the fix. Using two, you may see the difference in the sheens show up on your painted surfaces. I really liked it. Diane, thanks for an article full to the top of good information about sealers. Thank you in advance. Let me know if you have any more questions – always happy to help. You can reuse a paint pad, too. Thank you for your answer, Diane! I didn’t like how it looked on the top of the desk, so much so that I wasn’t going to even post the desk makeover. This was very helpful! I love the look, but I always ask myself if I think I may want to change this down the road. Your question was perfectly timed. There are two ways to paint over a waxed finish. I love the way the flat paint looks, but I am afraid it will be scratched and not wear well so want to toughen it up a little. There won’t be a cushion and it will be sat on in place of 2 dining chairs. Another thing about when you paint an object, you only need to choose one finish. You do not have to wait to place your clothes in. what would be the best sealer to cover it. ... Wood stain applicator pad for woodworking. “new-to-me” products on scrap pieces of wood first to not only see how they look, but to figure out the right application method. Thank you for answering my questions in such detail. The other reason I like using clear wax to protect painted furniture is that another layer can be reapplied at any time and will blend right in. To remove the wax, dip a sponge or rag into odorless mineral spirits. It looks better on furniture as it is not too shiny. You will need to lightly sand over the Mod Podge surface to provide some tooth for the sealer to stick. Shake Wipe-On Poly container thoroughly before use. I just ordered two unfinished bookcases for our living room and I plan to paint them (too many shades of wood going on already otherwise I would stain) but I feel paralyzed about the last step. 2. I then looked online to make sure of my choice for a sealer. You could use brush-on a water-based flat finish poly. I can attest to this… it does. Last night we applied our first layer of clear wax, followed by the second layer this morning. Once dry it has no smell, but until it does, the smell can be overwhelming. Hi Lacy – I totally understand your question. InMyOwnStyle.com is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com. Which is a more durable finish when thinking of people sitting on the bench… the wax or the Polycrylic? I have only used paste waxes to do this. on May 7, 2013 May 7, 2013 So i’ve been doing a bunch of samples with poly, trying to get the technique down and it was only until i started finishing this body did … Because of location of cabinet etc. You mentioned in your comment that you used both eggshell and satin. I liked the Fusion Mineral Paint Furniture Wax I used on the desk, but I also like the furniture waxes pictured below. Avoid this by using a low-pressure, wide-angle spray tip. On one such paint makeover mistake, I began to scrub the paint off and as I was doing it the most amazing finish began to surface. I meticulously painted a Razorback and the wording to go along. I was considering using wax on a small chest and using polyacrylic on the sides because it seems “easier”. If you have never used wax before, you should try it out first on a painted scrap board to get the hang of applying a thin layer and buffing it to a sheen. If you want to paint marble, you need to really scuff up the surface with sandpaper – 100 or 60 grit. When you use wax  – the fix will blend right in. After each coat, just store it in a sealed plastic tub or plastic bag. I guess my question is, how long should I leave the dresser out to “cure” before putting our clothes inside? I will give them a couple of days to fully dry. But I don’t want to provide my email address. Applied with a cloth – no need to worry about drips and brush marks. Apply in light coats, letting each coat dry before applying another light coat. You can put a clear shellac over the wood first, then use chalk paint to stop this from happening. FREE Shipping. I hope this helps. If yes, great. I would hate for someone to think they are a failure at furniture painting and sealing when the problem is just a challenging product. I had to carefully sand off the poly and repaint all of the red and white. The only downside is the smell as you apply it. I am really most concerned with the deep scratches on the top. Like this one: https://amzn.to/3j2rVNe. Poly seems like the easier method, but once you get the hang of using wax – you realize it is so easy to apply and buff. The Matte Tough Coat wipe-on poly was hard to apply evenly over the large flat surface which made it look streaky when dry. Or maybe I do not have to seal this table top. You will see the fix. Ugh, but it does offer a lot of storage. The least expensive being – Johnson’s Paste Wax to the priciest – Annie Sloan Chalk Paint Wax. I have come across several blogs about it taking up to 30 days! If you don’t want the flat finish to get marked up with fingerprints and scratches, I would seal it. I’ve already successfully painted two pieces with Annie Sloan’s paints and waxes. Curing is more about the paint/wax becoming hard and durable. If desired, apply stain, such as Minwax® Wood Finish™, following the label directions for application instructions and dry times. I would like a satin type finish that would protect it from water marks from sweaty glasses… It will be used in doors as a family room end furniture piece. It could also be the quality of base paints you might have used. This is a really effective cleaning solution. If you just applied the stain, make sure it is fully dry before sealing. In fact, it looked awful – streaky and uneven. The gloss would be shinier than the buffed wax and you may see a sheen difference. Immediately, the red paint ran into the white, ending up with a pink and white Razorback. I prefer wax, but it does take some buffing to get it to a sheen, but once you do, it looks great and will cure to a hard finish in a few weeks. I painted Ed’s desk with Fusion Mineral Paint in the color Liberty Blue. I think it is called Looking Glass. My mistake turned out to a big win – I hope your project turns into something you love. I have used this over latex paint on actual shelf surface in cabinets to stop the tacky stick that sometimes happens when you remove a heavy object from a latex painted piece, but I used satin paint. To do this, I used another of the Fusion Mineral Paint waxes called, Furniture Wax. The wax penetrates and protects. What to do my counter tops to look like marble have any ideas. They have a few topcoats and sealers in their product line if you wish to seal your piece. I like to add a wax topcoat to provide durability and add a subtle sheen. And don't worry, no spam and you can unsubscribe anytime. Curing can take up to 30 days depending on humidity in the air. I am going to faux paint with Folk Art Enamel paint and do a marbleized effect. Hi Geraldine – Thank you for taking the time to tell me about no confirmation after signing up for my email came to your email. If it makes you feel any better. Do you think that is advisable for my project? I waxed a chalk painted bench turquoise back in 2014. Both clear soft (or paste) wax and water-based poly products like Polycrylic seal and protect the painted finish in an invisible way and do not change the color of the wax. They are why I can’t have nice things in our “public spaces”. 5. We would all like to know. Hi Lori – Is there going to be a cushion on the bench? Hello and thank you for the great article. I’ve never used the wax finish before. sk. Use Wipe-On Poly for Small or Tight Areas. If you used semi-gloss latex paint, paste wax will not work well as it will not be able to penetrate the finish, it will just sit on top. I would use Polycrylic in a satin finish that is not shiny. I have used this brand more than any of the others. My Tips & Tricks for Finishing with Minwax’s Wipe-On Poly (High Gloss) Posted by Alexander Mylavarapu | Luthier M.D. Another request is there a product I can use behind the pane that will give it the look of a real window? Hope you have a great weekend, too. Hi Tracy – You can seal it with wax, but the wax won’t get into the finish as deeply. I am sure there are those out there whom have had different results as mine. Hi Sharon – I am so happy that my post will be of help to you. NOT GOOD! Wipe off excess water, let dry and then you can use any paint over the surface. Kim’s question made me realize that mistakes are part of the DIY process and I should share my painted desk sealing mistake with you. Get my latest posts, insider tips and more by email. But, I’m persevering and will learn to love the end result! 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