I recently noticed that one of my bowls has water spots from being to near an open window. And the spots don't buff out. How do I remove the old wax so I can rewax and buff out? -Dan
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removing wax
- Thread starter Daniel Potter
- Start date
I found that paint thinner or mineral spirits would dissolve old wax fairly well. However, I'd suggest that you try it first somewhere where it doesn't show just to be sure.
Joe
Joe
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Now you know why wax finishes and outdoor shows don't mix!
If the finish is exclusively wax, warming it with a hair dryer might get the blush out.
If the finish is exclusively wax, warming it with a hair dryer might get the blush out.
Daniel,
Mineral spirits will do, however, naptha will to better and quicker. Note too that any wax finish will dull and cloud up with some age because wax actually ATTRACTS and ABSORBS water vapor. It's something the buffing guys don't tell you. If you want a shinny finish that will last and retain both its gloss and depth, you gotta go with the film-building finishes - oil/resin polymers like linseed or tung (or soy) varnishes, or the solvent-resins like shellac, lacquer, or the new waterborne acrylics.
Leave the wax for your car.
m
Mineral spirits will do, however, naptha will to better and quicker. Note too that any wax finish will dull and cloud up with some age because wax actually ATTRACTS and ABSORBS water vapor. It's something the buffing guys don't tell you. If you want a shinny finish that will last and retain both its gloss and depth, you gotta go with the film-building finishes - oil/resin polymers like linseed or tung (or soy) varnishes, or the solvent-resins like shellac, lacquer, or the new waterborne acrylics.
Leave the wax for your car.
m
I did use a couple coats of tung oil, then use the 3-step beall buffing system. Would you stop using the buffing system or just not use the final wax step? Buffing it out after the tung oil looks sharp.
-Dan
-Dan
Forget the carnauba; it doesn't add anything, and guarantees more work in the future. The Johnson Family (wax people) became billionaires by getting consumers to believe that "It's good for the wood 'cause it's wax." Which is, of course, complete bunk. I know people who actually believe that wax penetrates wood pores (it doesn't) because they grew up believing that silly slogan. 🙄
If you like the buffed look on your finish's surface, leave it at that. Putting on wax won't protect the polymerized tung resins; they're way tougher that some micro-thin coating of wax that will show fingermarks and make dust stick.
😀
m
If you like the buffed look on your finish's surface, leave it at that. Putting on wax won't protect the polymerized tung resins; they're way tougher that some micro-thin coating of wax that will show fingermarks and make dust stick.
😀
m
Hi Mark,
Gosh I don't think you like wax. I save it for the wife to use on her furniture. I don't use wax either and most my bluffing is the hard way by hand. If you lose one bowl because of it, then it wasn't worth it. I do know water spots, and dust comes with outdoor craft shows. GT
Gosh I don't think you like wax. I save it for the wife to use on her furniture. I don't use wax either and most my bluffing is the hard way by hand. If you lose one bowl because of it, then it wasn't worth it. I do know water spots, and dust comes with outdoor craft shows. GT
Quite an interesting thread on Wood Central's turning board right now about getting a glass like finish.
I thought I had a pretty good finish on my bowl last night before I brought it to the show and tell. Then we started talking about having a show. I made the mistake of asking one of the guys whether my finish was good enough for the show... and he said I needed at least four or five more coats of lacquer... 😱
I'm not sure I have that much patience... It'll take a lot of sanding and buffing.
All that aside, Lacquer and Shellac can be damaged by water too. Best to keep the water off your stuff if you can. No telling how many customers that come to me and want their sink cabinet doors fixed. "I bought these cabinets from ya'll 15 years ago and can you fix this?" 🙄
I thought I had a pretty good finish on my bowl last night before I brought it to the show and tell. Then we started talking about having a show. I made the mistake of asking one of the guys whether my finish was good enough for the show... and he said I needed at least four or five more coats of lacquer... 😱
I'm not sure I have that much patience... It'll take a lot of sanding and buffing.
All that aside, Lacquer and Shellac can be damaged by water too. Best to keep the water off your stuff if you can. No telling how many customers that come to me and want their sink cabinet doors fixed. "I bought these cabinets from ya'll 15 years ago and can you fix this?" 🙄
georgetroy said:
Oh no, George, I LOVE wax. Indeed, when the spirit moves, I dig out some of my 100 lb. stash of microcrystaline to work up a figure or two. Much of my bronze work is done in direct wax. I really like wax for making the rain bead up on my truck's hood, can't do THAT with BLO. 😀 I buy Anchorseal by the 5 gal for tree harvesting and rough turning, and I'm sure I've "done" at least a few acres of terrazo while semi-gainfully employed at various jobs in my younger days. Marvelous substance, wax.
Just doesn't work very well with wood. 😉
[SWMBOBAC asked me if she could/should wax the furniture I've made and rubbed out to that unmistakable sheen. I said "Sure, as long as you're the one who'll be stripping it off without damaging the finishes." She uses very little in the Guardsman polish, and we don't even own a can of Pledge.]
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