Wax Finish Help?
 

Hello,

I need help with my dining table project. I've gotten to the final finishing
stage, and the carnuba wax finish, which I've applied, looks streaky. My
finish is as follows:

Wood: Cherry

Sealer coat: gel varnish
mahogany gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 1 coat
cherry gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 4 coats

After two weeks of curing, I flattened the surface with 600 sandpaper, and 0000
synthetic steel wool. Then I applied the wax, wrapped in a ball of
cheesecloth. I buffed the wax with a buffing pad on a hand drill, the pad used
manually, and cheesecloth, but I can't get rid of the streaks (with the grain,
FWIW). It appears that the wax has adhered to most areas of the surface, but
one can see uneven patches in angled light.

Possible causes:

I may not have waited long enough for the finish to cure. I waited two weeks.
Most books recommend waiting a month, but they also say that the thumbnail test
can also be used. The finish seemed hard enough, using this test.

Perhaps I'm waiting too long or not long enough when buffing the wax. The
instructions on the can say to wait until it's completely dry. How long is
that in minutes/hours?

My buffing tools may not be right for the job.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to proceed? I'm inclined to strip the
wax off (I've only applied it to one half of the table), and reapply a coat or
two of varnish and wait a good while before finishing the finish. Has anyone
used pumice and rottenstone? I understand these will bring the finish to a
nice satin lustre.

Thank you.

Curt Blood

In article , cblood59
@aol.com says...
Hello,

I need help with my dining table project. I've gotten to the final finishing
stage, and the carnuba wax finish, which I've applied, looks streaky. My
finish is as follows:

Wood: Cherry

Sealer coat: gel varnish
mahogany gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 1 coat
cherry gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 4 coats

After two weeks of curing, I flattened the surface with 600 sandpaper, and 0000
synthetic steel wool. Then I applied the wax, wrapped in a ball of
cheesecloth. I buffed the wax with a buffing pad on a hand drill, the pad used
manually, and cheesecloth, but I can't get rid of the streaks (with the grain,
FWIW). It appears that the wax has adhered to most areas of the surface, but
one can see uneven patches in angled light.

Possible causes:

I may not have waited long enough for the finish to cure. I waited two weeks.
Most books recommend waiting a month, but they also say that the thumbnail test
can also be used. The finish seemed hard enough, using this test.

Perhaps I'm waiting too long or not long enough when buffing the wax. The
instructions on the can say to wait until it's completely dry. How long is
that in minutes/hours?

My buffing tools may not be right for the job.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to proceed? I'm inclined to strip the
wax off (I've only applied it to one half of the table), and reapply a coat or
two of varnish and wait a good while before finishing the finish. Has anyone
used pumice and rottenstone? I understand these will bring the finish to a
nice satin lustre.

Thank you.

Curt Blood

At a guess, too thick a coat of wax. Better three or four THIN coats.
It'll buff out much easier.
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net

Subject: Wax Finish Help?
From: MikeG
Date: Tue, Aug 17, 2004 11:40 PM
Message-id: . com

In article , cblood59
@aol.com says...
Hello,

I need help with my dining table project. I've gotten to the final finishing
stage, and the carnuba wax finish, which I've applied, looks streaky. My
finish is as follows:

Wood: Cherry

Sealer coat: gel varnish
mahogany gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 1 coat
cherry gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 4 coats

After two weeks of curing, I flattened the surface with 600 sandpaper, and
0000
synthetic steel wool. Then I applied the wax, wrapped in a ball of
cheesecloth. I buffed the wax with a buffing pad on a hand drill, the pad
used
manually, and cheesecloth, but I can't get rid of the streaks (with the
grain,
FWIW). It appears that the wax has adhered to most areas of the surface, but
one can see uneven patches in angled light.

Possible causes:

I may not have waited long enough for the finish to cure. I waited two
weeks.
Most books recommend waiting a month, but they also say that the thumbnail
test
can also be used. The finish seemed hard enough, using this test.

Perhaps I'm waiting too long or not long enough when buffing the wax. The
instructions on the can say to wait until it's completely dry. How long is
that in minutes/hours?

My buffing tools may not be right for the job.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to proceed? I'm inclined to strip
the
wax off (I've only applied it to one half of the table), and reapply a coat
or
two of varnish and wait a good while before finishing the finish. Has anyone
used pumice and rottenstone? I understand these will bring the finish to a
nice satin lustre.

Thank you.

Curt Blood

At a guess, too thick a coat of wax. Better three or four THIN coats.
It'll buff out much easier.
--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net



Thanks for the reply. Let's see if I understand what you're saying. Do you
suspect that the dull streaks are places where I have not removed the wax?
I've rubbed the you-know-what out of it, but I'll keep working at it. I used a
ball of wax about 2-3 inches in diameter for a surface which measures 32 by 44
inches. This didn't seem excessive to me. What do you think?

CB

CB

Based on the minimum amount of wax you stated (2" ball) and the area you
covered, that would be a wax coating almost .003 thick. About thirty times
thicker than it should be. Yes, it is gobs of wax you are seeing.

"CBlood59" wrote in message
news:20040817200956.05916.00003727@mb- I used a
ball of wax about 2-3 inches in diameter for a surface which measures 32
by 44
inches. This didn't seem excessive to me. What do you think?

CB

CB

"CBlood59" wrote in message ...
Subject: Wax Finish Help?

Thanks for the reply. Let's see if I understand what you're saying. Do you
suspect that the dull streaks are places where I have not removed the wax?
I've rubbed the you-know-what out of it, but I'll keep working at it. I used a
ball of wax about 2-3 inches in diameter for a surface which measures 32 by 44
inches. This didn't seem excessive to me. What do you think?

It seems excessive to me, by a lot. With carnauba, a little goes a long way, and it dries
really hard. You may need to soften it by applying a (very) little more fresh wax to melt
the dried, and buff immediately.

Another tip, I picked up one of those cheap car buffers from Walmart for
about 20 bucks and it does a great job.

--
Mike S.

http://members.tripod.com/n0yii/woodworking.htm
"CBlood59" wrote in message
...
Hello,

Well, the surface is improving, after each buffing session. It's still not
perfect, though. Thanks for the input.

CB

In article , cblood59
@aol.com says...
Subject: Wax Finish Help?
From: MikeG
Date: Tue, Aug 17, 2004 11:40 PM
Message-id: . com

In article , cblood59
@aol.com says...
Hello,

I need help with my dining table project. I've gotten to the final finishing
stage, and the carnuba wax finish, which I've applied, looks streaky. My
finish is as follows:

Wood: Cherry

Sealer coat: gel varnish
mahogany gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 1 coat
cherry gel stain x 1 coat
gel varnish x 4 coats

After two weeks of curing, I flattened the surface with 600 sandpaper, and
0000
synthetic steel wool. Then I applied the wax, wrapped in a ball of
cheesecloth. I buffed the wax with a buffing pad on a hand drill, the pad
used
manually, and cheesecloth, but I can't get rid of the streaks (with the
grain,
FWIW). It appears that the wax has adhered to most areas of the surface, but
one can see uneven patches in angled light.

Possible causes:

I may not have waited long enough for the finish to cure. I waited two
weeks.
Most books recommend waiting a month, but they also say that the thumbnail
test
can also be used. The finish seemed hard enough, using this test.

Perhaps I'm waiting too long or not long enough when buffing the wax. The
instructions on the can say to wait until it's completely dry. How long is
that in minutes/hours?

My buffing tools may not be right for the job.

Does anyone have a suggestion as to how to proceed? I'm inclined to strip
the
wax off (I've only applied it to one half of the table), and reapply a coat
or
two of varnish and wait a good while before finishing the finish. Has anyone


Hi Curt

Of course I can't, since I can't see the item or watch you put the wax
on, say for sure. However if you have a good surface to start with and
streaks after you apply the wax ................. Well......

I used too be be overly enthusiastic in applying wax myself. The results
were pretty much what you describe and yes, it is a bitch buffing all
that wax our.

Wrap the wax as you did but that doesn't mean you have to apply it all.
A light touch, don't push it in and just a skim coat. Let dry, buff,
repeat two or three times. Buff each coat until running your finger over
the wax coat doesn't leave any streaks.

Good luck



--
MikeG
Heirloom Woods
www.heirloom-woods.net

On 18 Aug 2004 11:40:00 GMT, (CBlood59) calmly
ranted:

Well, the surface is improving, after each buffing session. It's still not
perfect, though. Thanks for the input.

Paint thinner, Xylene, denatured alcohol, and ammonia are wax
removers/melters, CB. Why not start over?

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