How to wax and prime furniture?

Solid wax is usually used to protect topcoats and sometimes used to finish bare wood furniture. This method is suitable for complete sanding of smooth dense-grained hardwoods, such as maple.

Some waxes have added color and are specially used for darker woods, such as walnut. These waxes can color the wood. If the topcoat on the wood is uneven in color, the colored wax can cover the defects. However, wax cannot color the wood or restore the finish. Solid wax is simple to apply, non-sticky, and heat-resistant, but it is easily damaged and at the same time easy to wear. It must be reapplied periodically. Solid wax is more used for coloring, sealing, and painting new wood or strip wood.

Primer colorants, including commercial series, are available in several colors. The color of the primer colorant is uniform and will not cause overlapping marks or dark spots. They are not only durable, but also easy to apply. They are not very water resistant and must be reapplied periodically. But before you paint, it is very important to know the type of wood you are applying.

special requirements

Solid wax can be directly coated on the prepared bare wood or on the colored wood; it is recommended to use diluted shellac as the primer layer. The primer colorant should be painted directly on the prepared bare wood; no other primers are needed. Before waxing, sparse grained wood should be coated with filler. The filler can be any compatible paste filler. Both wax and primer colorants can be used on new or cut wood.

How to apply solid wax

The wood to be waxed should be sanded before waxing and coated with a thin layer of shellac as a primer. When the primer is completely dry, you can use 0000# steel wool to polish along the wood grain; then use a damp cloth to clean the furniture.

You can use a clean, lint-free cloth pad to coat the wood with a thin layer of solid wax. When waxing, draw a thin, even layer of wax in a circle. Only wax in a small area each time. Some manufacturers recommend using a damp (rather than soaking) cloth pad. If you use water, make sure that the surface of the furniture is dry before you polish it.

As the manufacturer recommends, you should let the wax dry completely. Then use a clean cloth to wipe the wax layer vigorously to wipe off the excess wax. When the wax layer is uniform, polish it with a clean cloth. As above, apply two to three layers of wax to finish the surface finishing work. When laying down a layer of wax, you should completely polish every previous layer.

How to apply primer colorant

Before applying the primer stain, you must properly prepare and sand the wood, and no other preparation is required. Mix the primer colorant evenly. Use a clean brush or cloth to spread the colorant evenly along the wood grain and let it sit for 10 to 15 minutes; then wipe off the excess with a clean cloth. Let the wood dry for 24 hours, then apply a second coat of colorant as above. In order to finish the finish, you have to apply two to three layers of solid wax as above. Then polish each layer of wax with a clean cloth.