Grow wood - apply wax and work it in

• Costs and prices
• Various types of wax
  • Self-shining wax
  • Beeswax for allergy sufferers
  • Toy and wood treatment
• Instructions - Apply wax and incorporate

Of all natural materials, wood is probably one of the most popular. But at the same time, the fine surface is quite sensitive to stains and small scratches. A wooden surface, which is left completely untreated, absorbs stains and dirt downright. Here's how to show how to grow and protect wood properly.

Even damp wiping of an untreated surface of wood already leaves ugly stains and streaks. Such damage can be eliminated in the best case with the grinding of the surface. Since this can not be done indefinitely, the surface should be protected. Particularly unobtrusive and of course, the surface treatment can be carried out with a good wood wax, such as beeswax. Even when the wood is growing, less is more. Therefore, we show you how to use a high-quality wood wax properly and what preparatory work is absolutely necessary.

You need this:

• Grinder / orbital sander
• brush
• Triangle scraper
• Chisel / carving knife
• duster
• polishing fleece
• Wood wax / beeswax
• Sandpaper different grits
• cotton cloth

Costs and prices

Wood wax comes in very different qualities and prices. Nevertheless, wax itself is not the true cost factor in growing wood. The amount of work will cost a lot of material, especially if the work is done carefully and with love. If you want to hire a craftsman with it, you must expect an hourly wage of at least 35 euros. Depending on the area that needs to be processed, hardly a piece of furniture can be abraded, repaired and waxed in an hour.

Wax quality from liquid to solid

Depending on the purpose for which you need wax, not only are prices different, but consistency as well. From wax, which is as fluid as wood oil, over paste or cream to a solid wax, all variants are possible. For most noble or antique furniture pastes, creams or solid waxes are well suited. On the floor, a liquid wax is often applied, which can be incorporated quickly with a brush or a roller.

• Wood wax - liquid for furniture and wainscoting - 250 ml about 14, 00 Euro
• Wood Wax antique - solid for furniture and more frequently treated pieces - 200 ml about 8, 00 Euro
• Beeswax - paste for furniture and already treated pieces - 500 ml about 13, 00 Euro
• Wood wax - solid for furniture and toys - 250 g about 8, 00 Euro

Tip: If the piece of furniture is next to a heater or stove, it is important to pay attention to the heat resistance of the wax. Many types of waxes discolor or darken significantly where they are exposed to intense heat.

Various types of wax

Self-shining wax

There are some types of wood wax that does not require polishing. These waxes are usually liquid to viscous and are applied like oil with a brush. The wax shines without a polish, but the wood itself hardly protects against scratches or stains. For tables on which you even put a damp glass, this wax is not suitable.

Beeswax for allergy sufferers

Make beeswax 1 of 3

Natural wax of bees or other plants or resins has besides the absence of chemical additives especially for allergy sufferers even more benefits. Pure natural wax has an antistatic effect and is therefore beneficial for people with a house dust allergy. A wood oil usually does not offer this advantage.

Tip: There are many recipes to even make the wood wax yourself. But you need natural wax from a beekeeper. Many of these recipes are made with regular wood oil. Whether the wax is really natural, then, is primarily due to the oil that is added. Although certain oils from the food industry can be used, you should look for an oil that does not smell rancid after some time.

Toy and wood treatment

If a wooden toy, cradle or crib is to be treated with wood wax, it is even more important to pay attention to the quality. In order for the wax to be suitable for children's toys, it must comply with DIN EN 71 Part 3. However, you should not rely on such information alone. Check in the relevant test journals whether the wood wax concerned is really safe for children.

Instructions - Apply wax and incorporate

Particularly beautiful solid wood furniture is only really noble and valuable by a wax layer after working up. For such furniture you should use a solid beeswax. Although this does more work than a liquid wax, it protects the surface better. In addition, the wood gets through the solid wax an almost velvety surface, which feels particularly pleasant.

Tip: If your beautiful antique piece of furniture has stood with one side in the sun, the color of the wood will probably differ from the other sides. To compensate for these spots, you can use a colored wood wax. However, first test in an inconspicuous place, if the selected color actually fits perfectly. You may need to mix the colored wax with a colorless product to lighten it up a bit. To do this, the wax is heated slightly so that you can mix it.

Step 1: Roughen up and roughen the surface

Any residue of old paint or dirt must be removed from the wood surface. In most cases it is not sufficient to remove a workpiece from the old paint with a mordant or a hot air blower. On the surface remains a very thin layer, which you may not be able to see, but which prevents the wax from getting in. Therefore, you should always sand the furniture in addition. The wood must be receptive, but should still be sanded very smooth. In the last sanding cycle sandpaper with a 180 grit is well suited.

Tip: Should it be necessary to additionally clean the wood with water and a cleaner, you should use a special intensive cleaner for wood surfaces. Be advised in the hardware store and do not use colored household cleaners. Their color can penetrate into the wood and will not be removed even with much sanding.

Fine grooves and filigree shapes stand out with a carving knife very carefully. At interior angles and ledges, you can remove the old paint well with a triangle scraper. This practical tool is also available in other very unusual shapes and angles, which are very suitable for processing antique pieces of wood.

Tip: Dust the furniture really well. All fine dust remains otherwise stuck in the wax and become a greasy brownish mass. You may want to use an antistatic duster from the household or disposable dusters, such as Swiffer.

Step 2: Apply wax

Before waxing, the wood should dry thoroughly if you needed a cleaner with water. If possible, apply a solid wax with old cotton towels. Dab each very sparingly with the cotton cloth into the wax. First, be a bit stingy and apply the wax to the wood in small circular movements.

Tip: The wax can be processed better at room temperature. Nevertheless, you should not make it too warm, otherwise it can not be applied evenly everywhere. The wood would absorb where the warm wax comes, immediately the whole wax mass. Stains would be inevitable.

Step 3: Repolish

Even the dry wax has to move in for a while. Depending on how well the pores of the surface were opened during the preliminary work, the wax absorbs faster or slower in some wood furniture. Be patient and wait between half and one hour for the wax to be sufficiently well absorbed. But also read the manufacturer's instructions, because with some waxes you should even wait until the next day to polish. Instead of cotton towels, you can use professionally polishing pads.

Tip: If you dispose of old cotton sheets and towels, you should keep them for your workshop. Just make a pouch out of a pillowcase and deposit the rags for the various work in it. Especially for applying solid wood wax and for polishing, the rags are made of cotton ideal.

Step 4: Second Pass ">

With solid waxes, it is rarely necessary to grow the furniture yet another time. However, if you have used a paste or a liquid wood wax, you may need to apply wax once more after polishing. But that also depends on the absorption capacity of the wood. When restored old furniture, the absorption capacity is usually not very high. However, if you have a great piece of furniture or a children's toy brand new made of untreated wood, you will have to apply at least two layers of wax.

Tip: In addition, after a few months you should treat new pieces once again with a high-quality wax. A natural material like wood still attracts some of the wax even after a long time. The surface becomes much more resistant due to the re-growth and can not be scratched quite so fast even by cat claws.

Tips for quick readers

• Consistency Select wax by purpose
• Prepare wood and finely grind
• if necessary fill holes with wood putty
• Dust the workpiece thoroughly
• Apply liquid wax with a broad brush
• Apply paste with a brush or cloth
• Apply solid wax with cotton cloth
• treat antique furniture with solid wax
• Apply wax sparingly gradually
• always finish a section first
• Polish wax with cotton cloth / polishing pad
• optical inspection for defects and uniformity
• possibly second passage grow