WAXING LYRICAL ABOUT FURNITURE WAX
Ask all the experts about what the best way to optimally maintain wooden furniture, and you’ll get as many answers as there are styles of dining-room tables!.
But you will get one clear answer from the experts, and that is that a regular application of furniture wax is always a good idea.
Wood wax comes in several different types – ranging from different coloured waxes to different consistencies – but the most important thing to do is to ensure that it’s a high quality product, preferably cabinet-makers’ wax from a speciality supplier.
According to some, carnauba wax from Brazilian palm trees is the best for furniture – and is known in the trade as the ‘queen of waxes’. It is a very brittle wax and is often combined with other products to make it more manageable – eg beeswax. The less solid the product, the less wax it contains.
So what’s the reason you should be putting in a few hours of elbow grease …or should that be elbow wax?. Well, the wax layer provides protection from daily wear and tear, scratches and superficial dents etc. And waxing isn’t just for the antique heirloom – all household timber furniture can do with some protection.
And how should you apply the furniture wax and what about wax build-up?
Some experts say that there is no such thing as a wax build-up – maintaining that if it is used in moderation, it shouldn’t ever be a problem. And even if the wood wax does build up, it is see-through – so it will provide ‘clear’ protection.
With so many options and opinions on the right wood wax to use – it’s not easy knowing which route to take. Your best bet is to visit a local antique dealer or professional cabinetmaker for advice – and let them wax lyrical !.
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