
Wax Finishes
and other finishes
Woodworkers and restorers often overlook or neglect the finish of a piece. An old surface, weathered by centuries of use, carries a rich sense of history and time. To preserve and maintain an aged patina, it’s essential to have a strong understanding of the various finishes used throughout history.
Background
Although Frank is an expert French polisher and a strong advocate for using shellac, he also has a deep understanding of wax finishes and knows when and how to apply them. Shellac started being used in the early 1800s, and by the mid-19th century, French polishing became widely regarded as the best finish for timber. Furniture from earlier periods, however, were typically finished with waxes, natural resins, and drying oils. While many of these older pieces were re-polished in the 19th century, it’s not always appropriate to apply a full-bodied French polished finish. In some cases, a simpler shellac or wax finish is both historically and aesthetically more suitable.

Georgian Chest of Drawers: The piece had very little finish remaining. After cleaning the surface, it was sealed with a couple of light coats of shellac. A hard, protective layer of wax was then applied and burnished to a smooth sheen.

This small oak table, dating from the late 17th or early 18th century, had been damaged during transit. The existing finish was cleaned and waxed. Old waxes can be burnished and reactivated to restore their sheen.
Process
With very early pieces, it can be difficult to determine what has been applied to them over the years. Various unusual and secret recipes were often used to finish furniture. It takes experience and a keen eye to identify what is likely on an old piece and to decide the best approach for cleaning, conserving, and restoring the finish without losing the original patina.
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Treatments to an old surface vary from piece to piece depending to what is needed.
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Earth pigments are used for touch ups and blending in marks.
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Unsightly marks and damage are touched up and aesthetically integrated into the surrounding finish. Frank's approach focuses on how a piece presents and is read as a whole.
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Frank makes up his own wax which is a simple blend of hard waxes.
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The use of beeswax is discouraged by Frank. Although it burnishes to a nice sheen, it is also soft and sticky which attracts dust.
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Commercially available paste waxes are easy to use but quite soft. The wax Frank uses is quite hard which is important if it's to protect the timber over many years.

This is a very old English oak kitchen dresser—a lovely piece with a charming, worn appearance. Some areas showed marks and discoloration that required touch-ups.

A lovely Biedermeier or French piece, this country item is made from cherry wood and has a beautiful soft sheen.

This Georgian mule chest features a top that opens like a traditional chest. It has three drawers at the bottom and faux drawers above.

This very old English oak coffer is a beautiful piece of history. It features a lovely patina developed over centuries of use, with a wax finish that has been burnished to a nice sheen.

Old Oak and Cherrywood tables treated with light shellac and finished with wax to preserve the patina and history of the pieces.
Outcome
Wood finishing with wax can create a beautiful sheen. Sometimes, simplicity is best; elaborate, complex, and secret wax formulations are unnecessary. Frank primarily uses carnauba wax, but he also uses paraffin wax and microcrystalline wax. These can be mixed together at certain ratios, or used on their own.