In many cases, a piece of furniture may appear dull because of a build-up of old wax and grime. Ensure you clean back this wax before re-waxing. All you need to apply following this to maintain your newly-rejuvenated timber is our Cream Polish. This beeswax-based polish will not create a wax build-up.
A scratched and scuffed dry piece of furniture can be revived using our Scratch Cover for Furniture and Floors. The oils in these products will nourish the dry timber and restore the patina.
Small holes and cracks in your furniture can be repaired using our Beeswax Filler Sticks. These need to be used before you apply any oils or waxes so that the wax is able to bind with the raw timber fibres. Soften with a candle and press into gaps, then scrape back excess with a plastic spatula or credit card. Colours can be blended.
When you are happy with your restoration project, we recommend you maintain the finish depending on the finish you require as follows:
-High sheen such as French polished furniture: | Cream Polish |
-Satin sheen such as country style furniture: | Orange Oil |
If you are unable to restore/repair your piece using the above, then stripping back to raw timber will be the only solution.
Gilly Stephenson's 3-step Restoration Process - for a beautiful natural waxed finish
Your prized piece of furniture has been stripped, sanded and is now ready for the waxes. You can save if you buy our Restoration Pack - all three products in your choice of colour and fragrance.
Our 3-step process involves firstly feeding the dry, stripped timber with our rich, nourishing Restoring and New Timber Polish. Secondly, we use our firmer Cabinet Maker's Wax, which starts to build a finish. Perfect for filling in hairline cracks and other imperfections in the timber, you will end up with a super-smooth finish, which enhances the beauty of the timber's grain. Finally, using our Cream Polish, which is rich in carnauba wax flakes (the hardest known plant-based wax) you can polish up to an excellent hard, high sheen.
The Restoring Polish, the Cabinet Maker's Wax and the Cream Polish can all be used individually but we recommend the three together in this instance for the best results.
Step 1 - Application of Restoring and New Timber Polish.This is very soft and easy to apply. Scoop out a small quantity from the tin using a clean, lint-free cloth. Spread sparingly over the dry timber then polish back in a circular motion removing any excess wax as you go (best done with another clean cloth - something like an old cotton t-shirt is ideal). This product will polish to a soft, satin sheen and make the timber look a little darker (much as it would if the timber were wet). Where applicable, you can use a little more on the end-grain of the timber, being a more absorbent part of the timber. If your finger makes a print in the surface, you have used too much and need to wipe the excess away.
Step 2 - Application of Cabinet Maker's Wax. This requires a little more effort as it is a firmer wax. Traditionally, this is applied using superfine steel wool (0000) because this is an excellent way to drive the wax into tiny cracks and crevices in the timber. However, you can just use a clean cloth (as with step 1) if you prefer. This is best applied in long swipes, with the grain of the timber. Again, polish back with a clean cloth or t-shirt. This stage can be repeated up to three times, to build a thicker finish but make sure the wax is nice and dry (no fingerprints) before you attempt second and third applications.
Step 3 - Application of Cream Polish. This is the fun part, a bit like icing the cake. Our Cream Polish is soft, light and easy to use. Apply sparingly with a clean, lint-free cloth over the entire surface. You will be able to polish back straight away if you haven't over-applied and you'll achieve a lovely sheen as you move over the timber in a circular motion.
Help - I've over-applied wax and need to remove it!
You will need to use the relevant solvent in the case of each product. Dampen a clean cloth/old t-shirt with the solvent and wipe over the waxed area. It is very important that you don't apply the solvent directly to the waxed surface. The dampened cloth will soften the wax sufficiently so that you can wipe it away with other dry rags or t-shirts. The solvents you will need are as follows:
Cream Polish, Carnauba Polish and Cabinet Maker's Wax- Gum Turpentine (Natural Turpentine)
Restoring & New Timber Polish and Floor Polish - Mineral Turpentine
Orange Cream or Food Safe Wax - D-Limonene (Citrus solvent)