How To Get The Best Results With Beeswax Polish
We've trained for years and years to perfect the art of french polishing and finishing furniture. But the crowning glory of any restoration is the wax polish which is applied at the very end of the restoration process.
The way we use beeswax polish here in our restoration workshops is the same way you can do it at home.
How to apply beeswax polish
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Put down a blanket or a sheet or even newspaper.
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Start applying the wax polish with soft wire wool. It cleans the surface at the same time as applying the wax and also gives a very nice soft finish to the furniture.
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When applying the wax try and go in the direction of the grain to get a nice even application of wax in all areas.
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If it's a large flat surface, you could dab little blobs of wax to evenly apply it. Then when you go past with your wire wool it evenly spreads the wax over the surface and gives a nice even application.
The biggest mistake that people make
At this stage, is buffing the wax off immediately. They've done this lovely application of wax and immediately they buff it off to stand back and see what they've done. That's when it all goes wrong.
To do it properly
Leave it. Have a cup of tea. For 20 minutes or half an hour. It needs enough time for the turpentine to start evaporating and for the wax to start hardening.
How to buff a beeswax finish to get that lovely shine
- Use a pure cotton open-weave buffing cloth
- Buff in the direction of the grain again (not quite so essential to go with the grain this time though, you can go in circles if you like), but buffing in the direction of the grain gets the quickest and easiest effect. What you are doing is buffing the wax, not removing the wax. Buffing the wax is what gives you the deep shine.
- Stand back and admire the finish
It really is as easy as that!
It's a really quick process.
I describe it in this short video:
