Woodcraft recommendation
Our recommendation in products is Gilly's Australian made, using natural ingredients since 1983
Products available in store for Furniture, Bowls, kitchen ware and chopping boards
Taking care of your furniture whether it’s the antique of tomorrow or your treasured family heirloom is crucial for its longevity. Choosing the right product is a big part of this but there are other aspects of care that need to be considered, whether your furniture is lacquered, French polished or waxed.
Sunlight can cause fading and drying of the timber. Place away from windows if possible. If this is unavoidable, try to close curtains or blinds at crucial times of the year.
Temperature extremes can affect your timber furniture. Pieces should be kept away from radiators, fireplaces or under air conditioners.
Protecting your waxed furniture includes using coasters and mats to avoid placing hot and/or wet dishes directly onto your furniture.
Prolonged moisture on waxed furniture can cause damage to the wood. Therefore, when wiping down your table with a damp cloth it is advisable to follow with a dry tea towel or lint-free cloth.
Frequency of application for maintenance depends on the above but generally, we recommend every 3-4 months. Dusting regularly using a lint-free cloth enhances the appearance of your furniture.
WHY WAX
When you are putting the finishing touches on your restored or new piece of furniture you need to make a decision about whether you are going to lacquer it with a modern finish or you are going to go the traditional pathway of waxing or oiling.
It is best to decide on which finish you will proceed with at the beginning because you may not be able to change your finish easily later. Each have their advantages and disadvantages and it is very much a personal choice.
The Three R’s of Waxing
- Reversible — If you do not like the look of wax you can remove it using the solvent it generally was made with. Generally this will be natural turpentine or mineral turpentine. With most timbers this will work but where the wax was a penetrating wax and the timber particularly absorbent, then there may be residual wax in the timber and lacquer may not adhere to this.
- Repairable — Re-waxing your furniture will often repair minor scratches and marks and there are no issues with the next coat not bonding as the solvents in the new coat reactivate with the original wax on the piece. Wax does not crack, flake, peel or blister.
- Renewable — Lastly it is renewable and just needs a reapplication when it starts to look a little flat or dull. Adding a new coat will help it to regain its original look. Another advantage of waxing is the benefit of immediate use as there is no waiting for it to dry.
Although ideally with waxing it is best to do several ‘light coats’ (rather than a couple or heavy coats - this can lead to a soft finish) you can use the piece straight away with care and ‘build’ the patina over time as you enjoy your furniture.
It is important to take a little more care of furniture with a ‘natural finish’ but whilst there is a little more maintenance the biggest advantage is that it never needs to be sanded back again and most minor scratches and marks can be treated with another coat of wax. Wax also helps prevent a lot of scratches occurring as it has a more slick surface. It will build the patina for your antique of tomorrow.
Lacquer finishes
Lacquering requires less maintenance but if it becomes scratched or worn, it can only be repaired by having the surface sanded back and re-lacquered (this can be inconvenient as this may take a few days). It is more resistant to moisture than wax but once the lacquered surface is worn, water can penetrate quite easily
Get the very best out of Gilly“s products, by making yourself familiar with them. No matter your experience, we can all use a bit of help here and there. Follow the link to our blog on Oils. Blog to find out more about using Gilly's products.