Why is it necessary to coat wood with wax?
Waxing is the final stage when processing wooden surfaces. Wax creates a thin but hard, wear-resistant and breathable coating. It does not seal the wood, allows it to breathe and regulate humidity, increases resistance to negative influences and facilitates maintenance.
Benefits of using wood wax:
- gives the surface water-repellent properties;
- prevents waterlogging and wood rotting;
- creates a barrier to the penetration of insect pests;
- protects wood from stains, abrasion, scratches and other damage;
- helps eliminate minor defects and restore the surface.
Wax gives the wood a soft silky shine, emphasizes the structure and enhances the contrast of the pattern. Oak, ash, walnut, cedar, elm, cherry and beech are especially beautiful after processing. Natural wax enhances the feeling of external warmth of natural material and gives it smoothness.
Types of natural waxes for wood
For waxing, soft, paste and hard waxes of various origins are used. They differ in properties and effectiveness.
Soft beeswax has the weakest protective effect, but penetrates deeper into the wood. It remains sticky longer, melts easily, is scratched and requires frequent renewal. Treated wood acquires a matte shine and does not receive antistatic properties, so it attracts dust.
Hard vegetable candelilla and carnauba waxes dry faster, fill scratches well and protect against mechanical damage. Coated surfaces repel water and dirt and are not afraid of spilled coloring liquids - wine, juices, tea.
Based on natural waxes, mastics are produced, which may include gum turpentine, drying oil, stearin, rosin, and laundry soap in various proportions. Application requires experience, heating the product or surface for deeper penetration and mandatory polishing with a cloth, drill attachment or disc machine. This technology is difficult for large areas, and the absorption of heated wax into the wood increases product consumption.
Processing wood with ready-made wax compounds
Many types of wax compositions contain soft beeswax diluted with turpentine. Pastes are sold in tins and are a type of polishing material. They are usually applied with a special swab, but you can also use a thick brush or steel wool for washing dishes. Paste wax is an excellent finishing component that can be applied to other finishes after impregnation with oil.
Liquid wax is used when treating large surfaces, such as solid panels, and is applied with a brush. Floor compositions have a transparent mastic base and are used in difficult operating conditions.
Colored waxes come in predominantly dark colors and are used for restoration work. Their purpose is to hide minor scratches from view. Typically, wax compositions are found in a white or yellow color - like an oil that does not leave a tint on the surface.
For finishing oak, brown or black shades of impregnation are used, created to enhance the naturalness when the board shows its texture.
In order to restore the color of cedar or pine, golden impregnations are used, and to give freshness to mahogany, red mastics are chosen. If you superimpose one composition on another, you can achieve a smooth transition of tones. Chairs and tables, items in frequent contact with clothing are not coated with dyes, oils, or wax to avoid damage to clothing.
Before waxing wood, it should be prepared. To do this, the unpainted surface is sanded and degreased with a solvent. It wouldn’t hurt if the board was treated with a primer before waxing. But this is not necessary, since there is no need to fill the pores of the wood. If a primer layer is applied, it must be sanded with fine sandpaper.
The wax paste is applied with a soaked tampon in a circular motion in several layers. Having treated the entire surface, it must be rubbed along the wood fibers. If you have difficulty grinding, you should briefly heat the jar over low heat. The second layer is applied a few minutes after the first, but the rubbing is done across the grain.
After the solvent vapors have evaporated, which takes about a day, several more layers of the substance should be applied to the surface and, after complete drying, polished with a soft cloth. If you rub the treated surface for a long time with a clean cloth, you can even achieve a mirror effect.
Wood waxes with oil
For reliable protection, wax is used only as a finishing layer, and before applying it, it is recommended to impregnate the wood with oil. Modern professional coatings simplify the processing process.
OSMO products combine the advantages of both natural compounds:
- Penetrates deeply into the wood structure. Wood wax with oil protects the surface inside and out, helps maintain elasticity and reduces the risk of drying out.
- Strengthen the hydrophobic effect. Oils polymerize and limit the access of moisture to the upper layers of wood, even if the wax layer is damaged.
- Prevents the appearance of mold. Open pores and protection from waterlogging prevent the creation of an environment favorable for microorganisms
The products contain natural vegetable waxes and oils, accelerating drying synthetics and water-repellent additives. Thanks to the inclusion of pigments, wood wax performs protective and decorative functions, enhancing the natural color or giving the desired shade.
Liquid and hard waxes with Biofa oils
The German brand Biofa offers products containing natural flaxseed, castor, safflower oils, microwaxes, resins and rosin.
Compositions from the line:
- Liquid colorless wax for wood. Used as a finishing coat after oiling wooden floors and stairs.
- Colored wax with carnauba. Recommended for painting furniture, toys, walls and ceilings; it can be tinted in different shades and dries in an hour.
- Colorless solid wax-oil. Designed for furniture, doors, stairs and floors made of different types of wood, parquet, tinted and forms a silky-matte coating.
- Special composition with carnauba and beeswax. It is used for rubbing surfaces made of hard and soft wood, including in baths and saunas.
How to do waxing correctly
Any good deed can be ruined by stupid execution, and waxing is no exception. To wax wood at home, you will need simple tools: emery cloths, a knife, a brush with hard fibers, a brush, cloth rags.
Surface cleaning
If the wooden product has already been in use and has a layer of old coating on it, you need to thoroughly clean the surface. First, solvent treatment is carried out. A thick layer of varnish or paint must be well saturated with an organic liquid, then the residue can be removed quickly and easily.
After treating with a solvent, you need to wait until it evaporates, wipe the surface with warm water, and dry the cleaned wood well.
If there are still residues, they are removed with a knife and cleaned with sandpaper. Pieces are removed from deep cracks with a stiff brush. When the surface is prepared and smooth, you can begin the actual waxing process.
Application
Apply wax only to completely dry wood. It is convenient to do this with cloth flaps, starting from the central flat part, ending with the corners, complex figured elements. When working with liquid compounds, you can use regular paint brushes. It is important to note that impregnation of wood should always be carried out in the direction of the grain. If the composition is rubbed perpendicular to the main axis of the tree, it will be poorly applied, fixed, and in the future may peel off very quickly.
Once the wax has been distributed over the entire surface of the wood, it should be allowed to dry thoroughly. In a warm, dry room this will take at least an hour; in other conditions, the layer can dry for several hours. You can check the completeness of drying by gently touching an inconspicuous area, which can be covered somewhere on the bottom of the product specifically for this purpose.
After drying, any unabsorbed excess product should be removed by lightly wiping with a cloth. You can level the surface to perfection using special soft rollers.
Polishing
To form a beautiful decorative surface, the procedure can be carried out twice. After treating the wood with oil and wax, many responsible craftsmen proceed to final polishing of the coating, which looks especially good on parquet.
It is better to polish wood with a special device with an electric drive. The days of polishers who did this with their feet and special fabrics are long gone. A rotating shaft connected to an electric drill will help you complete the task quickly and efficiently.
Most often, they try to preserve the natural appearance of wood, so they are coated with transparent or light wax compounds. Some customers want to see colored coatings, which is understandable and quite doable. For tinting and light coloring, colored waxes are selected, taking into account the type of wood and the color that they want to achieve. Brown or black products are selected for dark oak. Golden colors look good on pine and cedar. If mahogany is covered, which rarely happens in everyday practice, reddish shades of waxes are chosen.
Saicos wax oils
The product line of the German company Saicos includes coatings for protecting, painting and renewing surfaces. They contain sunflower, soybean and safflower oils, candellilum and carnauba waxes, additives to speed up drying and enhance water-repellent properties.
In assortment:
- Colorwatches. Colored and colorless open-pore wax for protection, coloring and tinting, restoration of any wood and rooms with high humidity.
- Premium Hartwachsöl. Oil-wax coating for intensively used surfaces - wood and cork floors, dries in 5 hours.
- Ecoline Hartwachsöl. Eco-friendly oil-wax for floors made of solid wood, hard and exotic woods, cork, bamboo, creates coatings of increased wear resistance with an anti-slip effect.
Wax-based compositions Tikkurila
Finnish Tikkurila compounds with natural wax are used indoors and outdoors and provide protection for outdoor surfaces for up to 1 year.
These include:
- Supi Saunavaha. Recommended for use in saunas and baths, it allows you to preserve heat-treated wood, and is not suitable for oiled surfaces.
- Valtti Puuöljy is solvent and water based. Weather-resistant compounds for the protection and painting of outdoor terraces, docks and outdoor furniture.
Rustins
The British company Rustins was founded in 1924. Today it includes the brand of the same name, as well as such trademarks as Briwax, Antiquax, Wudcare, Stone's, Brummer and others, one way or another related to paint and varnish materials. Products are exported to more than 30 countries, including Russia. Official distributor in Russia: Rustins LLC.
Product Features
The company offers water-based formulations, which are positioned as ECO-materials, as well as oils and waxes with small additions of white spirit solvent. In the latter case, we are talking about a faint odor, which with good ventilation quickly disappears.
The range of wood oils includes products for interior and exterior finishing:
- for doors;
- for cutting boards;
- for garden furniture, fences, canopies;
- for work surfaces;
- for floor
Also under this TM you can find applied accessories such as brushes, gloves, lint-free cloth, etc. To be fair, we note that you can purchase analogues of the same quality at half the price.
Popular formulations from Rustins
| Characteristics | Exterior Wood Oil | Danish Oil | Worktop Oil |
| Purpose and properties | Quick drying for outdoor or indoor use on all types of wood. For processing garden furniture, fences, facades. | For indoor treatment, for wood not treated with other means, for doors and windows, countertops, furniture. | Quick-drying composition for solid wood countertops, tables, chairs, cutting boards. |
| Smell during application | Weak/soft. | Soft, drying oil and diluted white spirit. | Weak, White Spirit. |
| Finished coating | Matte, colorless, durable and waterproof, with UV protection. | Satin, shiny, with the effect of wet wood, emphasizing the texture of the wood. | Semi-gloss, resistant to moisture, chips and scratches. |
| Consumption, ml/m² | 65-80 | 70-85 | 80-100 |
| Number of layers when applied | 3 | 3 | 1-3 |
| Interlayer drying, h | 4-6 | 4-6 | 2-3 |
| Final drying, h | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| Price | 3600 ₽/1 l | 2450 ₽/1 l | 3600 ₽/1 l |
Below is an example of using Danish oil when processing amulets. The video clearly shows the change in the condition of the coating with an increase in the number of applied layers.
Conclusion:
All Rustins products belong to the high price segment. In the catalog you can find both natural oils and formulations using organic solvents. Oddly enough, it is the latter that are interesting. All thanks to fast drying, as well as a reasonable price-quality ratio. The use of such materials outdoors is especially important.
Specialized waxes Borma
The line of the Italian brand Borma includes professional products with beeswax, carnauba and mineral waxes.
These are the compositions:
- Holzwachs with natural shades and colored Decorwachs. Designed for repair, restoration and renovation of antique furniture.
- Hardwax Parquet Oil. Used to protect parquet floors and antique finishes, drying in 18 hours when applied in two layers.
- Hardwax Furniture Oil. It is used for processing doors, windows, furniture and toys made of hard and soft wood, especially porous species.
Oil waxes OSMO
The German brand OSMO offers the widest range of materials, which, unlike most other manufacturers, are based on natural oils (thistle, sunflower, soybean) and waxes (Carnauba and Candelilla). Coatings provide long-lasting and reliable protection for wood.
The assortment includes wood wax oil for all types of work:
- Hartwachs-Öl Original. Branded colorless oil wax coating for solid and cork floors, parquet, with high wear resistance and the possibility of partial repair.
- Hartwachs-Öl Anti-Rutsch. Oil with hard wax for floors with anti-slip effect.
- Uviwax® UV-protection. Wax with UV protection, used for coating walls and ceilings.
- Hartwachs-Öl Farbig. A series of color compounds with waxes for intensive coloring or tinting of wooden floors and furniture.
- Hartwachs-Öl Effect Natural. Oil with hard wax to protect and give the effect of natural untreated wood.
- TopOil. Special composition for the protective treatment of furniture and countertops in contact with food.
- Chopping Board Oil. The oil is used to treat wooden cutting boards, dishes and other wooden utensils.
- Dekorwachs Transparente Töne, Dekorwachs Intensive Töne, Dekorwachs - three series of colored oils with wax for coloring wood in bright or translucent glaze tones.
- Wohnraum-Wachs. White oil with wax, developed specifically for the treatment and renovation of wooden ceilings.
- Hirnholz-Wachs. Edge wax is used to protect against waterlogging and cracking of wood in structural elements most susceptible to destruction.
- Klarwachs. Oil with wax for hard, exotic woods.
OSMO products are suitable for kitchens and bathrooms, where humidity is always high, and are practically odorless.
Manufacturers' choice
The quality of the restoration largely depends on the brand of wax material. Today, reviews on online sites and reviews help you understand offers from manufacturers. Company names:
- France, trademark "Liberon" and "V33". Wax putty for wood Liberon, restores damage to waxed or varnished wood and furniture.
- Italy, Borma Wachs. Various types are available. With their help, any problem can be solved. Easy to use at home. A line of wood gilding has been developed. For example, Beeswax gold/silver Holzwachs.
- Russia, NPF "VAPA" and "Homa". The first company offers analogues of the best imported samples in terms of their consumer characteristics. The second one was developed - Homastic Wood Wax, frost-resistant.
How to apply wax to a wooden surface
Wood wax combined with oil is easy to use. It does not require heating in a water bath, heating the surface or diluting.
Before application, dry wood must be sanded with sandpaper with a grit of at least 120-150 along the grain, and then the dust must be thoroughly removed. The wax is applied in a thin layer using a flat brush with natural stiff bristles and distributed evenly. The “open time” is enough to remove excess and saturate all areas. The second layer is applied after the product has completely dried.
Unlike soft and hard oil-free compounds, OSMO wood wax does not require polishing, and a characteristic surface deposit does not form on the coating. If desired, you can walk on the dry surface with a pad.
Rating of quality hard waxes
Liberon Black Bison
The impregnation is colorless. Ideal for any wood. Absorbs quickly and efficiently, leaving no bald spots. Preliminary preparation of items is required. Apply to a clean and dry coating using steel wool or a brush. Distributed along the fibers. Drying time – from 2 to 4 hours. One layer is enough. Polishing is done with a rag. The composition contains pigments, additives, wax, white spirit. There is no need for dilution. It takes a day to dry completely. It is necessary to transport and store in a closed container. Avoid exposure to direct sunlight and water. Storage temperature – from 20 degrees below zero to 40 degrees above zero.
The average price is 662 rubles.
Liberon Black Bison wax
Advantages:
- practicality;
- ease of use;
- versatility;
- reasonable cost;
- durability;
- functionality.
Flaws:
- not identified.
Antikwachs Borma 3420
Antique impregnation from an Italian manufacturer. Belongs to the category of environmentally friendly. It will quickly and efficiently impregnate any wooden surface, restore its original appearance, protect against water and ultraviolet radiation, and polish damaged areas. In this case, synthetic and silicone resins are not used. The price is significant, so it is purchased to cover expensive furniture. The composition contains natural mineral mountain, bees (of animal origin), as well as Carnauba (vegetable) wax.
Looks like a paste. Has excellent protective function. Completely eliminates the appearance of wood worms. Has a characteristic aroma. Dissolves in white spirit. Doesn't take water. It goes on sale in containers of 5 and 15 liters, as well as 500 ml. During storage and transportation, safety rules must be observed. At the end of the work, the jar is tightly closed with a lid.
For application, you need a prepared base, cleaned of dirt and dust, and old coating. The product is applied using a sponge, soft cloth, or brush. Direction – along the fibers. To tidy up a painted item, it is worth checking for color matching. Drying time – from 620 to 120 minutes. At high humidity and low temperature, the period of complete drying increases significantly. You should not start polishing earlier than half an hour later.
You can purchase the products at a price of 965 rubles.
wax Antikwachs Borma 3420
Advantages:
- sold in containers of different weights;
- qualitative;
- drying speed;
- excellent properties;
- protective functions;
- professional class;
- practicality;
- positive reviews.
Flaws:
- not installed.
Cera Neutral Universal Borma 0100
A universal pasty product is produced by an Italian company. It is extremely popular among domestic craftsmen. Consists of transparent synthetic and natural waxes. The main purpose is to restore the original attractive appearance of structures made from exotic tree species. The natural impregnation base does not change the original shade of the exposed base and does not allow yellow spots to appear. Does not dissolve in water. Requires compliance with safety rules during storage: dry and ventilated premises, absence of sparks and flammable substances, as well as an increased heat source. When applying, use a soft, clean patch or brush.
The average cost is 973 rubles.
wax Cera Neutral Universal Borma 0100
Advantages:
- transparent;
- convenient consistency;
- neutral color;
- no pungent odor;
- Ph level – 7.6;
- minimum consumption – 500 ml per 40 sq.m.;
- reliability;
- safety;
- packaging with different volumes;
- versatility;
- ease of application.
Flaws:
- not found.
Kreidezeit Saflor Lappenwachs (Safflower)
Today, models that are artificial mass predominate on sale. This product compares favorably with its counterparts in its naturalness, as it contains natural beeswax, the cells of which cannot be treated with chemical components. Its usual melting and purification occurs. Afterwards, wood standol and safflower oils are added to the mass. The main purpose is the processing of wood structures. Yellowness does not appear over time. The wood retains its original shade for a long time. Ideal for cladding, doors and furniture. Not intended for flooring. The walls are covered with one layer. Minimum flow rate – 36 ml/m.
Purchase price – 5540 rubles.
wax Kreidezeit Saflor Lappenwachs (Safflower)
Advantages:
- naturalness;
- safety;
- ease of use;
- long service life;
- excellent protective characteristics;
- presence of diffusion abilities;
- no solvent;
- antistatic properties;
- perfect surface gloss.
Flaws:
- the price is not acceptable for everyone.
Kreideziet Lappenwachs (patchwork)
The product is made on the basis of beeswax, not treated with chemicals. After melting and purification, the product is ready for use. The composition contains wood standol and linseed oil. Designed for interior work. Able to cope with primed natural substrates. Improves the quality and appearance of doors and furniture. The walls are covered with one layer. The drying agent does not contain lead. Maximum flow rate – 45 ml/m.
Purchase price – 3880 rubles.
wax Kreideziet Lappenwachs (patchwork)
Advantages:
- antistatic properties;
- ease of use;
- durability;
- functionality;
- practicality;
- makes the surface shiny;
- presence of diffusion abilities.
Flaws:
- none.
Kreidezeit FuBbodenhartwachs
High quality flooring product. Has excellent diffusion properties. Strengthens the surface and penetrates deeply into pores. At least two layers must be applied. The result is a silky shine on the floor. Gives additional strength to the base. One of the components is Carnauba material. The thin film repels water after complete drying. Withstands significant loads. Retains its original characteristics for a long time. Suitable for processing furniture, walls, ceilings, doors, staircases. Maximum consumption – 20 g/m. Easy and simple to apply. The process does not require experience or skill. You don't have to resort to professional help.
Retailers are asking 2,230 rubles for the product.
wax Kreidezeit FuBbodenhartwachs
Advantages:
- water- and dirt-repellent qualities;
- beautiful silky shine;
- convenient ointment-like consistency;
- presence of antistatic properties;
- unique diffusion abilities;
- reliability;
- long service life;
- functionality;
- naturalness;
- safety.
Flaws:
- not identified.
How to care for waxed wood
Surfaces treated with beeswax or vegetable waxes without additives require careful use and frequent renewal. The coating wears off over time and is washed out during wet cleaning.
Wood oiled with OSMO wax is protected for a long time. The surfaces are wear-resistant and can withstand wet maintenance without the use of aggressive agents. To care for wooden floors and furniture, it is recommended to use a special Wisch-Fix concentrate. It removes dirt, stains from food and drink stains, but does not wash out oils from the wood or destroy the protective wax coating. To refresh a tarnished floor, you can use Pflege-Öl oil and wax. It will extend the service life and allow you to do without large-scale restoration work longer.
Surfaces treated with OSMO clear waxes are easy to renew. If the coating has lost its wet shine and rich tone, and has begun to look matte, worn and dry, it is enough to apply one new layer without removing and sanding the previous one. OSMO products can be used for complete or local restorations.
