How do I finish Walnut using Hardwax Oil…
A customer asked us recently for a high quality finish for her beautiful walnut bookcases and furniture. Having experimented with a branded water based varnish, which to quote her exact words, “looked like the wood had been coated in a terrible form of plastic”; she was searching for a ‘non-membrane’ type of finish that looked natural and pulled out the grain pattern of the wood to it’s maximum
Our customer also wanted to achieve a silky, satin finish, “like the polished wood of the past that has aged beautifully”.
There was only one choice… Finney’s Microporous Hardwax Oil
Finney’s Microporous Hardwax Oil does not require any special skills to use and is available in an ultra matt, matt or satin sheen level.
For our customer, the satin version was the most obvious one to go for.
This oil has a very high wax content so that it produces the smooth, natural finish of professionally polished wood. It can also be waxed with our microcrystalline wax polish (Finney’s Superior Finishing Wax – an easy-to-use special type of wax for sealed wood), to give an even silkier feel to high class furniture, doors and staircases.
Here’s what to do:
Walnut should be fine sanded to at least 240 grit using Flexicut Abrasive Paper and ideally down to 320 grit. This paper leaves far fewer scratch marks than a conventional paper, especially on denser hardwoods.
- Clean the surface with white spirits and allow to dry
- Stir the Microporous Hardwax Oil thoroughly and apply along the grain in a thin coat using a Deluxe (Pure Bristle) Varnish Brush
- When dry (around 3 to 5 hours), cut back lightly along the grain using 400 grit Lubrisil Paper
- Remove any dust with a Tack Cloth
- Apply a second coat and repeat, to finally finish the wood with a third coat (you can apply more coats than this if required)
- If waxing is preferred, apply Finney’s Superior Finishing Wax – Antique along the grain using a pad of 0000 ultra fine steel wool and buff with an Extra Soft Polishing Cloth
The end result will be a fine, polished wood surface to be proud of.
Perfection!
This is what you will need:
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Disclaimer: Information is given in good faith and any advice refers only to the specific products mentioned.