wax / polish / oil for vintage table ?

wallofbeans

Just got vintage dining table and looking to get similar desk. Any advice for waxing?

I want to keep them as natural as possible but am getting lots of different options when googling... lots of different brands of beeswax and something called osmo oil came up quite a lot... as well as zero grade wire wool...

Any thoughts from those with exeperience with these things?

Apodemus

You will probaby get just as many different options (and opinions) on here.  Like many things it is a matter of taste, so there is no "right" answer.  If you need to clean off a previous coating, then that is where the 000 grade wire wool comes in.  You then have a choice of a natural oil/wax finish or a varnish.  You indicate you want a natural finish, so that suggests going down the oil/wax route.  That opens up a ton of different magic products, all with their own slight differences and enthusiasts - and in all probability only very minor differences in finish and appearance.  There probably is a slight correlation between quality and price in this field, but there are some eye-wateringly expensive options out there. 

Personally I like awax finish and I am cheapskate enough to prefer a DIY beeswax and turps mix, but there are plenty of commercial equivalents.  Even if you don't make your own, understanding the mix, will help when comparing the contents of commercial products.  There are many websites with recipes for DIY waxes, and this one seems to give a reasonable overview: https://nevesbees.co.uk/how-to-make-beeswax-polish/

ariarnia

osmo polyx-oil isn't cheap but its easy to apply (pour on a small amount, spread around with a card, buff in until you can't see streaks, let dry). i also think it gives a great result. 

wallofbeans

Thanks for the advice. 

The dining table is cherry wood and was waxed before I got it. I just want to be able to update that when needed. 

I also want to go the same route with the desk I buy. One I’ve seen mentions that it will need a sand and wax so I wanted to make sure I knew what was involved and the cost before committing! 

I’m not sure I’m up for making my own wax but will check out that link and see. I’d like to find a good ready to go version too though! 

I’ve actually read that zero grade wire wool is good for applying the wax…

theoretica

Ask the seller what they used/recommend if you like how it looks now.

Apodemus

wallofbeans said:

I’ve actually read that zero grade wire wool is good for applying the wax…

Yes it is.  But any lint-free cloth will do for rubbing it down, if you don't have the wire-wool to hand.  With most polishing, little and often is probably better than sporadic renovation, so a handy cloth from the kitchen drawer is more likely to be used routinely than some wire wool at the back of the garage.

wallofbeans

theoretica said:

Ask the seller what they used/recommend if you like how it looks now.

I bought it a while ago so they might not reply, I’ll ask and see. 

wallofbeans

Apodemus said:

wallofbeans said:

I’ve actually read that zero grade wire wool is good for applying the wax…

Yes it is.  But any lint-free cloth will do for rubbing it down, if you don't have the wire-wool to hand.  With most polishing, little and often is probably better than sporadic renovation, so a handy cloth from the kitchen drawer is more likely to be used routinely than some wire wool at the back of the garage.

Thanks, that sounds like a plan. I’m not after a shiny polished finish so quite a light touch I assume. It’s just figuring out which wax to use then… 

TomokoAdhami

Scratches could appear on the wax finishes and oil coverages typically only last for 6 months. I also noticed that oil changes the colour of the wood. However, if you try high-quality pastes of wax then it could be a good idea. 

wallofbeans

The seller got back to me saying they use Briwax. 

https://www.toolstation.com/briwax-original-400g/p95790

I’ve also seen Furniture Clinic Wood Beeswax Polish, but can’t find any details about what’s in it…

https://amzn.eu/d/a4Wgdi6

Has anyone used these? 

Apodemus

TomokoAdhami said:

Scratches could appear on the wax finishes and oil coverages typically only last for 6 months. 

Which is why a handy cloth and a frequent quick polish is the best way to look after furntiure.

TomokoAdhami said:

I also noticed that oil changes the colour of the wood. 

It can do, but it is often simply a matter of replacing the natural oils that have dried out of the wood, allowing the natural deep colour to re-appear.  Most folks don't want their table looking like a piece of dry driftwood.