It wasn’t until the Georgian times that beeswax for wood became the main form of wood finishing wax. This was because Cabinet makers such as Thomas Chippendale, Sheraton and Hepplewhite, all produced catalogues with new and interesting furniture designs. They were polished using different methods such as French polish and then finished using waxes as a protective layer. This could then maintain the furniture by adding extra layers when necessary as Beeswax never goes bad, it can be heated and reused. Wax was an inexpensive way to maintain furniture. This kind of furniture polish was used throughout the 18 th and 19 th Century and is still used today as it is a non toxic, natural product that acts as a wood polish like no other material. Historically antique furniture will have been kept in homes where the windows and doors are regularly opened allowing the furniture to maintain its natural moisture level with free flowing air. What we consider to be a normal wax finish will be a slightly pigmented light brown coloured wax which will produce a warm mellow finish. Often we can show you a piece which has already been waxed which your chosen piece of furniture will look like once all done. Although pieces of old pine furniture will vary in colour and patina once waxed. Because modern furniture (100 years or less) was better all round sealed it is much less likely to suffer from heat and moisture shrinkage. Our restoration customers would often ask us “ How do we look after the furniture once you have restored it?”

On bare or stripped woods, Sand the surface to a smooth finish in the direction of the grain. Stain the wood if necessary. On open grained woods, you can stain and seal using a Shellac Sealer, but this is optional. Apply the Supreme wax using very fine 0000 wire wool or buffing cloth in the direction of the grain and allow soaking into the wood. Remove any excess and then once dry, buff to the desired sheen level. Several coats may be added to build further sheen and protection. This can be used on all bare interior woods or furniture. This Antique Pine Wax Polish is ideal for cleaning, maintaining and to restore old pine furniture. It will enhance the appearance of the grain, shine and can be applied to an existing finish or on bare wood. Pine wax is used for nourishing, feeding and protecting and also helps to prevent the wood from drying out as it nourishes absorbent soft woods like Pine. It is not only used on furniture but also areas with large surfaces like interior doors, panelling and ceiling beams. The mixture fulfils neither the PBT nor the vPvB criteria for mixtures in accordance with annexe XIII of the REACH regulations EC We have used most of the leading brands of polish in our workshop over the past 30 years but the question is what’s in them and where do the ingredients come from?Apply the polish to manageable areas at any one time, A side of chest, a single leaf or plank of a dining table, one chair or a few drawers at a time. It’s very rewarding to do it this way. Do I Need To Clean My Furniture Before Applying Beeswax Polish?

A good wax polish should have just the right content to provide a thin protective and sacrificial layer to the furniture, adding to the long term preservation and patination of it. Not to be confused with oil based finishes that are convertible coatings (they dry to a hard finish) such as Tung, Linseed and Danish Oil. Antique Furniture Wax is one of the earliest forms of Wood polish on record, used for 100s of years on wood surfaces. Wood Wax was first developed from Beeswax. Beeswax has been around for 1000s of years and is the earliest form of furniture polish, recorded in history. Bees Wax Furniture Polish Petroleum jelly is also another cheap ingredient often used to create a paste wax polish. It won't dry on the surface very well, but with the ‘ wax on wax off’ method it won’t really matter as you wipe it straight off! It is not recorded in history, when a polishing wax for wood surfaces was first used, but it has been used as a furniture wax since pre- biblical times. In the 14 th century, beeswax wood polish was recorded, being used for parquetry floors in France. In the 17 th century it was recorded as being used on musical instruments such as Violins.

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For previously finished woods (especially on antique furniture) I would recommend using a polish reviver first and then finish with Fiddes Mellow Wax Furniture Polish. Sand the wooden substrate in stages, working with a medium sandpaper (120 grit), through to a medium / fine grade (180 –220 grit). Always sand in the direction of the grain pattern where possible, ensuring the removal of any blemishes and glue residue prior to the application of Fiddes Supreme Wax. Take care to remove all traces of sanding dust and test the chosen Fiddes Supreme Wax shade on a similar substrate to verify the colour. A coat of Fiddes Shellac Sealer is recommended on open grained woods prior to application.

Many manufacturers will be using fake beeswax in their polishes. It’s a synthetic and very cheap substitute created by the chemical industry to mimic the properties of beeswax. Contains Nutrient Oils” - Wood doesn't need ‘nutrient oils’ if it has been finished. And 99.9% of all furniture sold will have been finished by the maker or manufacturer: Fact: If hand built furniture is left unfinished, even for a few days, it will start to move and if left for longer it may shrink, warp and twist. Sealing the wood almost immediately after it has been built is essential for it to be stable and hold its shape and form. So spaying a very diluted ‘nutrient oil’ will be of no benefit whatsoever and just smear over the surface. The spray oil will darken the exposed wood on an old flaky finish, at the same time as attracting dust and dirt.

Antique Pine Wax

If you feel you need to clean it first you can wipe over the surface with a warm soapy cloth (washing up liquid) and dry it immediately with a dry piece of towelling. How Do I Clean Off The Old Wax Polish On My Furniture? We would struggle to recommend a product because we knew that the ingredients were completely unknown and of such poor quality, also of unknown origin. As a nation we are all much more aware of where products and the ingredients come from, more so than ever before. Take a clean cotton cloth, sponge or brush and apply in the direction of the wood grain where possible. To obtain a uniform colour, always wipe evenly, blending the Supreme Wax over the whole surface area by exerting a small degree of pressure when applying by hand. Take care to lightly remove any excess Supreme Wax immediately with a separate, clean absorbent cloth, again following the direction of the grain pattern. Leave to dry for around 3 minutes, and buff to finish with a soft cloth. The application of additional coats will deepen the existing colour / shade and significantly enhance the resulting sheen level.