A Guide to Wood Finishing, Waxes, Wood Stains and French Polish

Mylands have been supplying furniture manufacturers, restorers and polishers with wood finishing materials for over 100 years.

Due to growing interest in wood care, we have adapted these products to be used by people with little experience in woodfinishing.

Cleaning and reviving your furniture can be mastered in a few minutes. Removing old and tired finishes and re-applying a new finish to wood is a little more complicated, but can easily be achieved with a little patience.

Stripped Furniture / New Pine

Pine timber that has been stripped including old pine furniture, doors or panelling. Rub down with abrasive paper and apply Mylands Wax with a brush or clean cloth. New pine use Antique Pine Water Stain before waxing.

Polished Timber / Furniture - Antiques etc.

Polished or lacquered furniture should first be cleaned using Mylands Furniture Cleaner and then polished with Mylands Clear Wax Polish.

Furniture Cleaner removes the dulling film of old wax, spray polishes and house dust and grime. Scratch marks can be reduced with the wax filler sticks and a subsequent application of Mylands Wax Polish will restore the original patina. Try waxing mahogany antique or reproduction furniture with Mylands Antique Mahogany Wax and dark oak furniture with Mylands Dark Oak Wax. The majority of antique or reproduction pine furniture with Mylands Stripped Pine Wax or for a golden pine colour with Mylands Antique Brown Wax.

Badly Scratched or Marked Furniture

Where a finish has been destroyed or damaged you may need to strip the old finish and apply a new one. One of the easiest ways to achieve an attractive new finish on a traditional piece of furniture is to use Mylands Lacacote Wood Sanding Sealer in conjunction with Mylands Wax Polish.

For those with a little more enthusiasm and patience Mylands Brushing French Polish.

Kitchen or Bathroom Work Surfaces

Wax polish, whilst it provides a protective coating to all wood surfaces, it is not heat, alcohol or water resistant. For surfaces that may come into contact with excessive heat or moisture, a more durable finish is required such as MYLANDS WOOD FINISHING OIL.

Mylands Wood Finishing Oil

A tough, hard wearing, water, heat and alcohol resistant finish, which is easy to use. Excellent for kitchen worktops, in bathroom areas and outside furniture.

Directions for Use

1)	Wood should be clean and dry and lightly sanded.
2)	Wipe a coat on to the surface with a piece of mutton cloth or clean rag and leave for 5 minutes, then wipe the excess away. Between each coat allow a minimum of 4-8 hours.
3)	Apply at least 3-4 coats for kitchen work tops.
4)	To maintain the quality of the finish (after 1-2 years if the surface is over-used and worn), simply lightly abrade the surface and apply more coats. Gentle rubbing with fine wire wool when dry will produce a matt type finish.

Brushing French Polish is a new concept in the art of obtaining a French Polish finish on your antiques, new furniture or, in fact, any wooden surface. It is ideal, when used in conjunction with Mylands Wax, to raise the look of your wood finishing from the amateur level to the professional.

Properties

A pale, transparent lacquer, producing a clear film similar in gloss and appearance to traditionally applied French Polish, but much simpler to apply.

Drying Time

Drying per coat, under normal conditions: 15-20 minutes. It is possible to apply three coats within the hour at normal room temperature.

Resistance

Resistant to most of the normal defects found in traditionally applied French Polish, i.e. blooming and ringing.

Application

Apply to new wood or previously coated wood where the original varnish has been completely removed. Can be used over Mylands Wood Dyes, or new Acrylic Water Stains.

Cleaning

Brushes should be cleaned in Brushing French Polish Thinners.

Uses

It is an ideal coating for dining room tables, coffee tables, clock cases, chairs etc. and also on vertical wood surfaces. We recommend it for all interior wood work except kitchen and bathroom surfaces. It can be used on top of wood fillers and wood stopping, and is especially suitable when refurbishing oak beams, provided previous coatings are first removed. It is suitable for wood floors in low-traffic areas, but should always be protected with regular coats of floor wax. It is not suitable for exterior application.

(To obtain the french polished look and attractive patina, finish with a coat of Mylands Wax after 24 hours, applied with fine 0000 wire wool, and polish immediately with a clean duster.)

Directions for Use

1)	Sand down new wood to a smooth finish.
2)	Dust off and apply first coat.
3)	Rub down with fine abrasive paper or 0000 wire wool, apply second coat.
4)	Up to 4 coats can be applied in this way, lightly rubbing down between each coat.
5)	Allow to fully dry over night and finish off using Mylands Wax applied with very fine 0000 wire wool.
6)	Buff off wax using a soft cloth. If a reduced gloss finish is required only 1 or 2 coats should be applied and then waxed, this will give a satin finish to the wood. NOTE: Mylands Brushing French Polish cannot be re-applied without first removing all traces of wax. Stir / shake well before use.

Brushing French Polish Prices

A quick drying easy to apply clear satin finish, for new or stripped interior timber or furniture. It is excellent as a finish over Mylands Wood Dye, or Acrylic Water Stains can be used as a sealer under French Polish.

Directions for Use

1)	Wood should be completely stripped of all existing finishes. New wood should be lightly sanded down.
2)	If necessary the wood can be stained, preferably using Mylands Wood Dye or Acrylic Water Stain.
3)	Apply the first coat with a clean brush and leave to dry.
4)	The second coat can be applied within 25-30 minutes (at room temperature). Before the second coat is applied, lightly sand the surface using 320 finishing paper or 0000 grade wire wool. 25-30 minutes later the surface can be lightly abraded again and the third coat applied.

Finishing with Wax Polish

For the best results, the last coat of Sanding Sealer should be left for at least twenty four hours before wax polish is applied (see application for wax polish).

As a Sealer Under French Polish

Two coats of Sanding Sealer applied in the normal way, helps to fill the grain of the timber before French Polishing.

Coverage

10sq m per Lt.

Cleaning

Brushes can be cleaned in methylated spirits.

Thinning

None required.

Wood Sanding Sealer Prices

See Mylands New Colour Waxes

Mylands Wax contains pure beeswax and finest carnuba wax and is silicone free. It will feed and revitalise all wooden surfaces including antiques, modern furniture, doors, staircases and wood panelling.

It also gives a wonderful patina to new and stripped pine. Mylands Wax was originally formulated over 100 years ago for furniture and antique restorers and has been used by them ever since.

Directions for Use