To wax or not to wax? I didn't even know it was a question!

They said: "Apply a thin coat of wax over the chalk paint and wipe off excess. Repeat. Apply dark wax." And I did. Over and over, I did. Without questioning, I rubbed on that wax and buffed it to a glorious sheen and spent an hour or more catching my breath and rubbing my arms. whew.

Then came this nightstand and not a stitch of wax was applied. Why not?

Because of my red low-boy dresser with it's dull wax and repeated repaintings, that's why.

The nightmare is chronicled here. I finally took all the wax off with mineral spirits and used poly. After repainting again, of course.

Perfect.

I had been using wipe-on poly and other top coats every so often but I was always afraid the chalk paint might turn dull or rub off. Or that the Chalk-Paint-Police would come git me!

Another no-wax project.

And another.

And another. On and on.

Then I purchased Altard's latest e-book on technique and imagine my surprise to find that this power-house of furniture painting has completely stopped using wax due to the same reasons I was using it less.

Well then. To wax or not to wax? If you have humidity or hot weather I'd be thinking twice. The waxed furniture I took to an outdoor show last summer, including my chippy table below, came home dull. I had to redo those pieces and I wasn't happy. No, not at all.

But that's just me.

Linking to
tip junkie
home stories a to z