with the young joneses away at camp, mrs. jones has been optimistically checking the mailbox…alas, no notes yet. (and, now that we’re looking at it, a fresh coat of paint on the box while they’re gone might be a good idea.) but a couple of great product & process questions have arrived via the comment-box here, and just in case you may want to know the answers, too, here you go:
first, regarding this railing project, from my friend deborah at the beautiful blog boxwood terrace: did you just rub the wax onto the railing and then seal it? i have a boring wood banister/balustrades–basically round dowels–on my staircase and wonder if I could duplicate the look…?
answer: using gilt wax (in this case, over black paint) is even easier than that. for that particular look, i applied small amounts of each color, putting it on in streaks with my fingers. then, using a tiny bit of penetrol on a soft brush, blended them just a little. when the wax is good and dry, a quick buffing with an old t-shirt hardens the wax and seals the finish.
next, a query on these glazed curtain rods, from lori: i plan on doing a similar finish (prime + paint + glaze) on an old dining room set. because the furniture will be high-use, i’d like to use a hard oil-based paint; will it need to be flat/low sheen in order to properly accept the glaze? i’d like the high-sheen look of your white corner chairs with glaze in the nooks and crannies…but don’t want the inevitable yellowing that would come with a polyurethane topcoat.
any suggestions or guidance is much appreciated!
this answer requires a bit more detail…: high-use furniture can indeed benefit from oil-based paint, but the newer acrylic enamels are truly durable, easier to work with, and (obviously) more environmentally friendly. and when you’re going to apply a wax or topcoat, having that oil-based finish does not matter nearly as much. just remember that preparation and the right primer are key for durability.
paint-wise, for a project like this, i especially like benjamin moore’s aura line, but can also highly recommend behr’s “premium plus” interior enamel. whatever paint you use, an eggshell, satin, or semi-gloss surface is best for glazing. flat or matte finishes tend to “grab” too much glaze and give you a shorter working time. and, of course, oil-based glaze will adhere to either oil-based or acrylic paints, while acrylic or water-based glazes only work over waterbourne or acrylic base coats.
now, as far as a topcoat, you are absolutely right about the yellowing – a problem with oil-based varnishes that simply can’t be avoided. on lighter colors when a very high shine is required, i use fine paints of europe’s hollandlac, or two coats of bowling alley wax over the painted finish, buffed to the highest sheen possible. for deeper colors, where the amber color in the varnish won’t be a factor, a coat or two of benjamin moore’s polyurethane in high gloss does the trick. (i have not found an acrylic high-gloss product that is anywhere near good enough…if anyone out there knows of one, please leave a comment! the acrylic topcoats dry very quickly, leaving ropy brush marks, while the oil-based formulas have time to level out, giving that mirror-like gloss and – just as crucial – depth.)
remember when applying a high-gloss finish, every little flaw will show, so again, your preparation is key. using a fine-grit sandpaper (280 or 400) followed by a throrough vacuuming (with your brush attachment) and then a careful going-over with a tack-cloth before you topcoat, and in between every coat, is super important here for a good result. you’ll also want to make your workspace as dust-free as possible, and turn off your fan and hvac system while you’re working, and until the piece is dry, to prevent any dust floating around that might mar your finish.
feeling confident that you all will be better correspondents than my children: please send photos of your projects when they are done, i can’t wait to see how beautifully your things turn out. good luck!
the salvage collection says
okay, i’ve scoured your site, drooled over your work, pinned your wax-planation (fully credited to you and linked to your site!) and now i’m thrilled to read about bowling alley wax. yeeee-haw! sounds like just what i need for my more mod pieces.
btw, i’m a former chicagoan, as well, and almost ended up in memphis 5 years ago (dallas won!). lucky for you ‘cuz i’d be your annoying shadow if i wasn’t beyond commuting distance.
…is there a way to subscribe to your journal??
stephanie says
amy, thank you so much! i truly appreciate your kindness, your time in looking at my work, your chicago-ness, and your correct and lovely approach to crediting and linking! i don’t currently have a feed to the journal, but i do post all new entries to the me & mrs. jones facebook page.
your work and blog are amazing! i love what you are doing. please come to memphis and see me. i would love to meet you. xx