I Need Help Waxing my Wood. Any Pointers?

by Robdar 11 Replies latest jw friends

• 

  Robdar

  The house I live in is old and so the wood is true wood, not some sort of compressed plywood nonsense. I have a loft that is all wood, the walls, floors, etc. Yesterday I cleaned the entire room from top to bottom with Pledge wood cleaner.

  While down on my hands and knees, I noticed that the floor need waxing. It appears that some of the wax has come off. I would like to wax this room since it is now my bedroom and I want the wood to have a warm glow (good for ambiance). My problem is that I have absolutely no idea how to go about this.

  Do I need to strip the wood first? I hope not, I am not a big woman and do not wish to lose in any competition with a big machine.

  Will vinegar remove the remaining wax? It has been my belief that vinegar will clean most anything.

  Do you recommend paste or wax? What brand?

  What about the walls? Should I wax/paste them?

  Any pointers? Any tips?

  Thanks for your advice.

  Robyn
• 

  dubla

  my mind must have been in the gutter when i read this title.....sorry, dont have any advice about waxing woodwork.
• 

  Robdar

  LOL Dubla

  I have a few ideas how to wax the other kind.

  Thanks for your response.

  Love,

  Robyn
• 

  Englishman

  Robdar,

  Waxing wood is one of those things that you can do either a little bit or really go bananas.

  Going bananas involves taking all the wood down to your local renovator, getting him to immerse it in a tank of acid for a few hours so that only the original bare wood is left, and then starting again from scratch. It will take you about 3 years.

  Now, if it was me....!

  I'd wipe it all over with a commercial cleaner that just dissolves the layer of wax down to the surface of the wood. Use something that you can rub on and wipe off with a cloth, don't go for any of this stuff that sets and has to be peeled off. Once that was done, I'd get busy with wire wool and rub it down. Don't use sandpaper it takes forever. Then I'd apply a several coats of Ronseal wax or similar, but make sure that it's an actual solid wax and not a spray on substitute.

  Happy buffing!

  Mike.
• 

  Robdar

  Holy Cow, Englishman

  My back aches just reading your post. Question: after I apply the wax remover, do I have to rub it down with wool? That could take an entire week. Maybe I could apply the remover and then wax?

  This is getting complicated and yet I feel that I should do something to protect the wood.

  Thanks for your response.

  Love,

  Robyn
• 

  Englishman

  Nah, using wire wool - or steel wool - is very fast.

  Mike.
• 

  Robdar

  Englishman,

  You sound wise to the ways of wood waxing. Another question: What does rubbing with steel wool do for the wood? Does this remove any left over remover?

  Sorry to ask so many questions, but I have no idea what I am doing, as you might have already guessed.

  Thanks,

  Robyn
• 

  RedhorseWoman

  I'm no expert on this, but I do remember helping my mother wax her hardwood floors twice each year. She would usually clean the floors with Murphy's Oil Soap to remove dirt and excess wax, then she would use Butcher's Wax (which is a solid wax) and buff it out.

  What we usually do now, is to put several coats of polyurethane on woodwork to protect it and give it a nice shine.
• 

  BadJerry

  hi Robdar, I've always heard you have to remove the old wax before applying a new finish, Alot of work but well worth it in the long run.

  check it out on www.google.com and try typing in refinishing wood floors

  from imanaliento

  good luck !
• 

  Francois

  If it were me, I'd go get one of those industrial size cans of Mop 'n' Glow and have at it. It's never failed me yet.

  Otherwise, you might have to get some guys in there with their sanding machines and take off the old wax, and the finish of the floor. Then you'd have to give it a couple of coats of stain and then several coats of court varnish (like they put on basketball courts) and then wax it. Of course if you do that, you will fall on your ass everytime you set foot on it in your sock feet, but it will be beautiful.

  I'd stick with the Mop 'n' Glow.

  francois