Honestly, I cried the first time I used Aging Wax. I painted a small shelf and it was beautiful before I applied CeCe Caldwell’s Light Aging Wax. After, it looked splotchy and stained with oil vs. naturally aged. “Why”, I cried. Well, the answer is simple; I applied the aging wax incorrectly. I used too much wax.
I am a bit competitive in nature and was viewing all these beautiful pieces other CeCe Caldwell Retailers where creating with this wax, so I was determined to fix my mistake. I posted on a DIY page to seek answers. A very “MEAN” distributor actually told me to get “trained”. This was after I drove several hours (5, but who’s counting) for my first training session and then invested in a hotel and plane ticket to fly to Myrtle Beach for additional training (several hundred dollars spent). YIKES. I felt like a failure.
Few life lessons were learned from my story above, and that’s why I am over sharing!
- I vow never to make anyone feel like they failed or need more training!
- Don’t let mean people deter you from success
- Use less wax 😉
I now apply wax differently. Here are the steps I follow:
MIX: Some brands are not premixed. In these cases, mix, mix, mix. There is so much mixing before you use, that your arm can be too tired to apply the wax. I prepare the wax beforehand and let it sit. Hint: Buy sample sizes of wax when it requires lots of mixing. Retailers do all the hard work and then package it all mixed and ready to use.
PREP: Apply clear wax to your completely dry painted piece. Clear wax is your friend and will work with you to fix any mistakes you make with the aging wax. Let clear wax sit for 15 minutes before applying aging wax.
DARK WAX APPLICATION: Apply a very small amount of aging wax over the clear wax. I use a 2” or smaller chip brush to apply the aging wax. I lightly dip my brush into the wax, barley covering the very tip of the bristles, and then I use long brush stroke across the furniture to apply the aging wax. Use a clean, lint free rag and wipe off the aging wax you just applied. I use the rag to move the aging wax around for a natural look. The longer you wait to wipe off the aging wax, the darker and more intense the look will be. I think wiping it off almost immediately works best. If want more aging, I just apply more wax and wipe it off again. If you put on too much aging wax, use the clear wax as an eraser.
BUFF: Using a clean, lint-free rag lightly rub your piece and buff out the sticky tackiness off the waxes. Your piece is completely buffed when the surface is super smooth and has zero tackiness. If your piece is tacky, keep buffing. You can buff, walk away and go back and buff some more. You can buff after an hour of wax application or two weeks after wax application. Same results. We sell a buffing tool that speeds up the process and saves the muscles. The buffing tool is a drill attachment and is a life changer when buffing large pieces. We are always looking for ways to ease the process without skipping necessary steps.
Happy WAXING. Share your photos with us!
Thank you for sharing helpful tips from your experience. I will be using the aging wax tomorrow.
I have a question for you regarding the drill buffer attachment. Can you use the same buffing attachment for clear wax and aging wax? I may be a bit confused. I understand to apply the clear wax before the aging wax to prevent the aging wax from overpowering the painted surface. I also understand that I need to add another coat of clear wax after the aging wax dries to seal the piece. Do I buff the aging wax or only buff after the last application of clear wax? Thank you for sharing
Good morning and thank you for the great questions.
Aging wax: When using most brands of aging wax, it is true that applying the dark or aging wax over a layer of clear wax will give you the best results without overpowering the piece with dark/aging wax; however, once the dark wax is applied, you’re done. Let the dark wax cure and then buff. It is not necessary to put a second layer of clear wax on top of the dark. American Paint Company came out with an aging wax that can be applied directly to your piece without clear wax. I have been using it and LOVE it! American Paint Company’s antique dark wax a subtle aging wax that doesn’t overwhelm and therefore can be applied directly over the painted piece. Saves time and money in product as you only need one wax vs two. It’s a matter of preference and that’s why I carry multiple brands of paint and finishes.
Buffing Tool: The buffing tool that attaches to a drill is such a great tool, time and muscle saver! The buffer can be used with clear and dark wax with a cleaning between uses. I take an old towel and with the buffer attached to the drill I buff the towel until the bristles of the buffer are clean. A good dish detergent with a degreaser will also clean your bristles if you feel some dark wax is left on our buffing tool.
I hope these tips are helpful. Always here to help.
Jen
Wow, I wished I could of read this blog before I painted and waxed my nightstand! I applied the dark aging wax without the clear wax. So now I have a mess. Do you know if there is anything I can do to remove the dark aging wax, or do I need to simply sand it all down and start over?
Sue
Hi Sue!
Sorry this happened. I’ve been there. All the best painters have.
I would use denatured alcohol to remove the wax. You can purchase denatured alcohol at your local hardware store. Apply a small amount of denatured alcohol to a lint free cloth and wipe off the wax. There is a chance you will also pull off the paint and that’s ok. It’s not the end of the world. It’s just paint. You’ll know the wax is removed by touch. The stickiness of the wax will gone.
You’ll find other uses for the denatured alcohol. It cleans mirrors. I use it to clean grime on furniture before I paint it. It’s also not expensive.
Clear wax is the answer for a good dark wax application. We love the American Paint Company offers dark wax in smaller containers because a little goes a LONG way.
Let us know if we can help in any other way.
Best,
Jen of Ivy
I purchased a lovely old dresser from a craftswoman here in Denver. She said she applied aging wax to it, which is great. Can I paint over again wax? She colored the top of the dresser in white, but I want an antique/ivory color where she has white. Possible? Thanks – K
Wax is always the last layer. To paint over the wax, you need to remove it. I use denatured alcohol and an old rag to remove the wax, repaint and then seal. I love using American Paint Company’s Top Coat. Adding a bit of water to it gives you a matte finish, like wax. The beauty of Top Coat is it’s durability and you can paint over Top Coat down the line. Caution, you may remove some of the finish removing the wax with denatured alcohol. I buy my denatured alcohol from our local hardware store and it’s not expensive.
Let us know how you make out!
Jen