What Is Steel Wool Wax?

Apply a protective coating of wax with steel wool.

Steel wool wax is a paste wax used as a protective coating on furniture; it is applied with steel wool. The steel wool should be oil-free, wood finisher's #0000 pads.

Initial Application

Three thin coats of wax are applied to finished pieces of furniture with steel wool with the grain of the wood. It is necessary to allow each coat to dry before applying the next coat of wax. A terry cloth is used to buff the furniture to a shine after 20 minutes.

Frequency of Use

After the initial application wax should be used once every six months. Dusting between furniture wax applications is done with a damp cloth.

Finished Wood

According to Ron Ashby, a professional woodworker and refinisher, "You can apply wax over any finish-penetrating oils, varnish, lacquer, or polyurethane." Use paste wax formulated from carnauba, beeswax, synthetic and vegetable.

Repair Surfaces

Repairing wood furniture that has ink or paint stains or needs spot refinishing requires buffing the area with #0000 steel wool. This is followed by an application of paste wax, after which it is buffed to a shine.

Common Mistakes

When wax is applied too thick it will dry unevenly. Buffing the wax before it is dry will smear the wax and produce a spotty shine.

References

• "Wax the Perfect Protection for Furniture"

Resources

• SteelWool.biz "For rejuvenating an old finish and polishing metal, steel wool has the edge"