Waxes are an important part of painting unique art furniture

And you can use waxes with all Frenchic series paints.

Waxes are used to create a patina and emphasize the beautiful decorative cuts on the wood surface.

You can also treat clean wooden surfaces and antique furniture with wax.

Read this guide for the best tips for versatile use of Frenchic waxes.

We'll also reveal to you one pro tip, the secret to always succeeding with waxes, learn the ' Two Wax Technique ' and learn how to use the popular Frenchic wax hack, how to lighten dark log beams and much more useful stuff!

With the help of waxes, you finish and protect the beautiful paint surface, but you also create wonderful effects

The idea and beauty of chalk painting is to make different layers and use different techniques - it's easy to fall in love with the use of waxes! With waxes, you emphasize furrows, scratches, cracked paint. You create beautiful highlights and depth elsewhere.

You can use the natural waxes of the Frenchic series also on a new, clean wooden surface and for treating the surfaces of wooden and antique furniture.

In this picture, two different types of Frenchic wax are used: brown and clear. Paint shades: Apple of My Eye, Al Fresco and Wedding Cake, Lazy Range.

 

Surface protection

With wax, you protect the traditional chalk paint surface so that it can withstand wear and tear better. Traditional, conventional chalk paint is very porous, it easily absorbs stains and the color comes off its surface with a damp wipe, if the surface is not protected somehow. With clear wax, you keep the color tone unchanged and the end result is a beautiful matte surface.

Use a wax brush for waxing

The wax is rubbed onto the surface of the chalk paint in a rotating motion with a wax brush intended for that purpose. The rotating movement gives the surface a beautiful natural impression.

In sheets, on large surfaces, the selected application method is emphasized. If you are looking for a wax surface and final result that is as smooth as possible, add wax according to the grain of the wood.

You can take a lot of wax on the brush, but the excess wax that has not been absorbed by the chalk paint is always wiped off with a cloth. The goal is thin, beautiful layers. The wax gives a beautiful matte finish to the painted surface. If you wish, you can polish the wax with a cloth approx. 24 hours after drying.

If you choose Frenchic series wax paint, from the Lazy Range series, you do not need wax to protect the paint surface, but you can still use waxes to give a patina and protect worn areas.

You can add wax on top of the paint just for its unique matte shine.

Add patina and wear yourself

The basics of Chalk Paint are layers and combining different techniques. The layering makes the work interesting and personal - more multidimensional than furniture painted over with just one tone, such as traditional furniture painting.

When you look for inspiration online, you're sure to see a lot of beautiful, painted furniture with wonderful faded tones and depth in the doors, drawers and side panels of the furniture - this kind of result is achieved using several layers of paint and different waxes.

Colored waxes are an easy way to add three-dimensionality, emphasize edges and corners, and add age, patina and expressiveness to even newer furniture. With waxes, you emphasize the texture of surfaces.

When you make a worn surface and sand off the paint here and there from your furniture, finally wax the furniture all over. This is how you protect exposed areas.

Brown waxes usually add a dark patina and a sense of depth to chalk paint: use on the edges of drawers and doors to emphasize the three-dimensionality of the area. Brown wax darkens and slightly changes the tone of the color. The end result is a rustic and patinated surface. Try mixing golden or green Frenshee metal pigment powder into the wax - the end result is a wonderful shimmering wax.

Clear wax is the basis of everything. Use in the two-wax technique and to create new wax shades. Add a splash of paint to clear wax and you have endless wax shades at your disposal.

Gray waxes work wonderfully over white and light chalk paints. With waxes, it is easy to emphasize the decorative cuts, grooves and grooves of the furniture. Even gray wax changes the color a little, but less than brown. The end result is elegant and lightly patinated.

The white wax folds the 'tip' of the color of the chalk paint shade and creates a gauzy, hazy lightness on the surface - sometimes the surface becomes a bit like a fabric texture. With white wax, you add beautiful 'spots of light' to the furniture. Try white Frenchic wax in Boho style to whiten yellowed rattan furniture or basket surfaces.

Sticky surface?

Frenchic waxes do not remain a sticky surface - the waxes of the series are easy to apply thinly, because their composition is soft and easy to work with. A sticky surface is a wax layer that is too thick.

The secret to using colored wax

Colored waxes are not meant to 'paint' opaquely or thickly, but light layers are used to create a thin tone to emphasize edges and grooves. The best result comes with several thin layers - let the surfaces build slowly and examine the surface during the project from different angles and a little further.

The secret to thin layers is to add a generous amount of wax first and then wipe off the excess. Try it and you will notice the advantages of this technique.

If you wear the chalk paint surface by sanding the chalk paint surface, wax the surface again after sanding, either only on the worn areas or the entire painted surface. Even colored waxes are added with a wax brush and the excess wax is always wiped off.

If you are waxing a porous surface; wood or traditional chalk paint - the secret of an even end result when you use colored wax is in the two-wax technique .

Two wax technique

Example: Waxing the front panel of the drawer when depth and three-dimensionality are desired

The surface is painted with traditional chalk paint, with an off-white Sugar Puff shade, and the purpose is to make an old, worn and patinated-looking box front plate, which will be given a depth effect with brown wax.

1. A thin layer of clear wax is placed on top of the dried chalk paint surface - the excess is wiped off
2. Add brown wax generously to the entire area of ​​the box with a wax brush
3. Wipe and fade the excess brown wax - start wiping from the center using a cloth with clear wax added. Leave more brown color on the outer edges and remove the brown wax in a circular motion, mostly from the middle of the box using a wax cloth - the middle part will therefore be lighter than the edges.
4. Gently wipe the excess wax off the surface of the box. Because the clear wax is on the bottom, you can work with the brown wax as long as you want, and the brown wax will not absorb unevenly. Add with a brush and remove with a wax cloth - repeat until you're satisfied.

The clear wax in the cloth works like an eraser - when you want to remove or fade colored wax. This technique only works if you have put a layer of clear wax on the base. - Try it and you will fall in love with waxes and their versatility!

Tip! Make your own red or black wax by mixing a drop of paint with the clear wax. Or make wonderful glitter waxes by mixing Frenshee metal pigment powder into the waxes - gold powder and brown wax are a great pair!

You use traditional chalk paint, but don't use clear wax under the colored wax?

Then the wax will probably be absorbed into the porous paint or wood surface quite unevenly, and it will no longer be possible to fix it. The final result may look patchy, streaky or otherwise uneven, depending on the technique used to apply the wax. Clear wax is the basis of everything in the waxing of traditional chalk paints.

It is always a good idea to have a jar of clear wax in the paint store with a diligent chalk painter. Try it - you will really notice the difference in the ease of working with the wax. Frenchic series waxes are flexible and non-toxic natural waxes and are pleasant to work with. Only by trying it will you notice how Frenchic waxes differ from other waxes!

Wax brush or cloth? Both

A wax brush is an absolutely superior tool for waxing - compared to clumsy and slow working with a cloth.

Consider investing in wax brushes, it's good to have a separate brush for each shade of wax so that the shades don't get mixed up from dirty brushes. Waxing the entire piece of furniture cannot be done with a soft paint brush - instead, stiff bristles are needed for waxing, thanks to which the wax can be rubbed into the surface, decorations and grooves easily and lightly.

For precise waxing of small details and grooves, you can use a narrow and softer brush. Waxing is a quick and comfortable work step in the finishing process, especially when your tools are the right kind and the furniture wax you choose is soft to work with. Try different tools and you will find the best way to work for yourself and you will notice the difference between the tools.

Waxing with just a cloth is really laborious and slow. You only need a lint-free cloth to remove excess wax.

Thin layers - 'wax on - wax off'

The wax is added generously to the surface, it is rubbed into the chalk paint or wood surface and the excess is wiped off - always. In this way, the wax surface becomes a smooth and beautiful surface, which also dries evenly. You only need a lint-free cloth to remove excess wax.

The rotating motion when adding the wax helps to get a natural result and the wax gets into all the nooks and crannies more easily. Horizontal strokes when adding wax can leave a 'striped' finish, especially if you use dark wax without adding a layer of clear wax to the base - the two-wax technique.

You can add a few thin layers, but always let the previous layer dry for 30 min - 1h before the next layer. Additional layers, especially with colored waxes, emphasize the wax's own tone.

A single layer that is too thick easily becomes sticky and never seems to dry - thick layers of wax are unpleasant on the surfaces of utility furniture.

The wax can be removed with alcohol, e.g. alcohol, and mechanical scraping. If you haven't waxed before, do a small test first.

You can find technique videos and more useful project photos about the waxes from the Frenchic series' own FB group.

Antique or bare wood surface

When waxing an exposed wood surface, the wood surface is 'saturated' with wax, as many layers are added until the wood no longer absorbs wax. Waxing is repeated over time regularly, if necessary and according to consumption - the need for waxing in older people decreases with time and years.

Different types of wood absorb wax in different ways. Natural waxes, such as Frenchic waxes, take care of the wood surface and bring out the wood grain beautifully. Antique furniture can also be waxed if it has been waxed before.

Furniture painters and other craftsmen love the beautiful, silky surface of wax on paint or wood surfaces.

Even a new wooden surface can be made to look old with the help of waxes

Try how the new wood surface looks just like the old kelo wood when you wax it with gray wax. An ordinary raw board is easily transformed into an 'old barn wall board' with gray wax. Brown wax, on the other hand, gives a plank-like look.

A yellowed birch or pine surface, furniture or paneled walls, ceilings or doors are easily refreshed with white wax, leaving the wood grain beautifully visible. You can also wax log surfaces, various panels, doors, mouldings, new or old furniture.

Photo: waxing a yellowed panel with white Frenchic wax.

The very popular Frenchic hack - lighten the surface without sanding!

Photo: lightening dark bar: 'Creme de la Creme' and brown Frenchic wax.

What is wax suitable for and what is not?

The wax does not fit outside, and it does not withstand constant wiping with detergents. Wax is therefore not recommended for kitchen surfaces, (kitchen table) or damp spaces, such as a sauna.

When the wax is added mechanically to the surface, it is one layer in addition to the layers of paint. Wax is always the last surface. Take into account that the self-added wax layer wears off when you choose lime paint and painting technique. Also think about the type of wear and tear the surface or furniture will have and whether you are ready to maintain it regularly.

For example, the kitchen table top; if you wax the top of a kitchen table painted with traditional chalk paint, the clear wax will wear off unnoticed in places with high wear and tear: for example, near the children's place - this part of the table is often wiped. Is someone leaning on the table with their elbows in their seat? At that point, the wax wears away unnoticed and when some fat/liquid gets on the worn spots on the surface of the table, the dirt is absorbed into the lime paint and does not leave anymore.

The kitchen table is one of the pieces of furniture that is subject to heavy use and in different ways in every family. It is also often wiped and the wax dissolves in detergents and alcohol. Adding wax to the chalk paint surface of the kitchen table or bar tops is not the best option if you are not ready to regularly add wax to the surface and clean the surfaces only with mild cleaning agents.

A clean wood surface impregnated with wax is an alternative to a kitchen table top, because the wax then absorbs into the wood and protects the surface deeply. Clean the surface only with mild detergents and wax the surface again if necessary. Always protect the wax surface from hot dishes with tablets and coffee cup coasters.

Instead of wax, you can treat surfaces and table tops with a matte surface ' Tuff Top Coa t', which is very resistant to wear and wiping, and does not wear out like wax.

Surface treatment according to consumption

For furniture and surfaces that are subject to heavy wear, you should choose a high-quality lime paint, where the wax is already in the paint. The waxy chalk paint, Lazy Range , does not let dirt through after drying and its surface can be wiped with a damp cloth or mild detergents. The wax in the paint hardens into a very wear-resistant surface.

Wax removal

The removal of the wax layer can be done with a spray (alcohol-based cleaning agent) or by heating and mechanically scraping the surface clean. It is not recommended to paint over the wax surface, because water-based paints repel a greasy surface - the new paint surface may crack or crack.

On the other hand, painting over wax is one painting technique that gives an old-looking surface.

A paint that already contains wax is different from a separate layer of wax. You can paint over the Lazy Range shades of the waxy chalk paint.

Choose natural wax

It's good to know a few basic things about wax before you choose the right one for your project. There are several types of waxes on the market, some contain solvents and other synthetic or toxic ingredients, others smell strongly. Other waxes are thick and stiff - they are difficult to work with and apply thinly, so the end result may not be to your liking.

The side of the wax can quickly tell if it is a safe product, there are warning signs on the side of the can if the product is toxic.

If you have not used waxes before, choose a soft-spreading natural wax for your project. For example, the Frenchic series waxes are natural waxes; they contain beeswax and caurnaba wax (Brazilian palm tree). It's easy to fall in love with the use of high-quality waxes, and once you've tried it, you'll understand the importance of layering in chalk paint-style furniture painting.

The beeswax-based Frenchic waxes and the series' high-quality wax brushes are also suitable for restoration projects and professional use.

Waxy chalk paint and wax

Yes, furniture waxes can and should be used with waxy lime paint as well.

With them, you can create interesting layering, three-dimensionality and the same patina and accentuation of wood decorations as with traditional chalk paint - colored waxes finish your furniture - the protective properties are already ready in the durable waxy chalk paint!

You can get to know the waxy paints of the Frenchic series, the Lazy Range series here , and the waxes of the Frenchic series here.

Take good care of your high-quality wax brush - wash the wax brush with warm water and a mild detergent. High-quality Frenchic brushes will last for years even in hard professional use if properly cared for.

Frenchic waxes are not self-igniting and are solvent-free

Frenchic series waxes have been granted a 'Toy Safe' certificate, so you can also use them on children's furniture without worry. Take part in the Frenchic courses of your local Frenchic dealer or stop by the nearest store to ask for more instructions for your own project.

Have a nice painting day!