[TOEKNEE]

a little history...I have been carving off and on for 7 years. mainly off!!! at the beginning of 2007, i promised myself i would really get into carving because i enjoy it, and people seem to really like my stuff. (that last line was hard to type while i was patting myself on the back!!!hahaha) i have only been carving santas. here's the deal...i have been painting (watered down acrylics) my carvings, and antiquing them with ron ransoms method of using shoe polish. (kiwi brand polish, which he does not recommend) now, please don't everyone jump on me and tell me shoe polish is bad as a finish, it don't work, blah blah blah. i like the look of it, and i like the nice subtle shine it leaves on my carvings. i have tried good ol' boiled linseed oil. i don't like it. maybe i am doing something wrong with the b.l.o.??? but, i would like to try something that does not take away the color as much like shoe polish does. shoe polish really "browns out" all my whites. i have tried gel stains over the acrylics, and then neutral colored shoe polish. eh, it's ok, but not what i am looking for. i was thinking of trying briwax. this stuff, from what i understand, is a stain and wax mixture. has anyone tried it? i would like some opinions before i buy a big tub of this stuff. please let me know if anyone of you all has tried this. sorry this is so long winded, but i am trying to cover all my bases to give you all an idea of what i have tried. thanks!!!

[DADDIO]

when i first started carving briwax was the only finish i used at all,it's a pretty good one step method and i like the results,i've since started painting and trying other methods,but still like the briwax and do still use it,for the price you can't go wrong.

[Hi_Ho_Sliver]

I finish everything with "Deft" satin

[doris]

yes, i have used the colored briwax too . i like it, however you have to be careful not to rub your carving afterwards too much as it then becomes too shiny (for my taste at least that is).