[jillsy]

When finishing, is there a way to achieve the deep, rich color of gloss, without having to keep the intense shine?

Thanks,
Jillsy

[AlArchie]

There are numerous waxes available that can be applied on raw wood, sealed wood or finished wood. Minwax makes a good paste wax in several shades from clear to dark brown. It can be applied directly to wood and buffed up with a brush or soft cloth, and re-coated once it's set up. I use the darker stuff and it adds a nice luster to the wood. It can also be applied over satin or semigloss varnish/poly/lacquer to help protect and to give that same deep luster. Depending on how much you buff it out, it can be anywhere from satin finish to a hard gloss.

I would imagine there are several other brands that woill work as well or better, but this stuff is easy to find in the hardware/paint stores.

PS. I buff it out with a shoe polish brush or soft cloth.

Al

[woody01]

Al,
Take a paper towel and buff the carving. Rub your hands onthe carving andthen buff again... Try it on an old carving to see if that is what you are after.

Woody01

[AlArchie]

Thanks, Woody, I'll give that a try next time I carve something in natural finish, although most of my carving has been fairly detailed fish with some pretty fragile fin areas.

Al

[jillsy]

Can a natural wax be applied over paint?

[Kenny_S]

Jilsy, I have found that the paste wax I use to use, even buffed and buffed draws dust like a magnet kind of like some says BLO does. I sealed the carving then used the paste wax on it as a finishing coat. I use Orange Glo cleaner but then it takes the wax off of the carvings. However, I now can add different finishes to those carving I previously used the paste wax on. Just a little tip.

[AlArchie]

I haven't had a problem with dust on finished carvings that I've used the Minwax paste wax on. It gets dusty just like everything else, but the dust can be removed with just a cloth or one of those new "dusters".
It does not leave a sticky finish.....hard finish like carnauba wax.

Some brands of "furniture wax" are actually furniture polish and they contain an oily base that will make the dust stick. There are also non-oily furniture polishes that shed dust like the minwax.
Al

[jillsy]

Would it be possible to spray with a gloss to bring out the deep colors, but then dull the shine with a matte over it? Or would that just dull the colors as well?

Oh man! Gotta go - diaper calls!

[AlArchie]

Jillsy, it sounds like you want to "pop" those acrylic colors up without getting the high gloss look.
Just go with a satin poly or lacquer (Deft) and you should get just the look you want.

That said, I used several cans of Krylon satin that was NOT a satin finish. I don't know if some fool switched caps or if I got a mislabled batch. I usually like the Krylon because it can be recoated any time, whereas most of the other polys have to be recoated within 2 hours, or wait three days. Recoating after that two hour period will cause the surface to blister or pucker withthe other brands.

Al

[HadACall55]

Jill
I use Johnson & Johnson floor paste wax . That can be buffed to a shin or clean the excess off an not bring the shin up . It works great over paint to , I do a lot of eagles like that.

Bob