Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Unfinished oak beams

Advertisement

Expert: - 9/26/2009


Question
Hello,
Our 25 year old braced-frame house has exposed oak beams that have become somewhat dull over the years. I am thinking of trying to revive them with a coat or two of carnauba paste wax but thought I should first check to see if it is advisable to do so. Do you think it will help/hurt them? Is there something else I should do instead?
Thanks.

Answer
Hi Janette, you could use a paste wax, but you could also use an oil finish product that would penetrate, dry and seal the wood. Watco Danish oil,  WaterLox, all are drying oil finishes that will seal the wood and revive the look....and are much easier to apply then a wax. It is possible that they might darken the wood a bit more than a wax, so you'd have to do a test....and if you've previously waxed these beams, then I would only use the wax....but typically wax sits on top of the wood and doesn't offer much protection whereas an oil finish penetrates into the wood and hardens from within....post back if need be- regards- Greg

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/2000767/1999/Watco-Danish-Oil--Natural--Quart.a...

http://www.waterlox.com/desktopmodules/fathomecom/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?ct=...

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.