Lacquered Furniture No matter the type of wood used for your cabinetry, it is ideal to take care around your furniture. No wood types or sealants are invulnerable to dings, scuffs and scratches or damage from moisture. Use placemats and coasters with your tables and credenzas. Avoid placing your highly prized furniture in areas exposed to continuous sunlight, heat or cold. These extremes can create bleaching of the finish and cracking of the wood. Most furniture designed by Dig It Designs and finished with wood stains is sealed with bar top lacquers. This finish helps to protect the surface from moisture and scuffs while continuing to reveal the natural grains and tones of the wood and stains. Lacquer sealant also makes for easy care and maintenance. For simple cleaning, wipe down your furniture with a very lightly damp cloth and then buff it out with a dry cloth to avoid streaks. To refresh your lacquered cabinetry and furniture, use a clean, smooth cotton cloth and apply Howard's Feed-N-Wax in a thin coating and in a circular pattern. Then, with a clean cloth, buff the furniture in the pattern of the grain. No swirling or build up of the product should be present at the end of the process. This process can be repeated once a week or once a year, depending on you personal taste. If a filmy surface is building up, you are either overusing the product or waxing too often. Howard's Feed-N-Wax can be found at most Home Depots and Orchard Hardware Supply stores. Wax and oil finishes are most often used when the natural patina of the wood is the desired final color. Tinted waxes and oils can be used to deepen or darken the natural tones of the wood. They are worked into the grain of the wood, but do remain on the surface and can rub off onto clothing or fabrics. Wax and oil finishes on furniture require more maintenance. These finishes are porous and allow the wood to continue to breath. The waxes and oils continue to sink into the wood grain and evaporate from the surface. Therefore, it is necessary to maintain the finish by occasionally applying new coats of the wax or oil. Waxes and oils should be applied sparingly and in a circular motion. Allow a short time for the waxes to soak into the surface and then buff aggressively in alternating patterns of circles and lines until the wax is seamlessly worked into the finish. Take care with rustic furniture, as you may catch the lifted grain of the wood and cause splintering. IMPORTANT NOTE: The chemical composition of different wax products is usually different from brand to brand. Some waxes will strip other waxes from the surface of the furniture. Always use the same wax product as was originally used for your furniture.
|
|