Why & How to Remove Furniture Wax Before Painting

We get this question a lot...and with good reason. Many furniture pieces have already been refinished using wax. So why and how do we deal with this?
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How Do You Know if it Has Wax?

The quick and easy was to make certain if there is a wax finish on furniture is to do the fingernail scratch test. This means taking your fingernail and dragging it along the surface. If there's wax, it should come off..well...like wax!

Why? Tell Me Why...

Furniture wax never completely cures 100%. It hardens (and don't worry...it does its job of protecting and sealing!) but all waxes stay slightly softer than, for example, poly-based sealers.

So what ends up happening when you refinish a previously-waxed piece using an oil-based product like Hemp Oil or Stain & Finishing Oil is that the oils within these products will soften the wax finish and leave you with a tacky, sticky mess.

​Conversely, with water-based products like paint, the wax forms a protective bond and stops paint from adhering with the substrate and instead acts as a resist. Giving you something like this hot mess...

So...Now What?

.Firstly, you cannot simply sand wax off. It will gum up, ball, get sticky and generally misbehave. You need to remove it with white spirits, mineral spirits or my personal preference is methylated spirits (which is not as toxic). Use a micofiber or other lint-free cloth to rub off the wax. Typically you can see the difference, but not always, but you can feel it. 

What's Next?

You are now good to go with your regular prep at this point. I typically give the piece a quick swipe-sanding just to pull off any remaining who-knows-what and clean thoroughly with Fusion's TSP or warm water and vinegar. And then...it's time to paint!

It's All Here...For The Love...
Sada

Do you need?

TSP - Paint Prep

A$22.00

TSP is Fusion's specially-formulated, water-based, biodegradable degreaser used to thoroughly clean bare or painted surfaces prior to painting.

​It effectively removes grease, oil, fingerprints, stains and will improve the adhesion of paint. Safe to use on all surfaces including timber, paint, laminate, plastic, metal and glass.

TSP is unique to Fusion and Australia! it is environmentally friendly with no VOCs or phosphates. 

​No rinsing necessary.

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Fusion Paint Brushes

A$8.00 - A$12.00

Affordable and purpose-designed to minimise brush strokes, these synthetic brushes are lightweight and easy to use, clean up easily and maintain their shape and firmness. 

Available in two sizes:

• 2.5cm (1-inch) — fits into sample pot Fusion Mineral Paint
• 5cm (2-inch) — fits into 500ml Fusion Mineral Paint

Keep your brushes in good condition:
Brush Scrubber
Fusion Brush Cleaner

You may also need:
​Fusion Mineral Paint

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Fusion Hemp Oil Finish

A$42.00

This oil is great for those that suffer from chemical sensitivities and can not use solvent based products. The odour of this oil is much like crushed walnuts.This oil is a great environmentally friendly locally produced with no additives or preservatives. 

This oil will darken and richen the wood with a soft luster. It penetrates to protect from the inside out and does not leave a surface film that will chip, scratch or yellow. Used inside this food-safe oil finish is perfect to use in the kitchen on wooden cutting boards, wooden utensils or stone. 
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It is highly recommended to try a small amount on an area to find out how your project will look with this application.

500ml - same product as MMSMP Hemp Oil, different packaging

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Fusion Beeswax-Hemp Oil Finish

A$26.00

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A food-safe, all natural product, providing a soft smooth satin finish. It contains only pure natural beeswax and hemp oil and will maintain a gorgeous satin lustre.

Tip: Use over the darker Fusion Mineral Paint colours to prevent marks or finger prints.

 • Food Safe • No Chemicals • NO VOC’s • Biodegradeable

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