Annie Sloan Wax - protection, skating, application techniques

Transforming old furniture with Annie Sloan Chalk Paint is no longer news to many of us. We've seen how simple furniture, or on the contrary, complicated and cumbersome, can be transformed into pieces of furniture that blend in perfectly with the new decor. The final act of the transformation is protecting with wax. Annie Sloan Wax is more than just a wood wax. It can be applied to any surface protected with wax paints. There are also colored waxes with which you can achieve interesting effects on furniture, but also directly on wood. Let's look at each one in turn, their role, application techniques and what interesting effects can be achieved using them.

Transparent wax for protection

After using Annie Sloan paints for a conversion it is mandatory that the surface is sealed with transparent wax. Chalky paints cannot be left uncoated because they tend to absorb water and do not have very good resistance to damage. Wax protects the surface and makes it resistant to the daily wear and tear a piece of furniture is subjected to. It also "brightens" colors.

Wax that is applied after the paint has dried and after the sanding required for certain effects has been done (distressedApplication can be done with a soft cotton cloth or with a brush. Annie, after many years of practice, invented a very effective brush for applying waxes. The Annie Sloan system, so effective and simple to use, is the result of direct practice.

Annie Sloan is not a manufacturer who invents paints in a laboratory but an artist, a designer, who has developed products specifically to solve problems encountered in practice. That's how wax brush. With it, wax can be applied in any nook and cranny and the quantity can be dosed. It is a very good investment for the final quality of the furniture, especially as it is also very durable.

Wax on thinly, wipe off excess with a cloth, then polish. You don't have to insist because you don't need a shiny spray. What you want is a silky sheen that feels pleasant to the touch.

It is good to apply 2-3 coats of wax, especially on surfaces such as table tops. The protection will be much more effective. The next coat is applied after the first one has dried, i.e. after at least 24 hours, and the technique is the same.

For deep drying the wax needs 2-3 weeks. Furniture can be used during this period, but with much more care. It is advisable not to place cups of hot liquids directly on the waxed worktops during the drying time. After 3 weeks the wax layer is fully hardened and the furniture can be used normally.

What you need to know when using Annie Sloan clear wax

• Wax applies much better at 20-22°C. It spreads better and you can apply a thinner coat without having to remove excess;
• spread the wax very well so that it can be absorbed thoroughly. It's just like applying cream to your hands. A larger quantity goes into the skin more slowly;
• work on pieces not the whole piece. You'll have both rework and much better results. Apply wax to a small portion, wipe, then move on. Finally, polish;
• if you need superior resistance - very humid environment, worktops that need to withstand high physical or chemical aggression - use varnish, not wax;
• do not apply varnish over wax as it does not adhere. Use either varnish or wax;
• Finally, wash the brush with detergent and water.

Annie Sloan White Wax

Very interesting effects can be achieved with colored waxes. A special wax worth treating separately is white wax. It can be used over darker colors as well as directly on wood.

White wax can be applied to any color, not just dark ones. On whites the effect is almost invisible, so there's no point. On gray, beige or cream, on the other hand, it gives the effect of an aged surface, of aged layers of paint, or of several layers of paint applied over time, one on top of the other.

On darker colors, the white wax brightens up with a "washed white" effect. It looks as if an old object has been whitewashed to freshen it up. It is even more interesting if the piece of furniture to be transformed has carvings or grooves. The wax remains in the profiles giving the impression of depth.

White wax can also be used directly on wood. This is where the white wash effect is even more visible. The more structured the wood, the more its grain is highlighted. The wax is applied to the wood and then wiped off, so that it remains in the grain, in the recesses and imperfections of the wood.

Dark or black wax

Dark wax is used for skating. There are 2 variations, black and dark walnut. The colored wax is applied over the clear wax to make it easier to remove and to keep the surface as evenly colored as possible.

Not hard to apply, but you need some experience to get the desired effect. In short, here's how it works. You first apply the colorless wax over which you immediately apply the colored wax. The colorless wax must not be dry. If you start wiping immediately, very little dark wax will remain on the surface, so the result will be a surface that is only slightly "smudged". The longer it is left the more visible the effect will be.

It is all the more important to work on portions. For a slightly visible effect the wax should be removed in 20-25 sec. If you work on a large area, the time will not be respected and the effect will be much more visible than we wanted. Working on small areas there will be time for wiping and at the end, if more uniformity is desired, you can work on the whole surface.

If you didn't get the wax off fast enough and the color is too dark, don't panic. Apply a thin coat of colorless wax on top and then wipe off. The colorless wax will train the colored wax and you'll get the desired intensity.

The right brush also contributes to a good result

When you decide to start working with colored wax, it's a good idea to think about the brush. It's much easier to work with and you'll get the desired result faster. And if you're working with profiled furniture, it will be much easier to control the amount you apply. The Annie Sloan brush has a special design that allows it to get into tight, hidden places and deposit a smiling amount of wax to straight surfaces.

Working with wax doesn't have to scare you, even if it's colored. You should start by working on small, simple areas. This will give you a 'feel' for the work. In fact, this is how to work with Annie Sloan products. You start by getting to know them, then you feel them and finally you discover how many wonderful things you can do with them. If you're thinking of starting an Annie Sloan experience you have here the list of distributors in Romania. I hope you find it useful. Distributor in Târgu Mureș , Kamandalu Art&Crafthas a surprise for you. If you use the code 0304 (zero-three-zero-zero-four) you'll get a discount until the end of April on both in-store and online products. Good luck and keep up the good work!