Techniques

How to: Apply Wax for a Smooth Finish

So now I’m going to wax this piece – I’m going to do a clear wax on it. Here’s the Clear Wax, it looks white but it’s in fact completely clear. It’s very easy, it’s a very soft wax.

Now you could use a cloth, a clean lint-free cloth – that’d be fine. Or you could use my brushes, I designed them specially, one is quite small and allows you to get into intricate areas, and this one’s just a bit bigger – it just depends on what sort of size you want.

I’m going to use this one today because it’s really quite big, and the idea is that you will be going long brush strokes along here. I also need a cloth with me to take the excess off. So, I’ll get the wax onto the brush.

It makes the colour go a little darker which is what I said it would do – it will dry a little lighter. You’ve got to keep going over it because it’s quite easy to miss bits. So I’ll take the cloth now, because what I’m going to do is take off all these little bits of white.

You don’t have to press hard, all I’m doing is just taking off the excess. So now I’m finishing off waxing the Olive, and I couldn’t wait to do that to show how these two colours go so well together. I’m really thrilled.

At the moment the wax is wet, so anything you do is going to show up. Just rub it quite lightly, and then you won’t get too many marks. But at this stage a lot of people get quite concerned about seeing wax marks. Just take the excess off, make certain it looks alright, keep it all in one direction.

Let the wax dry off and then tomorrow you can polish it if you want, or, if you don’t want shine don’t polish it. The next thing I’ll do is put my handles back on. Then I’ll put my vases back on.

Learn how to achieve a smooth, flat finish using Clear Chalk Paint® Wax and a Chalk Paint® Wax Brush.

After you’ve painted your piece of furniture, it’s time to seal in your paintwork with Chalk Paint® Wax. If you want to create a flat, modern finish, you need to start with applying the paint smoothly first. You can minimise any brushstrokes even further by using a fine Sanding Pad to remove any remaining texture before waxing too.

Once your paint is fully dry, you’re ready to start waxing. Arm yourself with a Chalk Paint® Wax Brush and a clean lint-free cloth, and get started! The secret to a smooth application is to work in sections and wipe off any excess while you go.

Step by step guide to waxing for a smooth finish

  1. Charge a Large Chalk Paint® Wax Brush with Clear Chalk Paint® Wax.
  2. Use your brush to apply the wax in sections, going over the surface repeatedly to make sure you don’t missed anything.
  3. Use a clean, lint-free cloth to take off any excess while the wax is still wet. You don’t want to press too hard, just rub very lightly with the cloth, working in one direction to minimise any marks.
  4. *Optional: leave your piece overnight and use a lint-free cloth the next day to buff your finish to a high shine.
  5. Leave the wax to harden. It will be touch dry within 24 hours, but will take 5-21 days to become completely hard or ‘cured’. You can use your piece before then – just be gentle!

So there you have it! Chalk Paint® isn’t just for a distressed, textured finish. You can use it to achieve a completely flat, modern look too. For an even lighter touch, you can even dilute the paint with water to create a wash. Whichever technique you use, it’s important to seal your paintwork by applying Chalk Paint® Wax afterwards. Like a suit of armour, this will protect your paint from future marks or damage. It can also be wiped clean, too!

To help you choose the right finish for your project, get to know the basics of each iconic Annie Sloan technique with our Chalk Paint® Fact Sheet.

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