Tinted waxy finish on wood, how to cover?

[SofaToad]

The previous owners of this house have had paint stripped off wood (can see traces) and a tinted wax stain of some kind applied badly, it is the kind of stuff that was used in the 80's, a sort of all in one finish.

I have been scraping it off because being waxy I can't sand it. However there is a lot of it and it will take me years, and there is still a waxy residue. I don't want to use chemicals. I have a supply of steel wool, I have white spirit, I have sugar soap but what I really want is for someone to recommend a primer that I can put on top of it.
My other thought was chalk paint but I don't think it will get the finish I want.
I have always done my own decorating but not since paints changed and not with this kind of finish. It absolutely has to be covered, it is hideous. I have been looking at Zinsser but not sure what to get, if applicable.

Just to make things worse, there is more - pine type spindles with that shiny finish. Does the shine sand off?

You are already using chemicals and everything has a chemical composition. I think the Zinsser which isn't for bare wood is the one to go for.

Zinsser is absolutely your only friend here.

www.zinsseruk.com/how-to-guide/how-to-paint-woodstained-or-varnished

Zinsser make the most clingy to anything primer. Only place I wouldn't expect it to work, is where you've got a not-sticky base layer, and then you're going to have a lot of hand contact over the paint. So, paint the spindles of the banisters, but for the hand rail, only thing to do is go back to completely bare wood.

Thank you both, yes I realised after I posted about the chemicals, what I meant was unpleasant, nose damaging and pet killing chemicals.

DancingLedge I looked at the Zinsser primer but wasn't sure if I should try the 123 or the B-I-N for the surface that has the waxy stain on it or whether something nasty like Liberon Wax & Polish remover is the only thing that would work. It is a closed side thing to the stairs and not even nice wood. I don't want to paint it and then find I have more of a mess than before.

I'll dig out my zinsser booklet in the morning. I think Bin, but I'll check.