HELP! I've waxed a varnished surface (photos)

[mimos4]

We bought a stained and varnished pine table recently, but the colour was a lot lighter than I'd wanted. I googled whether it was ok to wax a varnished surface, and the website I looked at said yes. I applied some medium oak Briwax to the table.

The wax got almost immediately sucked in by the table, and you can really see my circular motion. See photo. It looks dreadful! I should have tested a patch first, I feel so embarrassed.

Please tell me what I should do now?

Thank you!

Erm, I not t saying this is correct but I would put a cloth over it and iron it so the wax melts into the cloth.

If nothing works wax the whole thing so it is even!

Keep waxing it, you can use a big paint brush or carry on with your rag and go up and down, no more circles. It'll even itself out eventually then you can finish it with circular buffing.

Really! Keep going? But just in long strokes rather than circular? This feels bold - are you sure I won't end up wrecking the entire table?

When you say 'buff' it - what exactly do you mean? I'm suddenly questioning everything!

I've covered the ghastly bit I've waxed with a placemat

Apply wax, wipe with soft dry cloth to take off excess (buffing).

Honestly? I’d sand it off op. Don’t go further and compound it.

DH is very knowledgeable about wood.

I've just asked him and he says it's not varnished if it's absorbed the wax. He said if it was him he would apply white spirit with very fine wire wool which will hopefully draw out the wax. He would do this along the grain not in circles.

I hope this helps.

@Desperatelyseekingreason

DH is very knowledgeable about wood.

I've just asked him and he says it's not varnished if it's absorbed the wax. He said if it was him he would apply white spirit with very fine wire wool which will hopefully draw out the wax. He would do this along the grain not in circles.

I hope this helps.

One hundred percent, was doesn’t sink into varnish.

But I’d sand it, simoly because I fucked up this way with an oak console table. I then revarnished.

Keep going but up and down - in line with the grain. Not in circles.

Buffing is rubbing/polishing with a clean dry cloth. You need to apply a small amount of briwax and then rub with a clean cloth as though you’re trying to take it all off again.

@Desperatelyseekingreason there is definitely something on the table, a protective layer. It's not varnish like the glossy varnish you might think of, but it's something. The company who made the table said they had stained and varnished it. What does your DH say to the ironing idea a PP had??

Those who say to continue waxing, do you still think this, even though the wax I've applied has been absorbed, so there's clearly something funky going on with the surface?

I did apply a small amount of Briwax to a clean dry cloth and then apply that to the table. I did circles, which I won't do anymore.

It's this table. Description says 'ultra matt varnish' www.etsy.com/uk/listing/720834044/farmhouse-dining-table-set-with-bench

DH says definitely don't apply heat.

He's puzzled that a varnished table has absorbed the wax cos it should just sit on top and not get down into the grain.

Op is it an old table, as in second hand? You say company but the only thing I can think of is if it’s old then the varnish could have worn off in places. As such, waxing it further will be a disaster as it will be very patchy.

Just buy a cheap sander, sand the top, then revarnish.

www.briwax-trg.com/How%20to%20Use%20Briwax/How%20to%20Apply%20Briwax/how-to-apply-briwax.html

It's brand new 😢

Ah ok, cross posted it’s reclaimed wood, so indeed old, that explains it, and it’s a mix of stain and varnish they have maybe applied.

Don’t wax further, it will be patchy.

@mimos4

It's brand new 😢

It’s not it’s reclaimed wood.that’s the issue.

It's reclaimed wood, but the stain and varnish finish will be new, no? So the varnish shouldn't be patchy?

The advert says they use an acrylic varnish. DH says it may be this that's caused the problem as unlike a more traditional varnish, it doesn't penetrate the grain and seal the wood.

It might be worth phoning the seller to see what they advise.

Briwax contains solvents, so it it possible it has lifted the varnish which isn't ideal and has possibly ruined the finish.

I would try wire wool to get it back to bare wood before attempting any further finishing products, but you might need to sand it back if wire wool doesn't work.

Waxes do usually say not to use on varnished/polished surfaces!

But if I sand that section, won't it look raw compared with the rest of the table? Should I sand the whole thing?

mimos4 Very annoying about the circular area where you initially put the wax on.
Hope you manage to resolve it.

Are you otherwise happy with the workmanship of the table? I am looking to order a custom size farmhouse table and this looks lovely. I don’t mind the lighter shade in your link.

@HotGingerPudding oh yes they're great. The table is fab except the colour was lighter than I'd expected, but that's on me.

Op, no, I mean sand the whole top of the table, so it’s all untreated and the same colour. Then revarnish.