I have an Oak or Elm table top and have removed a beeswax type finish and want a clear natural matt finish. It's a kitchen dining table in a house with kids so needs to be durable.
It depends what type of finish you are looking for. Varnishes are ultimately the most durable finish but if it becomes worn, scratched, chipped or damaged over time, there is little choice but to sand back to bare wood and re-varnish. Varnishes are available in Matt. For a table top, our recommendations would be...
- Manns Extra Tough Interior Varnish : A water-based single component varnish
- Fiddes Clear Glaze : A solvent-based, high-build polyurethane varnish
- Polyvine Decorators Varnish : A clear, water-based acrylic varnish
Using a clear varnish will likely enhance the natural grain, colour and character of the timber. A good way to test this is to wipe over the wood with a clean cloth dampened with water. How the wood looks when damp can be an indication of how it may look once varnished. Dampening the table top is also a good way of testing to see if all the Beeswax has been removed. If the water beads on the surface, its a good indication that some of the beeswax is still present. This will need to be completely removed before varnishing using Woodleys Wax and Polish Remover.
An alternative to varnish is hard wax oils. Although a little less durable than a varnish, Hard Wax Oils are still extremely tough and durable, are very easy to apply, maintain and importantly patch repair if areas become worn or scratched. Another key benefit of hard wax oils is that some come in a 'natural' formulation which are designed to better retain the untreated look of bare wood. These are...Sample sachets are available for both of the above products.
Have a look at the products above and if you have any further questions about these products or your project, feel free to contact us so that you can speak with one of our resident experts.