I don’t like finishing, so I try to keep it as simple and routine as possible. Shellac, wiping varnish, and milk paint are my mainstays and comfort zones. But a recent carved project prompted me to go slightly further afield. The result lets common white ash recall a low-luster brown oak.

Because I love simplicity and ease, the recipe remains wholly approachable: two watered-down coats of acrylic paint and one buffed-out layer of Liberon Black Bison Paste Wax in Victorian mahogany. The wax is pricey and smells like a science lab, but its supremely spreadable consistency has made it my go-to for carvings for years. Just be sure to crack a window when the lid’s off.

 

 

Brush on the first wash coat. Because the mixture’s so watery, paint small areas at a time. Drag the brush however necessary to fill in any nooks, crannies, and pores, but always end with an overlapping stroke in the direction of the grain. Ensure the strokes blend together, and don’t let the mixture pool. You want an even coat.

 

 

 

 

 

Use old toothbrushes for carved surfaces. The bristles work the wax into carvings’ irregular surfaces. I don’t mind if it collects in some places more than others, since it buffs out easily with a clean (or cleanish) brush and rag. If excess wax does stick in corners, I remove it with a toothpick.

Fine Woodworking Recommended Products

Zissner Seal Coat

Great as a sanding sealer, and as a final finish.

Buy at Amazon

Foam Brushes

Foam brushes are great for applying a variety of stains and finishes, and the 2" wide brush is the most versatile. Comes in a pack of 48.

Buy at Amazon

Liberon Steel Wool

Perfect for rubbing out a finish for a low-luster sheen.

Buy at Amazon