Jolie Finishing Wax is an easy and effective way to seal and protect your furniture, cabinets and home accessories. It's easy to apply, non-hazardous, and odor-free. Available in a variety of colors, it can be used to bring out the texture in your brushwork, highlight details and moldings, and create gorgeous custom finishes. Jolie Finishing Wax will create a beautiful, yet durable matte finish or can be buffed to a subtle sheen.
We've put together some of our best tips and tricks for using our Finishing Wax to make your project go as smoothly as possible. Read on for step-by-step instructions or check out our instructional video below.
To begin waxing, use your Jolie Wax Brush to apply a small amount of Jolie Finishing Wax in Clear. Working in manageable sections of 2-3 square feet at a time, use a gentle sweeping motion to work the Clear Finishing Wax into the paint. Work in the direction specified in the instructions for your selected finish. You will see the Jolie Paint color become slightly darker after the wax is applied.
Use medium pressure to remove the excess wax with a clean, absorbent, lint-free cloth. As the cloth becomes saturated with wax, you will need to replace or move to a clean area of your cloth so that it will continue to absorb wax. Once the cloth has become saturated, it will not absorb any more wax and will simply move the wax around on your surface. If you wait too long before wiping, the Finishing Wax will begin to dry and might be more difficult to work with. Move on to the next unwaxed section and repeat waxing and wiping process until you have waxed the entire surface.
FOR LARGE AREAS: After waxing and wiping individual sections, apply a very thin coat of Clear Finishing Wax from one side to the other and wipe the surface in the same manner to even out the finish.
Extra Coats
For surfaces that require more durability, apply at least two coats of Clear Finishing Wax. Allow at least eight hours of dry time between coats.
Drying
The wax is dry when it no longer feels cool to the touch, around 1-2 hours. It should feel room temperature.
Buffing
Leave the finish as is for a natural matte sheen, or allow the wax to dry for 1-2 hours before buffing with a soft, lint-free cloth for a more polished look. If you begin buffing too soon, you may remove too much wax from your surface, creating a streaky look. The longer you wait, the more difficult the wax will be to buff. If you’ve waited too long, apply another coat of Clear Finishing Wax and allow to dry 1-2 hours before buffing.
FOR A HIGHER SHEEN, apply more pressure and use a softer cloth when buffing.
FOR LARGER SURFACES, such as table tops, apply Finishing Wax and buff in the same direction of the wood grain.
Curing
During the curing process, the solvents will begin to evaporate and the wax will start to harden. Jolie Finishing Wax will fully cure and harden in about two weeks depending on your climate. Warmer and dryer conditions will shorten the curing time, while colder and more humid conditions will increase the curing time. Be gentle and take care when using your piece (i.e. use place mats and coasters) until the curing process is complete.
Colored Finishing Waxes
We strongly recommend that you apply a layer of Jolie Finishing Wax in Clear onto your surface before using any of the colored Finishing Waxes. This will allow you to slowly build up coverage and remove excess colored wax with Clear Finishing Wax if too much remains after wiping back. If you do not apply Clear Finishing Wax first, the stain in the wax will absorb into your Jolie Paint too quickly. If you have chosen to use a light paint color and wish to apply Jolie Finishing Wax in Brown or Black over the majority of the surface, try adding in some Clear Finishing Wax to give yourself more control over the results.
Always apply and wipe back Jolie Finishing Wax in manageable sections of 2-3 square feet at a time and according to the instructions of your specific finish. If you wait too long before wiping, the Finishing Wax will begin to dry and might be more difficult to work with.
Learn more: How to Use Colored Finishing Wax
Special Situations
In certain situations, such as on raw wood, you may choose to apply colored Finishing Waxes directly to your surface without applying Clear Finishing Wax first. This technique can be used to create the look of stained wood or a limed finish. Colored Finishing Wax cannot be removed with Clear Finishing Wax unless an initial coat in Clear has been applied.
Creating New Wax Colors
Make a brand new colored wax by mixing any of the colored Finishing Waxes together or even adding a bit of Jolie Paint into the mix.
Learn more: How to Tint Finishing Wax with Jolie Paint
Repainting or Refinishing
If you would like to change the look of your piece, first apply Jolie Paint, then apply new topcoats. Other finishing products and sealers, including varnishes, will not adhere to a surface coated with Jolie Finishing Wax. However, you can always use Jolie Paint over Jolie Finishing Wax if you would like a new finish or are ready for a new look.
To remove Finishing Wax, wipe your surface with mineral spirits on a clean, lint-free cloth.