best sealant for durable limed wax finish kitchen cabinets

13 years ago

I have embarked on refinishing kitchen cabinets with a limed or cerused finish... I have solid oak cabinets that I stripped, then used shellac and Briwax liming wax to create the look I want. Now, how do I make it durable for a daily used/abused kitchen? I have a micro-crystalline wax polish that I can use, but I am worried that it will not stand the test of time. Wax would give a more satiny, softer, and natural finish but there would be no point to its beauty if it is not durable. Should I use a polyurethane on top? can I? Also, I read that the polyurethane should be water-based, why is that? Are there other options?

Featured Answer

bobismyuncle

13 years ago

>You just learn a valuable lesson about planning the job start to finish before starting.

Yep.

The first rule of finishing is to run a trial, start-to-finish, on a piece of "scrap" before you touch the final project. Avoid the "ready, fire, aim" approach, AKA, "What do I do now?"

Polyurethane has its own set of adhesion issues, exacerbated by a foundation of wax. It will peel off like a bad sunburn. Oil-based poly is going to significantly yellow or amber your look, even if it did stick. Waterborne poly, which is mostly acrylic with poly thrown in for marketing purposes, will give a cooler, sometimes bluish, tint that would not affect the white liming as much. But it won't stick either.

In addition, a wax finish is about as close to no finish at as as you can get. Virtually no resistance to water, soiling, cleanability, etc. -- most of the things you apply finish for in the first place (the remaining one being beautification, the one thing you did achieve.).

You might have achieved the same look by using a white-wash / pickled oak / etc. (names dependent upon mfr.) stain followed by a KCMA certified, low-gloss w/b acrylic. I add this in case anyone in the future reads this.

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Comments (6)

User
13 years ago
Using the wax has precluded using a durable finish, as none will adhere to the waxed surface.

The wax will need to be completely removed in order to finish.

Water based poly is less odorous and has fewer VOC's than oil based poly.
klem1
13 years ago
As reccomend on the wax container,use Briwax Origional Clear for a more durable finish than afforded by liming wax.
You just learn a valuable lesson about planning the job start to finish before starting.
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jellojuggler
Original Author
13 years ago
Thanks for the info! I went ahead and finished the cabinets with shellac and wax, i will have to polish them with wax on a regular basis. Maybe i'll repost a assessment of how they hold up later. If they get messed up right away I'll maybe try the white-wash or pickled oak stain. I'm new to home ownership! I'll do better planning in the future, thanks
Monica Dustin
11 years ago
Hi. I am wondering how your cabinets look today. And how you are feeling about any upkeep at this point. I am very interested in using liming wax on my own oak cabinets but have concerns about the wax finish in a kitchen environment. P.S. I would love to see a pic of your end result. Thanks!
CEFreeman_GW DC/MD Burbs 7b/8a
11 years ago
Keep in mind that wax in the kitchen is smeared and marked by any kind of cleaning spray. You remove wax usually with mineral spirits, but I've also discovered ammonia, such as Windex, does a great job of removing it. Not a good situation.

You might want to consider liming with watered paint vs. (rather gimmicky, IMHO) liming wax. Paint has worked for centuries and provides a lot more top coating possibilities.

Polyacrylic doesn't yellow, which is something I prefer. I'm also into the matte paint base finish, but that's another story.