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How to Finish Wood Furniture with MudPaint

How to Finish Wood Furniture

finish wood furniture

Finish Wood Furniture in High Traffic Areas – Clear Coat

High Traffic Areas include chairs, living room end tables, kitchen cabinets, etc.

  1. To finish wood furniture in high traffic areas, a clear coat is recommended.
  2. Allow piece to dry completely before applying clear coat.
  3. Before using, stir thoroughly.  
  4. Be sure surface is free of dust.  
  5. Apply evenly with a brush, working in the direction of the grain of the wood.
  6. After it dries, sand lightly.  
  7. Remove all the sanding dust and then apply a second coat.  
  8. For added durability as you finish wood furniture, a third coat can be applied.

*A clear coat may cause yellowing.  Yellowing can occur from the stain and dyes in the previous finish bleeding through.  Properly preparing the piece, priming, and/or a darker color paint most often will correct bleed through.

paint a desk

Low Traffic Areas – Clear Wax

Low Traffic Areas include mirror and picture frames, light-use shelves, etc.

  1. To finish wood furniture in low traffic areas, a wax can be used.
  2. Allow piece to dry completely before applying wax.
  3. Be sure surface is free of dust.  
  4. Apply a thin even coat of wax with a clean cotton cloth, sponge or brush in the direction of the wood grain where possible.  
  5. Let sit for up to 5 minutes.  
  6. Lightly remove any excess wax with a separate, clean absorbent cloth, following the direction of the grain.  
  7. As you wrap things up and finish wood furniture, allow to dry for 3 minutes and buff with a soft cloth.

finish wood furniture

Low Traffic Areas – Dark Wax

Low Traffic Areas include mirror and picture frames, light-use shelves, etc.

  1. To finish wood furniture in low traffic areas, a wax can be used.
  2. Allow piece to dry completely before applying wax.
  3. Be sure surface is free of dust.  
  4. Apply a thin even coat of wax with a clean cotton cloth, sponge or brush in the direction of the wood grain where possible.
  5. If waxing over a light colored paint, apply a layer of clear wax first and allow to dry.  This will prevent the dark wax from staining the paint.  
  6. As you finish wood furniture and if you are going for a darker piece, apply the dark wax directly.
  7. Let sit for up to 5 minutes.  
  8. Lightly remove any excess wax with a separate, clean absorbent cloth, following the direction of the grain.  
  9. Allow to dry for 3 minutes and buff with a soft cloth.  
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About Kara

MudPaint Clay Furniture Paint is eco-friendly, LEED-compliant and it's unique, clay-based formula with natural earthen materials requires little prep work and no waxing for a smooth coat.

4 thoughts on “How to Finish Wood Furniture with MudPaint

  1. Nichol says:

    How do you determine if you should use tge regular or the dark wax?

    1. MudPaint says:

      Great question! You determine which wax by the look that you are going for. If you want to darken the finish, then use the dark wax directly. If you want a medium dark look, apply the clear followed by the dark.

  2. Angie Chavez says:

    When applying a clear coat, you indicate to lightly sand (twice, inbetween costs) won’t that remove the painted color underneath? I don’t care for the Shabby chic…

    1. MudPaint says:

      Hi Angie,

      It won’t as long as you lightly sand. The reason you lightly sand is to give the next coat something to adhere too.

      Emily

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