Waxes

[The Wall Pimper]

Firstly, thanks for all your advice on the best products for getting a really black finish (Windsor & Newton primer and Plaka gesso), which I used this weekend and made a frame that looks fantastic.

Unfortunately I then waxed it with Liberon clear wax and I'm not terribly happy with the finish.

A couple of questions if I may:

1) Should I be sanding between each coat of primer and gesso?

2) Are there any better ways of finishing the frame

Any help, as always, very gratefully received

Thanks in advance

John

[prospero]

Have you tried applying the wax with fine steel wool? You might get a better result, although I haven't done it with the brands you state. I've used Daler-Rowney Balck Gesso and that polishes up well, but I find it's best if you leave it a couple of days for it to fully harden. But the best black finish I've found is straight acrylic Mars Black artists colour. No primer, just fill the grain a bit if you don't want a 'woody' surface. A couple of coats is all you need and it can be waxed in a matter of hours. Sometimes a basecoat of another colour is effective to give a slight cast to the black. Red Oxide gives a nice cherry black look. Nice if you rub it back so the red shows on the high points.

p.s. You might do better with a darker wax. Or even black wax.

[iantheframer]

If we are waxing a black finish we mix a little black pigment into the wax first

[WelshFramer]

Black shoe polish works well. (The stuff in tins - not the liquid stuff)

[The Wall Pimper]

Thanks guys (as always)

J