The Framers Forum

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

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.

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

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

Thanks guys (as always)

J