Care Instructions for Shaker Workshops Finishes
Shaker Workshops Oil and Wax Finish
Finishing a piece in oil and wax follows a centuries-old practice known to the Shaker furnituremakers themselves. For our current finish, we have adopted the use of a propriety blend made by Odies Oil. Odies Oil is an all-natural oil and wax combination that is non-toxic both in use and finish. It hardens and achieves an even greater luster over time, and is highly resistant to stains and moisture. Dings and scratches from wear are easily sanded out and all it takes is a dab of Odie's to blend everything back in seamlessly.
Spills and Condensation
In your home, spills should be wiped up promptly in order to avoid staining the wood. This is particularly important if alcohol is spilled, because alcohol can be a solvent for the wax. We recommend the use of coasters if glasses placed on the table top are likely to become wet with condensation (as they might in the summertime).
Routine Care
It is fine to clean furniture finished in and oil and wax with warm, but not hot, water and a gentle, but not abrasive, soap (we use Ivory Soap). Rinse and thoroughly wipe dry. Periodically, apply lemon oil or a good quality furniture polish to preserve the beauty of finish. For the highest wear and use surfaces, once, or perhaps twice a year, a light reapplication of Odies Oil will keep top surfaces in peak condition.
Restoring the Original Oil and Wax Finish
One of the best features of an oil and wax finish--in particular Odies Oil--is that is very forgiving! That is, in fact, why we use it as our finish and topcoat of choice. If, after a few years of use, your finish has been damaged or looks dull, you can easily restore the original finish through reapplication of a fresh coat and a little bit of elbow grease. If a heavy chip or ding has removed the stain and exposed bare wood (if the piece was originally stained), that sections should be lighty sanded back and retouched with a compatible stain before reapplying the oil and wax topcoat.
Finishing a piece in oil and wax follows a centuries-old practice known to the Shaker furnituremakers themselves. For our current finish, we have adopted the use of a propriety blend made by Odies Oil. Odies Oil is an all-natural oil and wax combination that is non-toxic both in use and finish. It hardens and achieves an even greater luster over time, and is highly resistant to stains and moisture. Dings and scratches from wear are easily sanded out and all it takes is a dab of Odie's to blend everything back in seamlessly.
Spills and Condensation
In your home, spills should be wiped up promptly in order to avoid staining the wood. This is particularly important if alcohol is spilled, because alcohol can be a solvent for the wax. We recommend the use of coasters if glasses placed on the table top are likely to become wet with condensation (as they might in the summertime).
Routine Care
It is fine to clean furniture finished in and oil and wax with warm, but not hot, water and a gentle, but not abrasive, soap (we use Ivory Soap). Rinse and thoroughly wipe dry. Periodically, apply lemon oil or a good quality furniture polish to preserve the beauty of finish. For the highest wear and use surfaces, once, or perhaps twice a year, a light reapplication of Odies Oil will keep top surfaces in peak condition.
Restoring the Original Oil and Wax Finish
One of the best features of an oil and wax finish--in particular Odies Oil--is that is very forgiving! That is, in fact, why we use it as our finish and topcoat of choice. If, after a few years of use, your finish has been damaged or looks dull, you can easily restore the original finish through reapplication of a fresh coat and a little bit of elbow grease. If a heavy chip or ding has removed the stain and exposed bare wood (if the piece was originally stained), that sections should be lighty sanded back and retouched with a compatible stain before reapplying the oil and wax topcoat.