Using chalk paint and antiquing wax involves a few simple steps to transform furniture and decor with a beautiful, distressed look.
Here's a breakdown of the process:
The Basic Process
The general steps involve painting, sealing with clear wax, and then applying antiquing wax to create depth and age.
Step 1: Applying Chalk Paint
Chalk paint is known for its matte finish and versatility, often requiring minimal surface prep.
- Preparation: Ensure your piece is clean and dry. Lightly sanding or priming is often optional, depending on the surface and desired finish.
- First Coat: Using a large Chalk Paint® Brush, apply the paint liberally. For a textured look, apply the paint every which way. Allow this coat to dry completely.
- Second Coat: Once the first coat is dry, paint a second, thinner coat. This ensures that every part of the piece is painted and provides solid coverage.
Step 2: Applying Clear Wax (Sealing)
After the paint has dried, you need to seal it. Clear wax protects the paint and creates a barrier that makes the antiquing wax easier to work with.
- Application: Allow the paint to dry thoroughly before applying a coat of Clear Chalk Paint® Wax. You can use a lint-free cloth or a Chalk Paint® Wax Brush for this step. Work the wax into the paint, covering the entire surface.
- Wipe Back: Wipe away any excess wax with a clean, lint-free cloth. The surface should feel smooth and sealed, not sticky.
- Curing: Allow the clear wax to cure slightly (check product instructions, but often an hour or more) before moving to the antiquing wax. This helps prevent the antiquing wax from staining the clear wax too much.
Step 3: Applying Antiquing Wax
Antiquing wax adds depth, highlights texture, and creates an aged appearance by settling into crevices and brushstrokes.
- Application: Use a separate wax brush or lint-free cloth to apply a small amount of antiquing wax. Work it into areas where natural aging would occur – around details, in corners, along edges, and into the texture created by your paint application.
- Working Quickly: Antiquing wax can dry relatively fast, so work in small sections.
- Wipe Back/Distress: Use a clean, lint-free cloth to wipe back the excess antiquing wax from the flatter surfaces, leaving it primarily in the recesses and textured areas. You can control the intensity by how much you wipe away. For a more distressed look, you can lightly sand areas after the clear wax has cured but before or after applying antiquing wax (depending on desired effect - sanding after antiquing wax can reveal the paint or even bare wood underneath).
Summary Table
| Step | Product | Tool | Technique | Purpose |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Paint | Chalk Paint | Large Chalk Paint® Brush | Apply every which way (coat 1), thinner (coat 2) | Color and texture |
| 2. Seal | Clear Chalk Paint® Wax | Lint-free cloth or Brush | Apply, wipe back excess | Protect paint, base for antiquing wax |
| 3. Antique | Antiquing Wax | Brush or cloth | Apply to recesses/details, wipe back from flats | Create aged look, add depth and dimension |
Tips for Success
- Practice on a scrap piece of wood first.
- Always apply clear wax before antiquing wax to control the antiquing effect.
- Use a separate brush dedicated to dark wax to avoid contaminating your clear wax brush.
- Allow waxes adequate time to cure fully for durability (can take several weeks).
By following these steps, you can effectively use chalk paint and antiquing wax to achieve beautiful, custom finishes on your projects.
