I’ve mentioned my new little love of Briwax (check out my whole kitchen post here), but I thought it would help if I showed you some detail on how it worked. I should also mention that this is NOT a sponsored post; I’ve just loved the product and its results.
The kitchen cabinets were in pretty good shape. They were generally free of dings, but some did have a few scratches. The bigger issue was that they were dull and dirty, and the finish had been worn down or even off in some places (like where they were grabbed to be pulled open). I also wasn’t in love with the orangey tone of them. So, enter Briwax.
I ordered it in Tudor Brown (find all of the colors here), and I did the entire kitchen and the stair railings and I still have a decent amount left over. Part of the beauty of the Briwax is that there is no sanding and no top coat. The Briwax darkened them a bit, pulled out the grain, and left them smooth… begging to be touched! Even after cleaning, some were still a little grimy (like the ones over the stove), but the Briwax even took care of that.
Before on left, after on right
My advice for you is to work on the inside of the doors first until you get used to how it works. Though honestly, the learning curve is quick and easy. Ready to try it for yourself?
Supplies
2 Soft cloths (one for application, one for buffing/ wiping off excess)
wax
butter knife (optional)
Steps
- Rub the wax on, generally going with the grain. I found it easy to use a little extra and then just wipe off rather than trying to spread too little around. The picture below shows the very beginning of my process on this door. I started in the corners and edges first, then wiped the flat recessed panel of the door next. Along the edges where the grain is perpendicular to the edge, I just sort of globbed it on, then was sure to buff in the direction of the grain.
- To keep the finish clean and not look distressed, I was sure to get the grooves cleaned out, running my fingernail or a butter knife covered with the cloth in the crack to get out any excess wax.
- Start rubbing in the wax in the direction of the grain. The finish will go from almost tacky to super smooth. That’s when you’ll know it is buffed well enough.
- After I completed a door, I would step back and make sure i didn’t miss a spot. If something didn’t look even, I would just rub a little more wax on and buff it out. Overall, though, the wax buffed very evenly.
If you’ve got a lot to do, plan to spread the task out! The buffing did wear me out a bit, so I would just do several doors at a time, then take a break.
I also used the wax on the stair handrail. It made a wonderful difference!
UPDATE: I’ve been asked about using liming wax to try to go lighter. I gave it a try! See my results here.
Good luck!
This post contains affiliate links, which cost you nothing but may pay me a small commission should you decide to make a purchase. Thank you for your support and for stopping by!
Just found this…….thank you! Wondering if it would work on the parts of the cabinet I call “fake” aka particle board. We have a mix of solid wood and the mdf style “fill ins”……..
Hi Staci,
I don’t know without seeing it. If it is 100% smooth, the wax won’t have any place to go, so when you buff, it will come back off. Otherwise the wax will fill in anything where the finish has worn down. If I were you, I would try it some place, like the back of a door, and see what you think. Good luck!
Did you try this? Wonder how it worked on the ‘fake’ area. Thx
Looks fantastic! I am using this kitchen as inspiration. My old oak cabinets have no more top coat in certain areas. Would you recommend light sanding/steel wool first to get a more even look using briwax?
Thank you
Hi Jennifer – thank you! Glad to provide some inspiration! Check out this website for lots of inspiration and tips, including much more detailed instructions than I can provide.
http://www.briwax-trg.com/
http://www.briwax-trg.com/How%20to%20Use%20Briwax/Briwax%20Hints/briwax-hints.html
After checking out this site, my advice would be to go ahead and try a door, see if it appears even, and if not, you can remove the wax with mineral spirits. At that point, perhaps a very light sanding would help even out your results. Good luck!
Wow this is so awesome! I never thought to use wax in my oak cabinets. I don’t love the color but they are still in great shape. I love how you made them look modern. There isn’t much out there about working with wood cabinets so thanks for the inspiration!
Thanks Christine! I’m thrilled when I can provide some inspiration. Good luck!
I was debating painting my 90’s oak cabinets but this may be a better option. Wondering if it will work on surfaces that still have polyurethane or a protective clear coating?
Hi Rachel,
It really depends on how new and good the protective coating is. The wax can still find the grooves in the woodgrain, even with a coating on it. Your best bet may be to get some wax and try it out on a space that is not obvious, like the back of a cabinet door. Good luck!
I am loving this idea to update my yellow oak cabinets. I’m just worried this won’t hold up in a kitchen with heavy wear. How have your cabinets held up since you used this wax? Is this suitable for a high traffic area like a kitchen with kids? Thanks for all the help!
Hi Meghan,
The wax should hold up just fine, even in a high traffic area with kids. It’s not like paint where it would start chipping or rubbing off. The wax goes into the grain of the wood and deepens the tone. I really can’t see it wearing off very easily. (I can’t comment firsthand as I sold the house). Even if it did wear down in the areas that are touched or handled a lot, it wouldn’t take long to rub and buff some wax in. Good luck!
I love this idea! Can you speak to how/what product you used to clean the oil and grime off of the cabinets before applying the Briwax?
Hi Kathleen,
I just used a general cleaner like Mr. Clean to wash down the cabinets first. The great thing is, the Briwax itself actually helps to clean the cabinets too. The oily nature of it took care of most of the greasy spots and stuck-on stuff without a problem. I have also used Krud Kutter just in a couple of places that were bad. But I would start with the general cleaner and Briwax and see how it does. You may be surprised!
I am so glad that I found your post. Your ideas and instructions in using Briwax have been quite a help in preparing my house for sale. The Briwax has taken my drab 90s era cabinets in an entire new design direction. Thanks again for the idea for a budget-friendly update.
Awesome to hear, Heather! So glad you found it helpful!
Hello! This is a great idea. Which Briwax did you choose for your cabinets? Thanks for the inspiration!
Thank you Lorie! I used Tudor Brown on the cabinets. Good luck!
Think you just saved us! Thanks for sharing!! Did you remove cabinet doors? Or work with them still in place?
Yay!! I removed them. Definitely worth it to be able to work on them on a horizontal surface for buffing in the wax. Good luck!!
Appreciate you!
My oak cabinets are very orange, with lots of spots where finish is rubbed off. What color of wax would you choose to tone down the orange without making them darker?
Hi Linda, I’m honestly really not sure which color of wax to use if you don’t wish to make them darker. I’m sorry! I would say though that it may be worth just trying a shade or two, maybe starting with the clear wax and see how it looks. This will give you a good idea of how the wax works where the finish is off. I will say this though… the cabinets do not really read that much darker after the wax – even with the Tudor Brown. It pulls out the grain, but it doesn’t darken the cabinets terribly. To me, it simply makes them look less dated. My best advice is… don’t be afraid to try, even on the backs of doors. The wax is inexpensive, and can be layered.
Good luck!
Linda, did you ever try this? I have very orangey cabinets, too, and would love an easy-ish fix. I did use Briwax once to make an outdated shiny brass ceiling fan look like antique brass and it turned out fantastic!
I want to know more about this! What color did you use?
Hi Stephanie,
I used Tudor Brown briwax 🙂
Thank you so much for this wonderful inexpensive way to update my kitchen! My husband and I tested it on the bathroom vanity last night and it worked great we just had a few questions.
1. What was your trick to getting down in the cracks of the recessed part of the door? We found ours to look streaky in parts around the edges where we couldn’t really get all the way against the line.
2. How hard do you buff off? Just enough to make it smooth or did you have to put some elbow grease into it to really remove the excess wax?
Thanks so much for your help!
Hi Kelsey, I’m so excited this has helped you!
1. For getting into cracks, I really globbed on the wax, then wiped away the cracks and hard to reach places with a butter knife/ flathead screwdriver, etc, wrapped with my rag. It did take a little extra work, but the extra wax helped make sure everything was covered and I didn’t have any problems with streaking.
2. When I was buffing, I found that once I started rubbing, the surface would get a little tacky/ sticky, and then as I continued rubbing it would become super smooth and slick. Once it was slick, I stopped. Some parts were easier to get to that slick point than others, and I did have to put some weight/ elbow grease into it at times. That was why I had to do the kitchen in stages!
I hope this helps and good luck!
Marianne
I am soooooo excited about this! I’ve been wanting to update my cabinets, which are in amazing shape. I’ve seen the oak coming back and had in mind the saem colors for counter tops and backsplash, but wasn’t sure what to do about the yellow tone of the cabinets. This is a fabulous alternative to painting (it seems anyway!). I cana’t wait to get started!
I hope it helps! Good luck with your update!
I looked at the Briwax website link you commented here with for more in-depth questions but I couldn’t find the exact answer. Wondering if you would wipe down the cabinets to clean them (every few months) the same way you would before the wax? Or would you need to wax again after cleaning?
Hi Katie, No, you definitely wouldn’t need to wax again. Just clean as you normally would!
Love the cabinets! Can you tell me what color is on your wall?
Hi Carolyn, The color on the walls is Sherwin Williams Olympus White. It’s a very light bluish gray.
This is a great idea! I was looking for ways to freshen up my old cabinets. Thank you for sharing!
Can you use this on maple cabinets also?
Hello Laura,
Yes, I would think you could use it on maple cabinets also, but with the tighter grain, I would expect that results wouldn’t be as obvious. My advice would be to give it a try in an inconspicuous area or the back of a door. Good luck!
I love this post, thank you for it! We have the typical 90’s golden oak cabinets, but they’re in great shape and I cringe at the thought of painting them. Might have to try this!! One question, do you have any idea how long the Briwax finish will last? Will it wear off eventually? Thanks!
Hi Rachel, I’m happy I could provide some inspiration! I can’t speak to how long it will last, but I will say that the finish seemed rather durable. It really gets worked in to the surface. As with anything and with repeated touching, it will wear eventually. But I think it will easily last years.
Thank you for this post! It has saved me as I am on a very limited budget for my kitchen and wanted to change the look of honey oak cabinets to something more rich looking. I followed your directions and also used the Briwax Tudor Brown. The result was fantastic! Where you used the white shiplap I was able to find precut oak side panels at Menards. I stained them honey oak and then put the same Briwax on. They turned out just as nice and match with the existing cabinets that I treated with Briwax. Fantastic post! Thank you!!!
I’m so happy I could help you Annmarie! Congrats on your updated kitchen!
I was so pleased that my oak cabinets are no longer considered passe`. For months I was told that I “must” paint my cabinets white. I have many cabinets, including some between my kitchen and dining area. I like the light oak and had no intention of painting them white or any other color. At 82 neither my husband not I are not up to such an arduous task. Thank you!
Yay Carla 😉 Thanks for reading!
Thank you so much for sharing this post! My orange oak cabinets are showing their wear and the thought of painting them was more than I could bear. I’m going to give this a try and hope it makes the cabinets look new again.
Happy to help Teresa! Good luck with your update!
This may save me from painting my oak cabinets. Did you have any issues with fumes from the wax?
Hi Julie, No I didn’t have any issues. I did one kitchen set in my house in the winter with no problems. Good luck!
Love this post! Were you able to use the briwax on the side paneling of your cabinet? I want to use this method but we do have some side paneling exposed. Thanks!
I did use it on the paneling, though it didn’t do much. But it wasn’t something that was noticable for me. The good thing is that since it is perpendicular to the fronts, you can’t really tell that they don’t completely match. Hope this helps, and good luck!
Fantastic post! My daughter just bought a townhome with oak cabinets that look dated with the orangey shade everyone has noted but they are in great shape with pull out shelves etc. I’m wondering if you tried the dark oak and if so how it compared? Really appreciate your detailed instructions and willingness to answer all of our questions. Thank you!
Hi Shelley,
Yes! I hate the idea of pulling out perfectly good cabinets. I have not tried any other colors so I can’t speak to the differences. Let me know if you use it and good luck!
Hi! Love this! I have honey oak cabinets that I also want to darken and update. Do you think using black wax would darken them a bit more than brown or be similar? I may want to leave some in the crevices for an antiqued effect. I got the wrong color by mistake and don’t want to ruin my cabinets, but I’ve noticed that black wax is used a lot over chalk painted furniture with a nice effect. Thanks so much!
Hi Mary Lee, I think if I wanted to antique them, I would start with a bit lighter wax first on a test door. The brown I used would have given a nice antiqued effect had I left it in the crevices. You may find that is plenty dark enough. If it’s not, it would be easier to go darker with a darker wax than the other way around. Good luck!
Love love love this.
We currently have honey oak cabinets that EVERYONE is telling me to paint white and I refuse !
We are having new countertops/sink/backsplash put in and then I’m hoping everyone will see what I see in them!
However they were put in in the 80’s and you can REALLY tell. Some of the panels on the cabinets have zero finish on them.. will this work as a finish over the rough/dull surface ? Or will I likely need to sand and refinish?
Hi Miranda,
I totally get refusing to paint cabinets white! I love white cabinets and have them in my own kitchen, but honestly wood wears so much better. I actually had better luck where the finish was more worn, so it may be just what your cabinets need. Good luck!!
hi,
your kitchenupdate is superb! since your “before” photo so closely resembles our kitchen, we are using your ideas. could you tell me the exact place where you purchased your cabinet hardware? they are black, right?
and about the paint color: since our place is an open concept plan, we would have to bring the kitchen color throughout. (i think). would that be a suitable plan?
Hi Mary,
I’m happy to hear you’ve found some inspiration here! Yes, the hardware is black. Here are the cup pulls (affiliate link)
https://amzn.to/2KrL4u5
and here are the knobs
https://amzn.to/2IsUEuO
As for paint color, yes I would probably bring the paint color thoughout to give it a cohesive flow.
Hope this helps!
Thanks for your informative kitchen update! I have my Briwax Tudor Brown and am ready to go! Wondering, after some time has passed, if you are still happy with the finish? Have you had to “re-touch” spots? or is all holding up well?
Thanks!
Hi Robin,
Thanks for stopping by! These kitchens are in houses that I sold, so I can’t 100% speak on durability. However, based on the way the wax went on, I think they will last for quite some time. If there is an area that does seem to wear, it certainly wouldn’t be hard to buff in some more wax. With that said, though, I really don’t think wearing will be an issue. Good luck!
Hi! How many cans of this wax did you use?
Hi Haley, I used only a single can of wax for an entire kitchen, and I still had a lot left over. I’m sorry I’m so late getting to you!
Great ideas!! My cabinets are quite reddish but solid. Top cabinets still have sheen but bottom ones are flat with little to no sheen left. Some gave water damage where raw wood is showing. Do we sand or fill these damaged areas before waxing them? Inside of cabinets are not well finished. Would the wax work well inside as well? Thanks.
Hi Lois,
It’s hard for me to say about the areas where there is water damage. If there is raw wood, I would perhaps try to use a bit of stain to match the existing cabinets, then wax the entire thing. I probably would not wax the inside of the cabinets, but again it’s hard for me to say without knowing what material is inside. Good luck!
Hi there! I have the same cabinets from your before photo. I would really like to try this, but I am not sure how to change out my existing hardware without leaving holes. Is there a wood filler that I should use- and should this be used before or after applying the wax?
Thank you!
Hi Katie, it’s hard for me to know what to suggest without knowing your hardware. But wood filler will still leave a circle sized spot that will be noticeable, even after stained or waxed. If you have knobs on your doors and are trying to add pulls, maybe try to use the existing hole as one side? If you are trying to put pulls on a drawer with a single hole in the middle, perhaps look for cup pulls or pulls that will mostly hide the hole once it is installed. Good luck!
Hi Marianne!!
First let me say THANK YOU …… I, too don’t want to paint my cabinets, so my question is, approximately how many cans of wax did you use? I have 23 cabinet doors.
Thanks, again!!
Hi Jan, I think you’ll make out just fine with one can of wax. A little bit goes a LONG way! I’m so glad I was able to help and good luck!
This is lovely!!! Did you take the cabinet doors off? Or just leave them on and work? Thank you!
Thanks Hannah! Yes I did take the doors off. It’s easier to push down on them and buff them in when they are laying on a flat surface.
Wondering if you just put painter’s tape on the wall while you were applying to make sure the wax didn’t get on there or if you have any other tricks for that?
Thanks!
Yes, I just used painters tape. It is a pain to get off of painted surfaces so you definitely want to protect them. Good luck!
Hi Marianne,
I’m planning on using the briwax on my oak cabinets, thanks to your post! My question for you is similar to someone’s above – whether or not to apply the wax to the sides of the cabinet. In addition, my cabinets have a rather large soffit with moulding at the top. Since all of it is oak, and front facing, I feel I should apply the briwax to the soffit as well? I’m a little nervous about this, especially worried about accidentally getting the wax on the ceiling or walls. Perhaps I should use painters tape?
Thank you!
Hi Rose, I’m happy to have inspired you! It can’t hurt to try to wax the sides. If they are veneer and completely smooth, the wax will not stick any way. I would apply the wax to the soffit, also, if you want to keep it the same. It should take the wax just like the cabinets. I needed to do something similar in my Split Decision house, and I used painters tape to protect the ceiling. Good luck!
Do does it wear off and is it ever necessary to rewax?
I’m sure it does wear off over quite a long period of time, probably moreso on parts of the door that are touched often, and in that case it may help to apply some new wax. But overall, I think it would take years to possibly need to rewax.
Love the look. Did you have to take the doors off to wax them?
Did you us bri wax toluene free or the original?
Hi Diane,
I used the original in Tudor Brown. Thanks for stopping by!
Any chance you remember what color grout you used for your subway tile??? We used the Bri wax and we love it! The next step is the backsplash. I like the darker grout with this look!
Hi Kassi, Yay for Briwax! Unfortunately, I don’t remember the grout color. We got it at Lowe’s, and I know that it was a darker grey and wasn’t one of the ones that leaned towards greige, more of a cooler gray if that helps!
Did you clean the cabinets before applying the wax? My cabinets around the stove have some stubborn grease that won’t come off no matter what I use!
Jan,
I did clean do a basic clean, but not all of the grease came off on some of those. The cabinets hadn’t been cleaned in a long time, so there was some build-up. The wax does help work through the grease – you would be surprised! Also, try Krud Kutter if you have’t already. I have used that on some greasy kitchen cabinets in the current house I’m working on and it worked well. Good luck!
I’m so happy to find this. I was searching high and low for anyway to update oak cabinets and I kept finding posts about painting them white and, although I love white cabinets, I’m kind of over the all white craze. Love your idea and now I know what I’m going to do!
I’m so happy to find this. I was searching high and low for anyway to update oak cabinets and I kept finding posts about painting them white and, although I love white cabinets, I’m kind of over the all white craze. Love your idea and now I know what I’m going to do!
Hi,
I was just wondering if you heard of anyone using an electric buffer for the wax? I have fibromyalgia and the buffing by hand would kill me, but these ugly cabinets need help
Thank you,
Chris
Hi Chris,
I do not know if an electric buffer would work, but it is certainly worth a try! You could just do it on the back of a door. You would feel the wax go from slightly tacky to very smooth. Good luck and let me know if it works out!
I love this post! I’m excited to give it a try…. our 90s honey oak cabinets are in good condition, especially the uppers, but the bottoms have some obvious repetitive scratches (previous owner was in a wheelchair)… I have been able to lessen the look of the scratches with a stain pen, but do you think the wax would bring those scratches out more? I wondered if you’ve had any other experiences with the wax on other projects since your original post… thanks!
Hi Jessica, I’m sorry to be so late to reply to you. Unfortunately, I think the wax would accentuate the scratches more as it will stay embedded and make them darker. It’s always worth a try though on a less conspicuous area!
Hello there! I realize this is an old post but I had to comment and say thank you! I struggled with what to do with the dated 90’s kitchen I inherited (we moved in to my family home this fall) and I tried this and it did a WORLD of difference! You seriously saved us tens of thousands of dollars on new cabinetry. I’ll try to at-mention you in my IG post so you can see the results for yourself. Thank you!!!
Thanks Tracy! Would love to see the results – hope I didn’t miss it!
Great info! Really thinking about doing this with my “natural” oak cabinets, that have now yellowed with time and sun. My question is…and hesitance is all around our trim and doors throughout the house. Our cabinets match our trim work. We also have a contrasting wood floor (cherry). Will it look funny to add another variation of wood color in this mix??
Hi Kristi,
It’s hard to say without actually seeing it, but I say go for it. If they have yellowed with time and sun, I’m thinking they don’t match well anyway?
Hi! I know this blog post is old…but I wanted to let you know that I put the Briwax on my builder grade cabinets, added a large center island (cabinets in a greenish color), New countertops, Island lighting, flooring and backsplash…doing this to our perfectly fine cabinets saved us tons of money and it looks very modern. I just wanted everyone to know it works, looks great, and holds up. Sending this article to a friend so she can do her kitchen!
Thank you! Thank you! Thank you, for writing this.
Thank you so much Cortney! I’m so happy I was able to help you in even just a tiny way. Thanks for reading and letting me know!!
Do you recall what kind of hardware you used? Love this!
Hi Marianne!
Do you recall what hardware you used?
Love this.
Hi Cassie,
I tried to find the actual pull that I used but no luck! I know it was a slightly elongated black cup pull. I’m sorry I can’t be more specific!
I have honey oak cabinets and recently put in gray flooring. I didn’t even think about the cabinets not matching. Do you need to sand to expose the grais in order for the wax to work? In your opinion would the Brown Tudor go better with grey floor? It isn’t a light grey, it is darker. I can feel the grain with my hand.
Hi Amy, I personally like grey floors with wood toned cabinets. I don’t think it matters what color wax you use in terms of looking good with the floor. Just go with your preference! No, there is no need to sand. Good luck!
Hello, I love this idea! What did you do to the areas of the cabinets surrounding the cabinet doors? Did you wax them the same as the cabinet doors?
Thanks!
Dana
Hi Dana,
Yes, I did wax them the same as the doors. Good luck!
I have honey oak cabinets and would like to try the Briwax, but I am unsure what color. The tudor brown could be a little dark for me. What are your thoughts?
Hi Lori, I would check out https://amzn.to/3iloAaC (aff link). It’s 2 shades lighter than the Tudor. Check out my post here on Experimenting with Wax to see some other colors. Good luck!
I love this! I recently ordered the Briwax and am anxiously waiting for it to arrive. I have taken the faces off of my drawers and cleaned them really well with Krud Kutter, and it took off the finish in some areas… Do you think that will matter? Thanks!
Hi Kayla, It’s hard to tell if it will matter without seeing it, and whether it was just the shiny finish coat. Good luck – I hope it turns out beautifully!
Love this post – can I ask what countertop do you use in this kitchen? I would love to mirror this update in my kitchen
Thank you Caitlin! The countertops are LG Hi-Macs solid surface in Arctic White. You can buy them at Lowe’s. Good luck with your update!
Marianne
Hi love the way your kitchen turned out !We are redoing my moms kitchen , orange oak cabinets ,
What colour of paint is on your wall ? I love it ! Goes great with your cabinets.
Hi Linda, thank you and good luck with your mom’s kitchen! We used Sherwin Williams Olympus White on the walls. It’s a very light bluish gray.
Thank you . What color is your hardware ?
I’m torn between brushed nickel and oil rubbed bronze . Black looks too stark .
I used the medium brown briwax on moms cabinets .., turned out great !
Hi! I loved this post and used Briwax a few months ago on a bathroom vanity but then ended up having to do a more in depth reno and took that vanity out. So now I don’t know how the wax has maintained. Considering doing kitchen now but wondering if you can share how it has held up since you applied to your kitchen. Thanks so much!!
Hi Tracie, The kitchens I have done this in have been in houses I’ve sold, so I can’t speak to how well it has held up. However, retouching often used places wouldn’t be hard since it is so easy to apply, as I’m sure you know with your vanity. Good luck!
Can you use this to go darker than the original color of the wood?
Hi Marissa, yes the darker colors of briwax will make the wood appear darker.
Hello
Getting ready to try bro wax I’d say my cabinets are in excellent condition but too orange yellow for me . I’d like to go pretty dark . I’m scared too, but I think I’ll try it on my laundry room vanity first then if I like it . Carry it through your the house
I just got done with my kitchen doing the briwax and it turned out really great! I’m in the middle of figuring out flooring and was wondering what flooring you had in your kitchen.
I was so excited to stumble upon your blog site today! You have given so many of us hope for our kitchens! Im gonna follow you on Instagram too! Have you ever changed the kitchen cabinet hinges, converting to a concealed hinge? Is there a brand of concealed hinge you could recommend?
No, I have never gone to a concealed hinge, however, I do like Blum hinges. I also purchased a Kreg hinge jig, though I have yet to use it. You may want to check into it if you’re going that route. Good luck!
Hi Marianne. Thank you for your article on darkening oak cabinets. I am trying to decide what to do to update my golden oak cabinets. I love all your suggestions especially the briwax. I think I will try the Tudor brown like you did. I am planning to use a dark gray quartz countertop (copper mist by silastone),white backsplash and off white walls. Also black hardware. What do you think. As I am 70 years old, the buffing job might hard on me. Can you recommend an electric buffer to make the job easier. Thanks for you expertise!
Hi Linda, I think using a buffing pad on the corner cat sander from Ryobi would work well to help you with buffing. Good luck!
Now that you are years past this post, do you remember how long the wax finish lasted? How well did it hold up, was it easy to clean?
Hi Karen, Unfortunately, I refinished these cabinets in homes that I sold, so I am not able to answer that.
Hey! I see that this was 4 or so years ago. How has the finish held up? Looking at options for our cabinets.
I was just wondering how long you left the wax on before buffing, if at all. And I have read twice now that it can be on the smelly side, since it is cold in Ohio right now I don’t have my windows open very often! Lol, Should I wait til it’s warmer out so I can have the windows open? I am using your post as my full inspiration so thank you for sharing!
Hi Tiffany, Thank you!
I buffed the wax off almost immediately. And yes it is smelly, but it’s probably personal preference. Being able to have some windows open would probably be helpful. Good luck!
You’ve just changed my mind about painting! I love the waxed finish of the cabinets. It reminds me of the look of a refinished antique furniture piece! I’m not seeing the color “Tudor Brown”. Is “Tudor Oak” the same thing?
Awesome! I’m not sure if it is the same thing but my guess is probably. Some of their names have changed slightly.
Hi – I’ve used Briwax on my (bare pine) skirting boards and it looks fantastic. My question is, I am ordering new internal doors that have an oak veneer but are unfinished. Could I use Briwax for this purpose? I want them to match my skirting boards but I want to make sure the doors are protected. They recomend Danish oil but is Briwax a good alternative?
Hi Andy, It’s really hard to say without seeing the pieces. You may want to test it if possible. Considering the skirting boards are pine and the doors will have oak veneer, you may need to experiment a bit if you are looking for them to match, but that is your personal preference. I’m not familiar with Danish oil, but my understanding would be that and the briwax would need to be maintained at some point some years down the road. So honestly, it may come down to what you feel most comfortable with. Best of luck to you!
How has this held up? How do you clean them?