Ugly Wax Build-Up on Antique Mahogany Table

[usedtobe]

So found a treasure - solid mahogany, the top is about an inch thick slab.

Unfortunately, it looks as if some idiot or another has used “spray-on furniture wax” for the last 20 years.

So far, everything has just pushed the wax around - I’d like to get i down to either original wax, or something which a real paste wax will restore it.
I am afraid to expose it down to bare wood - I don’t trust myself to start from that point.

Ideas?

[aceplace57]

This removes wax. Spray polish has silicone in it and you use mineral spirits to remove it.

Wax and Silicone Build Up on Furniture

Combine 1 quart white vinegar with 1/4 cup cream of tartar. Apply this liquid to the wax finish in the direction of the grain and rub gently to remove the wax build up. Rinse immediately by wiping with a rag dampened with plain water and then dry.

If wax has built up in crevices, you may be able to use a hair dryer and an absorbent cloth to remove the residue. Place a single layer of the cloth over the surface and heat gently with the hair dryer. Wipe, adjust to a new section of cloth and repeat. Use caution and low heat as heat is also damaging to wood.

[gotpasswords]

Naptha will pull up waxes and silicones. Most of that spray “polish” junk has silicone, and that will raise all sorts of hell with any attempts at refinishing. I know you’re not wanting to go down to bare wood, but you may find that once the years of old wax are gone, so’s the original varnish. Stray silicone will cause what are called “fish eyes” in the finish.

One neat thing with using naptha is it can tell you that the wax is all gone. Wipe some on the surface, blow air over it, and it will disappear almost instantly from clean wood and spots that still have silicone or wax will stay wet and shiny.

Just be careful to lay your rags out flat or hang them to dry outside. Naptha and oily/waxy stuff can lead to spontaneous combustion if you leave the rags wadded up in a pile.

[Scumpup]

Depending on the size of the table, I’d consider using a couple-three spray cans of gunscrubber. It takes silicone protectant right off of a gun without harming stock finishes (usually). Brake cleaner is even more aggressive and would probably take you down to bare wood.

[usedtobe]

No industrial stuff - I’m old and won’t live long enough to fix a serious screw-up (at which I excel).

So - where in a grocery does one find Cream of Tartar - I notice McComrick’s fields an entry - should I check the spice rack or maybe the cleaning products?

[Cub_Mistress]

for cream of tarter, check the spices section. I have never heard of it in conjunction with refinishing furniture, I must google that…
…

[Eva_Luna]

You’ll find it by the baking supplies, if not on the spice rack.

[usedtobe]

Thanks!

[usedtobe]

This stuff had better work - I ended up using Google to find it in more than 1.5 oz. bottles.

Turns out the main use for Cream of Tartar is whipping egg whites (meringues and such).

Who knew?

[HoneyBadgerDC]

I use cleaners with an amonia base, it seems to disolve the wax quickly. If really built up bad it may require oing over it several times. Most of the supermarket variety amonia based cleaners are incredibly weak so adding a bit of amonia may help.