Every workshop knows this one. The piece comes off the line looking immaculate. By the time it reaches the photography table it has fingerprints on it, and by the time it is packed it has collected dust that was not there an hour ago.
Why it happens
Traditional polishes hold a slight surface tack. That tack collects airborne dust and takes an impression from any hand that touches the surface. On dark shades it is visible from across a room, and it turns packing and handling into a constant worry.
It is not a curing problem and waiting longer does not fix it. It is a property of the polish.
What to use instead
Waxsil is a beeswax-based polish, natural and non-toxic, and it is the traditional answer to this problem. It does not attract dust and it does not take fingerprints.
It also does several other useful things:
- Fills small scratches and imperfections
- Gives the surface mar and scratch resistance, with a little slip
- Leaves a lustre that is retained over a long time
- Works over wood and metal alike
The application
- Complete your lacquer application as normal.
- Sand with 400 grit paper.
- Apply Waxsil with a cloth.
- Sand with 600 grit paper to give a very smooth finish.
That final 600 grit pass is what produces the surface people comment on.
Two variants
New Waxsil is a low-odour reformulation, worth having where the smell of the original is a problem: enclosed workshops, or on-site work in an occupied building.
Water-Based Wax Polish removes solvent from the equation entirely, for units working to lower VOC targets or where solvent handling is restricted.
A note on sanding paper
Since the process depends on two sanding steps, it is worth saying: sanding paper is usually bought on price, and the difference between grades shows up as scratch marks and inconsistent absorption that only become visible once colour goes on.
Use a lubricated paper. It cuts more evenly, loads up less, and leaves a surface that takes finish far more consistently. It is a small consumable with an outsized effect on the result.