Great Products: Restor-A-Finish and Feed-N-Wax

We love finding furniture on the street and transforming it. However we normally opt to paint old wood rather than face the somewhat arduous task of refinishing it. Now that we ran across a glowing review for 2 products that get you a lot of the results of refinishing without much of the elbow grease, we'll definitely rethink the spray paint. Jump below to see the after picture of this dresser:

Colleen at Foreign Circus Life used Restor A Finish and Feed N Wax (both under $10) to restore the lustre and shine to the finish on this old dresser. (She was inspired by the January Jumpstart Contest!)

Here's the finished piece and we must say we're really impressed by the difference between this and the before. Read all of Colleen's insights about these productson her blog.

Comments (14)

Amazing transformation!

posted by bepsf on June 19th 2008 at 10:00am
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I can also vouch for these products. They work miracles on old pieces! I also use the Feed N Wax on my new wood furniture pieces every 6 months or so just to keep them looking nice.

posted by di on June 19th 2008 at 10:24am
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That looks like a great quick fix, but can it be cleaned of later if you should decide to refinish your furniture more thoroughly?

posted by JH4285 on June 19th 2008 at 10:24am
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I liked it when it had a softer patina to it. maybe somewhere in between would be ideal for me. after I refinish with a coat of poly I usually come back with 0000 steel wool to get it back to that vintage feel.

posted by amt230 on June 19th 2008 at 10:39am
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I now use Feed N Wax also. Got the tip right here at AT.
My drab looking wood furniture looks a million times better!

posted by danze on June 19th 2008 at 10:45am
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I like the way it looks with and without the restore a finish and feednwax treatment. Great piece.

posted by Seaside on June 19th 2008 at 10:51am
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holy moly, this looks great! i'm def gonna go get some of this. thanks at

posted by animalhouze on June 19th 2008 at 11:44am
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amt230- I promise the effect is softer in person than in those photos; the pieces still retain that vintage quality but with a nice luster.

JH4285- I'm not sure about your question. I believe you would have to use a solvent to remove all traces of the wax before using a poly finish for example. The Restor-a-Finish itself I don't think would interfere with other finish techniques since you can use it on so many finishes.

Laure- I'm tickled my nightstands are making an appearance!

posted by CQ in DC on June 19th 2008 at 11:52am
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I love how easy this is. I wonder if the restore a finish, in neutral, is destructive to the original color?

posted by jick on June 19th 2008 at 11:59am
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this is great stuff. i use it all the time at work. the neutral or maple shouldn't alter the colour. the longer you leave it on before wiping it off, the darker it gets though.

posted by darling on June 19th 2008 at 12:52pm
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I was suggested it r-a-f here on AT and I went to buy it right away! Look what it did to my latest craigslist find!
Before:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k197/Masik_Kolbasik/WOODEN%20PROJECTS/IMG_2094.jpg

after:
http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k197/Masik_Kolbasik/WOODEN%20PROJECTS/IMG_2097.jpg

posted by Masik on June 19th 2008 at 1:59pm
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I used Feed-n-Wax on an antique sled a few months ago (not the stabby kind!). It worked like a dream. The wood didn't look or act thirsty at all afterward. I waxed the runners too. Believe it or not, that thing goes faster than any plastic scoop sled I've seen. I'm really not worried about it being out in the salty snow now though. I just give it a regular check-up.

I saw the Restor-a-Finish at the time as well, but didn't pick any up. Maybe I'll reconsider!

posted by kristybelle on June 19th 2008 at 6:19pm
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You convinced me. I'm off to Hope Depot right now.

posted by Lisa Hunter (Montreal) on June 22nd 2008 at 10:53am
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CQ, I was blown away, thanks for showing all of us what you can get done without refinishing!

posted by laure on June 22nd 2008 at 8:02pm
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