JohnRoss Posted October 21, 2008 Share Posted October 21, 2008 Does anyone know what is available for sprucing up wood beams on the ceiling. Ours seem to have been coated in something that has a slight gloss or oily appearance. If you rub them with a damp rag the coating comes off though not easily. I don't think it is any form of varnish. Is there something I can just paint on like some sort of oil based wood stain or whatever?.......................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BIG MAC Posted October 22, 2008 Share Posted October 22, 2008 Is that not the 'Nicotine' you are rubbing off? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Théière Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 Is it beeswax? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 Now that could be a possibility I suppose. I assume then that stain would have been applied first and beeswax afterwards. Is this common?..............................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 The easiest finish to apply is one of the non-smelling, quick-dryinglasures which you will get in any brico shop. If you use the oil-based ones, they will darken the wood (particularly oak). The quick drying ones are acrylic-based and will probably stick to your beams even if you don't remove what is underneath.The purists will no doubt encourage you to wax them, but we have over a kilometre of beams here, a lot of them quite rough, so waxing was not an option ! The quick-drying lasure has given them a really nice warm finish (medium oak) with a hint of a shine, but definitely not a gloss. You would not know whether they had been waxed or varnished ! !Not sure what could have been on your beams that would be shiny - the French use a lot of Broux de Noix (sp. ?) which is a walnut-based dye, but it gives a dark brown matt finish. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted October 23, 2008 Author Share Posted October 23, 2008 Thanks for the info. I will look out for some next time I am in Bricomarché. Do you remember a make, was it 3V3, or even if it came in a round or rectangular tin?..................................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llantony Posted October 23, 2008 Share Posted October 23, 2008 We have 3 or 4 really rough old beams, what is the best way to make them look nice?We also have a couple that have been coated in shiny stain and look horrid - any thought on how to remove it? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jxedwards Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 Our beams had been 'hidden' for many years under a lath & plaster ceiling.We used St Marc Lessive floor cleaner and lots of elbow grease to clean them. Once clean we applied Black Bison (Bison Fute en Francais I think) and again lashings of elbow grease.Not the easiets task we have encountered but the beams now have an authentic dull sheen which we are very happy with.Removing stain good old Nitromos paint stripperI would imagine would do the trickJohn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dick Smith Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 I wouldn't recommend Nitromors - a bit too aggressive, and dodgy when used overhead!There are proprietary wax and polish removers - Liberon make them amongst others, but they are intended for furniture restoration and are expensive. Sugar soap works (St Marc).We waxed ours with BriWax, brought out from England, and it looks very good. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Callie Posted October 25, 2008 Share Posted October 25, 2008 JR, the make was BOISILOR and comes in round tins. They do an oil-based and a water-based finish. The advantage of the water-based finish is that apart from no smell, that it doesn't darken the beams. The medium oak (chene moyen) "warmed" them up just a tad, taking away the slighly grey look. Our beams are mostly pretty rough and a lot of them have had some woodworm.The finish has turned out superbly and everyone thinks we have waxed them ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JohnRoss Posted October 25, 2008 Author Share Posted October 25, 2008 Thanks Callie I will look out for it...........................................JR Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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