CARE & MAINTANENCE

For most tabletop repairs and also for yearly (or semi-annually) maintenance, use only the LIGHT BROWN color of Fiddes. Apply a small, LIGHT COAT of the Fiddes evenly with a soft cloth and an EASY touch. Wipe off the excess immediately before drying to prevent uneven marks. It may be necessary to work small areas at a time rather than to try and finish a large area all at once. No sanding is needed for this procedure! After you have an even finish, let dry for 5-10 minutes and then buff with a clean, dry, soft cloth. This procedure may have to be repeated until the scratch/ring fades and blends. Rubbing harder or applying a large chunk of wax will not help and may cause more problems.

HINT: It is easier to work with a softened wax from the can. Set an open can in the sun for a few minutes to soften it. You should not use cold hard wax.

Once again, DO NOT RUB HARD either when applying the wax or when buffing. Rubbing too hard results in wax removal. (It sticks back to your cloth.) When doing the above procedure, you are using the new wax as an activator to loosen the existing wax and re-distribute it.

NEVER use steel wool when applying wax or buffing!!! Although the Fiddes container may indicate that you can, we highly discourage the use of steel wool on pine by the novice user. The steel wool closes to pores in the wood and prevents it from absorbing any additional wax or color. In extreme cases, a "00" or "000" grade of steel wool may be used to refinish an entire top to make severe marks blend evenly. You should not try to use steel wool in only one spot.

DO NOT USE HOUSEHOLD CLEANERS (Pledge, 409, etc.) AT ANY TIME ON OUR FURNITURE. USE ONLY Fiddes to clean or repair.

The waxed top of your table is relatively easy to maintain. Spills of cold liquids (juice, sodas, etc.) can be easily wiped with a damp cloth. This is all you should have to use for the daily maintenance of your table. HOT/WARM ITEMS will leave rings, etc. and the table must be protected the same way that you would protect any fine furniture. If you get a hot ring/mark on your table that is still very noticeable after re-waxing the entire top, you may have refer to a more detailed repair.

Please contact us if you have any other questions.