Howard's Feed & Wax

Topic: Howard's Feed & Wax (Read 1215 times) previous topic - next topic

Howard's Feed & Wax

February 07, 2020, 01:34:08 am

Just picked up a bottle today at Home Depot. It's also available at Lowes.

All I can say is wow! This stuff works great and isn't overly shiny. Only issue was that it's a bit chilly out and with the coach windows shut, The Aroma became a bit strong even though at first it didn't seem to have a strong odor.

It's easy to put on because of the not too thick, not too thin consistency.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #1 – February 07, 2020, 09:05:30 am

Quote from: bigdog – February 07, 2020, 01:34:08 am

Just picked up a bottle today at Home Depot. It's also available at Lowes.

All I can say is wow! This stuff works great and isn't overly shiny.

It's easy to put on because of the not too thick, not too thin consistency.

It's not too shiny because Foretravel used a stain in place of a varnish. The wood just sucks up the treatment.

Bee's wax, carnauba wax and citrus oil for a solvent is an almost classic formula. Replace the citrus oil with turpentine and we're back into the 1700s.

FWIW, the house I grew up in was built in Massachusetts in 1794.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #2 – February 07, 2020, 09:54:38 am

Quote from: bigdog – February 07, 2020, 01:34:08 am

All I can say is wow! It's easy to put on because of the not too thick, not too thin consistency.

Good stuff! Amazon has it, too.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #3 – February 07, 2020, 10:02:38 am

Pulled the valance down and was surprised on how dark the original color was on the cabinets.. the UV has lightened it up substantially ..

Howards is awesome stuff.. Hides the minor scratches and scuffs.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #4 – February 07, 2020, 11:40:36 am

I purchased today from Amazon. $9.98 for 16 oz. $35.00 for 128 oz of restorer.
What is best application method? Micro fiber, 000 steel wool?.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #5 – February 07, 2020, 12:29:01 pm

Quote from: Texhub – February 07, 2020, 11:40:36 am

I purchased today from Amazon. $9.98 for 16 oz. $35.00 for 128 oz of restorer.
What is best application method? Micro fiber, 000 steel wool?.

I applied the Howard's using an old cotton wash cloth and wiped off with a microfiber (no lint from micro fiber)

I always buy local unless I can't find it or it's obscenely more expensive.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #6 – February 07, 2020, 12:38:31 pm

This is used by a furniture repair/restore person in Maine. He is is on YouTube under the name of Thomas Johnson Furniture Restoration. He really knows what he is doing besides producing very interesting videos. If he likes it it must be good. He does not have sponsors and you will only see the products he uses in the background.

https://www.youtube.com/user/johnsonrestoration/feed

Keith

PS: He is a typical Yankee new Englander. When he finishes a job he says "I think it looks pretty good"

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #7 – February 07, 2020, 01:56:46 pm

Told countless customers that the UV's would lighten the new dark walnut nicely.

Would show them a used coach and move the jack knife sofa to show the wall. Dark behind the sofas back

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #8 – February 07, 2020, 03:30:36 pm

Quote from: Keith and Joyce – February 07, 2020, 12:38:31 pm

PS: He is a typical Yankee new Englander. When he finishes a job he says "I think it looks pretty good"

Looks wicked good.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #9 – February 07, 2020, 03:35:10 pm

Quote from: Old Toolmaker – February 07, 2020, 09:05:30 am

It's not too shiny because Foretravel used a stain in place of a varnish.

Actually on the walnut FOT used a Sherwin William's sanding sealer only........no stain.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #10 – February 07, 2020, 03:36:33 pm

Been using it for over a year, it's fantastic!

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #11 – February 07, 2020, 05:08:52 pm

Not a rebuttal.

I checked Lowes they only listed one product at Kerrville Texas store. Local hardware store and I disagree on margins!. Reference current thread about air dryer and Fot. No big box other then walmart here. All big box stores 80 miles one way from here. Amazon will have it in my hand before 4 pm tomorrow.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #12 – February 07, 2020, 05:14:51 pm

Quote from: Texhub – February 07, 2020, 05:08:52 pm

Not a rebuttal.

I checked Lowes they only listed one product at Kerrville Texas store. Local hardware store and I disagree on margins!. Reference current thread about air dryer and Fot. No big box other then walmart here. All big box stores 80 miles one way from here. Amazon will have it in my hand before 4 pm tomorrow.

I have a local hardware store here I have nicknamed Dewie, Cheetam & Howe

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #13 – February 07, 2020, 07:00:10 pm

Quote from: Travelin' Man – February 07, 2020, 03:35:10 pm

Actually on the walnut FOT used a Sherwin William's sanding sealer only........no stain.

Wonder if they do anything to the sealer after its application. Do they sand it or steel wool it to smooth out the finish?
John M.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #14 – February 07, 2020, 09:14:08 pm

Quote from: John Morales – February 07, 2020, 07:00:10 pm

Wonder if they do anything to the sealer after its application. Do they sand it or steel wool it to smooth out the finish?
John M.

I think not John.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #15 – February 07, 2020, 09:33:03 pm

Here is my opinion coming from more than 50 years or woodworking experience and almost 10 years working on my Foretravel.

All of this FT finish talk is urban legend. If wood work in FT coaches was coated with only a sanding sealer most would be junk by now. Sanding sealer is like primer. Is is soft, porous, easily sanded (hence its name), sometimes with multiple coats and always top coated. With nothing else on it, it would be like painting cars with primer and no paint. The only finish that will withstand the ranges of temperature and humidity, hand oils and water is a catalyzed lacquer finish. All premium custom cabinets are finished this way.

Way more than half of the cabinetry, all of the wall panels, the closet doors, the sliding doors and more are all made with prefinished plywood paneling that FT purchased. The Sherwin Williams sanding sealer myth is just that.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #16 – February 07, 2020, 11:58:10 pm

Quote from: Texhub – February 07, 2020, 05:08:52 pm

Not a rebuttal.

I checked Lowes they only listed one product at Kerrville Texas store. Local hardware store and I disagree on margins!. Reference current thread about air dryer and Fot. No big box other then walmart here. All big box stores 80 miles one way from here. Amazon will have it in my hand before 4 pm tomorrow.

In your case it is of course totally understandable. Here in Tucson, the Irvington Home Depot was the same price as Amazon and no shipping fee and the DW was headed near there anyway.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #17 – February 08, 2020, 09:10:21 am

Quote from: bigdog – February 07, 2020, 11:58:10 pm

In your case it is of course totally understandable. Here in Tucson, the Irvington Home Depot was the same price as Amazon and no shipping fee and the DW was headed near there anyway.

I made a mistake last month purchasing something on Amazon and signed myself up for a "free" trial of the Amazon Prime service. That caused me to actually do the math, and keep track of my purchases and I realized that for me the service pays for itself even if all I use is the "free" shipping. But Lowes had the Howards and my woodwork soaks that stuff up like a sponge and looks all the better for it.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #18 – February 08, 2020, 10:38:02 am

We have Amazon Prime, and it works out perfect for us being in the 'boonies'. Almost everything is bought through Amazon, so the Prime works for us. It is not cost effective unless you do a lot of ordering, plus it's a subscription for a year. The other 'benefits', movies, music, etc., we don't use, but others we've met, do. I'm not pleased with Amazon right now, as returning a wrong order is becoming a time consuming PITA since we do NOT have a UPS store here where they can scan the barcode and I need the full label instead. Think that's a no-brainer to talk to someone who speaks English to get it straight? Ha!!!!!!!

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #19 – February 08, 2020, 12:51:13 pm

Howard's is a shelf item at our local Ace Hardware store.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #20 – February 08, 2020, 04:55:20 pm

I use this also for heavy use areas needing a quick touch up.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #21 – February 08, 2020, 07:32:05 pm

A word of caution about Howard's. If you're using it on raw wood, it darkens it considerably. May not matter, but it was applied to my mid century Scandinavian modern teak furniture without my knowledge. I didn't realize it until I folded out the expanding leaves on the table.....the rest of the table is now several shades darker than the leaves. It's dull brown compared to rich teak.

I'm faced with figuring out how to remove this junk short of hand scraping everything.

YMMV.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #22 – February 08, 2020, 08:40:39 pm

Quote from: Chuck Pearson – February 08, 2020, 07:32:05 pm

I'm faced with figuring out how to remove this junk short of hand scraping everything.

YMMV.

Brown paper bags and a warm iron.

Re: Howard's Feed & Wax

Reply #23 – February 09, 2020, 01:37:27 pm

Thanks Toolmaker, I'll give it a try!

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