Howard Restor-a-finish & feed-n-wax TEST/ review

00:00:00 Before
00:00:45 Test for color/ safety
00:02:06 Restor-a-Finish application on the table top
00:03:36 After (pre feed-n-wax)
00:04:43 Feed-n-Wax application
00:05:20 After feed-n-wax (pre wipe-down/buffing)
00:06:10 Final
Restoration of a thrift store table that has several scratches and spots of missing finish. The existing finish was very thin and lacks pretty much all luster.
Overall, the restoration was a success as the product added well-needed color, de-emphasized scratches, and restored a nice satin luster.

[@daphinekleckley3853]

Thank you sooo much. I thought I had to scrape stuff. Your video got right to the point, not a lot of talking. Just what I needed. Will go out and buy this. AGAIN!!! Thank you so much❤️

[@debmorehead1118]

I have used this product several times . I have never used steel wool , i use a cloth to put it on , Then i would wipe it off . It works great this way .

[@aceman199]

Cool! Great tip.

[@krazyjey]

Good job, i have only great result with howard restore a finish, Floors, doors, table top, furnitures and panels. As a professional French Polisher i am picky about my results and durability. Howard made it like the best secret is out !!

[@CFinch360]

I've used Howard's products many times with excellent results. Looks like I restored it and if the wax is applied regularly it keeps the wood in good condition.

[@aceman199]

I think the beeswax definitely helps, but I've found it needs to be applied frequently.

[@11219tt]

I think your review is the most honest so far. It works, not great, but better than before and will delay the need for refinishing for a little bit longer. I'll try it out!

[@aceman199]

Yup, there's no such thing as a miracle product, but this product serves a purpose.

[@ursulagates3106]

Table looks great!! 😃I will definitely buy for my table. Thanks for sharing.

[@mizsherm4352]

It looks great and your floors are gorgeous!

[@katherinetempleton1360]

“I think the wife will be happy, that’s the most important part.” 😀

[@gregcooper7789]

I will say a light sand before just on the top then restore a finish then the wax and it would have been 100% BUT LOOKS MUCH BETTER!

[@MeadowDay]

Agree..when finish is damaged all these products do is add a sheen.

[@RM-rm3hk]

You Sir, are a gentleman. Nice constructive criticism. I agree 100%, the table would turned out a lot better with some prior sanding. Having said that, thank you very much @aceman199 for taking your time to do this very helpful review.

[@TRONA-CA.]

My suggestion, put one coat then a light sand, good wipe down and add another coat or two then a good rub down with a microfiber towel...

[@filly3594]

The key is to ONLY VERY LIGHTLY use the steel wool, not scour hard like he was doing. I've use both Restor-a-Finish and Feed-N-Wax since the late 1970's and love both products. FYI, I have golden oak and walnut antiques and the golden oak Restor-a-Finish works on both of them.

[@edennis8578]

​@@MeadowDayThat isn't how Restore and Finish works. It actually works itself INTO the existing finish. If you remove the existing finish, this product can't work. That's why it doesn't work on polyurethane finishes; it can't bond with the poly so it just sits on top and does nothing.

[@debrafrakes6479]

it looks great and niw Im gonna go to Ace and purchase!M

[@ericsgranny8933]

Looks great!

[@user-iu6hg2wz8m]

Wow! I need to try that! Thanks!

[@aceman199]

it's low threat. try it!

[@BillyBobDingledorf]

This video was more "real" than most I've seen. Kinda how it'd work out for me, so helpful. Not so sure about the wax. Maybe some other kind of finish.

[@BonnieGonzales30]

I've used Restore A Finish and the wax multiple times on my kitchen island. It looks great at first and within a few weeks it is faded again. It might be good for small scratches, etc, but the faded areas on my island are fairly large and the product doesn't do a good job.

[@farhorizons3901]

Great feedback, thanks. This product seems to do a good job but has limitations on high-wear area such as a kitchen island where the surface treatment will rub off over time.

[@totallynotabot151]

Same thing here. Looks great for 3 weeks after applying both products. Then the old imperfections come back. Manufacturer says polyurethane cannot be used on top of it - so what can be applied to protect it?

[@SandySez]

I've just watched several of these 'review' vids, and all of them only show the immediate results, so I kept wondering how it holds up, because none of these products every do. They look 'good' until the solvents in it dissipate then the wood looks exactly as it did before but perhaps a tad cleaner. I'm zero impressed with seeing 'immediate' results. WD-40 could accomplish the same apparent 'magic, instant transformation'.

[@Hugeroost]

So recommend somn bro, what's better ??

[@shericreates]

I wonder how the Howard’s wax would work instead of the feed and wax. It would be nice seeing results 6 -12 months later

[@TheDanny1561]

For best results use steel wool or fine grit sandpaper to sand smooth then you can use stain to fill in discoloration ..do to whole table then use restore a finish or laquor over it

[@aceman199]

Interesting idea. Have you tried this?

[@TheDanny1561]

@@aceman199 only with stain but I think restorer would work too

[@edennis8578]

If you remove the existing finish, this product won't work. It needs the existing finish to bond with. This product isn't for use on bare wood.

[@buzzleighton1856]

Looks great! You mentioned you were going to use cherry but the darker walnut color looks nice. I'm wondering if I should use walnut instead of cherry on my reddish door? What grade steel wool did you use and what type of rags did you use for buffing and wiping off the wax? Thanks for the informative video!

[@aceman199]

I used the finest steel wool that I had. Rag used for with the feednwax was an old flannel sheet. I cannot comment on whether or other choices would be better. As for your door, its hard to say without knowing the color of your door, but the point I wanted to make was that the color of the restor-a-finish doesn't affect the color of the piece in the same way that actual finish was. It is basically dissolves the current finish that you have and has a little bit of color, so the color in the howard's mixes with the existing finish.

[@rotwiler7674]

I decided lately why buy crappy new furniture when you can get quality made wood furniture from the 20s-70s for almost nothing. I live in a built in 1909 house on acres and going for that semi retro look on inside. Bought a beautiful 1923 Victor xx215 record player(is mahogany cabinet) you remove the record player and cabinet can be used for whatever. Super heavy due to real wood. $60 and a $9.00 restore finish and $5 feed and wax, looks like new. It was already pretty much scratch free, but looks better now.

[@almyers8074]

Try going over it again with the restorer before the Feed n Wax.

[@conniepleasantnails]

Does this product have a strong smell. I live in a very small home so I probably should do it at a time I can have proper ventilation 😊

[@jeaninesexton1532]

😊,,Thank you!

[@pbshepherding47]

Your doorways behind you could use a go over also. Thanks!

[@BigTymer0007]

This product did a terrible job of covering up the heat rings on my table which looked almost identical to yours. Appreciate the video though

[@brendafloyd1613]

Totally agree

[@petestaint8312]

Looks awesome! Is a second application necessary?

[@krazyjey]

yes after 6 months, same process , it will look awesome and add character.

[@boodaghost6896]

Does it leave a tacky finish? I can't find anyone who addresses this. I'm considering it for some antique pool table rails that aren't in too bad a shape. I just can't have it end up being sticky.

[@sharonoddlyenough]

I used restore-a-finish in my sewing machine case about a month ago, and it is not tacky. I did not follow with feed-n-wax, though

[@alhambra119]

It looks marvelous. Do you think that it can be used on the hardwood floor too?

[@CFinch360]

I did my scratched and scraped floors with this exact methods. Looked fabulous, like I refinished them, and only took about 1 hr.

[@bocatica]

so what do you do with the missing finish?

[@sayrebachman1206]

You should just use paint stripper to skim off that old varnish. It will come off quickly and easily. Then use Howard feed and wax. It will look awesome. You might want to use a harder finish though if you want to protect it better.

[@johnny110291]

What exactly is this product? Does it stain the wood so it looks restored? Or does it bring up it’s natural stain. I have a piece of furniture that I want to restore and I love its original stain But I’m afraid it will change the tone/stain to a richer darker tone

[@u.sonomabeach6528]

Its called 'Restor-A-Finish' made by Howard's(the same company that makes the feed n wax beeswax finish and butcher block conditioner) It is sorta like a non aggressive stain and it is formulated to blend away the scratches and water rings, blemishes etc. You can purchase it at Home Depot or Lowes in the same section as the sand paper and stains and paint etc. There are several different color choices. After you apply the restor a finish and let it dry for 30 minutes it is recommended to use the feed n wax which is a beeswax and citrus blend wax finish that protects everything

[@ToniGNLEover60]

Are you using 0000 steel wool? That may be why it’s scratching

[@MrCabimero]

wonder if you put polyurethane on top would that fill in the areas where the finish was worn away. Just a thought.

[@edennis8578]

You can't apply polyurethane on top of this product.

[@brendamartinez7317]

Can I put this on the walls ? I'm renting and don't wanna put too much effort but I'm also forbidden to paint ?

[@aceman199]

are your walls finished wood? Talk to your landlord? Try a little tiny 1" square spot in a corner or behind a door and see?

[@brendamartinez7317]

@@aceman199 they were but I think the last tenant darkened the walls so I'm not sure

[@brendafloyd1613]

I've tried this product but it doesn't work.

[@edennis8578]

If the finish is polyurethane or similar substance, Restore a Finish won't work. It has to be laquer or shellac.

[@PaPa52109]

Come on man!

[@jafallica]

Pine Sol? Never put Pine Sol on furniture!

[@maggierco]

Do you know anything about the make or manufacturer of your table? I purchased the same one on Craigslist a few years ago and refinished on my own but don’t know anything about the table

[@aceman199]

Nope! No markings. It's solid wood though and I got it at the thrift store for $20 a few years ago. :)

[@maggierco]

aceman199 well you got a much better deal than I did. The owner told me that it was her parent’s and they had the table since they were kids so we knew it was at least from the 50’s or 60’s

[@aceman199]

@@maggierco Interesting. It does look like it's from that era. Was it hard to strip off the finish?

[@maggierco]

@@aceman199 Nope not hard at all! I used Citristrip and it worked no problem. Sanded, conditioned, stained and finished and it looks brand new! I am looking into using Restor-a-finish because I used the wrong kind of finish and the stain has faded in places and I don't want to do the process over again. It was a pretty quick weekend project.

[@victoriakehres1901]

This did not stain my piano legs..

[@mawi1172]

It would have taken no time at all to run a sander on there first. Now we see hundred year old wear marks.😢

[@briemills9209]

Speeding up the sound track with the video is kind of silly....

[@kowal767]

Can I spray water-base lacquer over Howard Restor-a-finish ?

[@aceman199]

I have no idea, but probably. I would contact Howard for that!

[@sharonoddlyenough]

Googled it, Howard's says wait 30 days to put a finish over restor-a-finish, or use feed-n-wax

[@MsCurliegirlie]

I may try this. Do you think you could put poly acrylic over it? Thank you for sharing!

[@aceman199]

Robin S, I am not sure. Two options: the product is pretty cheap, so you can try it, or you can contact Howard’s. My guess is yes, you can, because the product seems just like a solvent with aa colorant, but I’m not 100% sure.

[@mprice770]

In the pamphlet for Restor-A-Rinish by Howard, it says to NOT apply polyurethane over it. I personally have not tried it.

[@stuartashbourne-martin9629]

Very nice blog but unfortunately the sound makes sound like somebody being wound up 500ml I can't hear you

[@jafallica]

Too bad your lighting is so dark.

[@riarivers-hilton7985]

Lol, I can actually understand your fast forward talking.