topic RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR in Home

RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Oznell — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:20:49 GMT

I've posted on these in past projects too-- they are so easy to use, to dress up or give new life to your decor.

Rub'n Buff is basically a colored wax, that you rub or brush onto metal, wood, or glass objects ( I think even plastic and resin too) to enrich their look. It's a wax, but the metallic color stays permanently on the item you put it on.

I found an example online of what someone did with theirs. She had pretty brass dishes that she wanted to make candlesticks of. So she treated some glass tubes with "Antique Gold" rub'n buff, and attached them to the dishes--

AFTER:

How nicely they came out.

I've used mine ( readily available from Amazon) on metal and wood before, with great results. My favorite color is the "Antique Gold" too, which gives that aged effect, not garish at all.

Most people seem to use it on picture frames. Here's my latest use for it, if you can stand a long story. If you have a boring or raw wood finish on anything, this product might be useful for you.

We got some simple, inexpensive water colors from Paris, of typical French street scenes. Unbeknownst to me, my adorable mother had them framed for me in blond wood frames when we got back. LOVE them and have the four of them grouped on a wall wherever we've lived.

They're very similar to this one I found online, but mine are predominantly blue:

The almost unfinished looking wood of the frames wasn't that exciting. Especially since I have two golden objects flanking my arrangement of the four small paintings. On one side, is a small, gilt baroque mirror. Balancing the other side of the four, is a brass candle sconce with distressed brass wall plate.

Soooooo, I wanted the painting grouping to relate better to the objects flanking them, and at least hint at a "gold" color. So, as simple as that, I donned rubber gloves, squeezed out a tiny bit from the "Antique Gold" tube, and treated each frame, lightly. I wanted a light application, just barely enough at first-- but may make it deeper later.

You can still see the grain of the wood, but the frames are now ever so lightly gilded, and don't look as out of place with the mirror and sconce. If you want a more opaque finish, like I've done in the past, you just keep applying the wax.

You often see people online applying it with bare fingers, but, no, I'd always have either a glove, or a brush, to protect your hands. It's as easy as a breeze, and quite transformative!

Edited to add-- Oh, and later ( true to the name), you gently buff it with a soft cloth. The wax dries almost immediately, so as soon as it does, you buff. That brings up a soft sheen.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

I am still oxox — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:00:27 GMT

OMG my mom used this stuff over 50 years ago I did not know it was still around

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

ThinkingOutLoud — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 18:40:24 GMT

Have you seen or do you know if this would work on baskets? I have one that is lighter than I want for where it is but it won't take stain and I don't want to use paint (I prefer to see the texture).

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Jk9 — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 19:22:58 GMT

thanks for posting @Oznell . I can use some of this now to refresh a frame that's been through some tough times. Must have missed previous posts so thanks for the update posting.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Trailrun23 — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 20:34:51 GMT

I have used this several times for touch-up scratches on some candlesticks and on an oil painting that had a gold frame that was really in bad shape. When I go to a thrift shop, I don't worry about buying something I love even though it may have some scratches or nics. This stuff is very easy to use and you see the results right away which I like.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

GingerHead — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 22:57:32 GMT

@Oznell

I love Rub 'N Buff!

I just recently got 2 new ones, the "ruby" and the "patina." These colors are new to me. I want to use the patina (I love the look of copper patina) on a scroll mirror (similar to this picture and in the picture they used the patina R+B.

Not sure what I'll do with the "ruby" yet but I love it.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Enufstuff — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 23:35:55 GMT

@Oznell That is a wonderful product. I started using it back in the 70s on a lot of craft projects. I only remember using it on wood. I think that I may still have some, I liked the antique gold.

I didn't even know if it was still being made.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

GingerHead — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 23:35:05 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud

@ThinkingOutLoud wrote:
Have you seen or do you know if this would work on baskets? I have one that is lighter than I want for where it is but it won't take stain and I don't want to use paint (I prefer to see the texture).

I would think you could use it on a basket. What do you think @Oznell ?

I mean I've even seen where people have used it on their shoes online.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

jannabelle1 — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 23:37:32 GMT

Rub N' Buff is a great product and has been around for ages. I used it back in the early and mid 80s. What I liked about it is that you control the final color because you can just keep adding more....each application gives the piece a bit more color and pizzazz. Can easily be found at any craft store.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

GingerHead — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 23:38:12 GMT

@Oznell

Oh, also I love your use of it to better incorporate your raw wood frames!

I love that paris watercolor you showed too!

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

jannabelle1 — Fri, 02 Feb 2024 23:41:54 GMT

I think it would work fine on a basket. It might take a little more because of the basket's texture, but I don't see why it wouldn't work. Try it it on the bottom of the basket first and see how the coverage is.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

QVCisFun — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 08:57:06 GMT

@Oznell , Thanks for sharing a neat product with us. Enjoyed your story. Here's my two cents (burnished with Rub 'n Buff). Your solution is inspired and sounds like the perfect way to make the frames relate better to the golden and brass items flanking your pictures. That was sweet of your mother to have those nice watercolor pictures framed for you.

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Oznell — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 13:26:31 GMT

@ThinkingOutLoud , I think @GingerHead , and @jannabelle1 are right-- it would probably work. After all, baskets are a form of wood. It's interesting that it won't take stain-- I wonder if it has been lacquered. But am guessing that the wax would still tint it, at least a bit, and as @jannabelle1 says, you could try a little in an unobtrusive spot, like on the bottom, to see if you like the effect.

One more thought-- if you just wanted to darken the basket, and wanted to be totally conservative at first, you could go the route of putting mineral oil on it, if you haven't already. I put mineral oil on dough bowls and bread boards that I want to have a slightly deeper, richer color. Then, if that didn't satisfy, you could proceed straight to rub'n buff.

Love hearing everyone's stories of working with this little "miracle" product, and good luck to all who try it for the first time-- do let us know what you think!

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

Thundar — Sat, 03 Feb 2024 13:37:36 GMT

Thank you for posting. I want to try this. There was a product that used to be sold on the Q. It was to be used on furniture if you had a moisture mark or scratch and you would use this to make it almost disappear. Does anyone remember what this was called? Thank you!

Re: RUB 'N BUFF REALLY WORKS ON DECOR

gardenman — Sun, 04 Feb 2024 12:04:16 GMT

I've used the Rub n Buff on candles before. I used to have a set of nativity scene candle molds and I'd use a dark red/burgundy dye for the candles and then gold Rub n Buff on top. They looked very nice.