Hi everyone… hope you’re having a fabulous day!
You all know I love re-purposing and re-styling old hardware. An easy way to update old furniture hardware is to paint them to compliment your piece.
Hardware gets A LOT of use, so protecting your painted handles and pulls is important.
In the past I’ve used wax to topcoat my painted hardware. Wax gives a nice sheen that’s easy to control. The more you buff, the more glossy it becomes. The only downfall with wax is somewhere down the road, reapplying is a good idea.
My new favorite is Minwax Wipe-On-Poly. This Wipe-On-Poly is not my “go-to-product” for large surfaces, but it’s great for small surfaces and AMAZING for handles and pulls.
Really easy to apply… just wipe-on with a soft cloth.
It comes in satin or gloss depending on how shiny you want your handles to be. The more coats you apply to your painted hardware, the more pronounced the sheen. And unlike wax, this durable polyurethane wipe-on will never need re-applying… even with heavy-duty everyday use.
What do you topcoat and protect your painted hardware with?
Missed last weeks Quick-Tip?… you can find last weeks Q-T-T here.
Happy Painting!
Denise x
Hello again... I'm so happy you dropped by! Let's keep in touch! Follow me on social media or sign up for a dose of furniture painting inspiration and diy tutorials. :) 
Just came across you by accident and I’m excited to see all the different techniques you use. Q: do you have videos or tutorials I can watch? Many thanks.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC60-IeHN7_TTxivBzJBjgPQ
Would you use the wipe on poly for dinning chairs?
Hi Brooke! Yes, I would – and I have. 🙂 I’m not a big fan of Wipe On Poly for large flat surfaces but it works great for smaller surfaces. Chairs, furniture legs, spindles etc. I usually add 3+ coats to get my desired effect though.
Hi Denise I love your blog so infomative. I’m going to paint a few bookshelves with latex paint and will be distressing them. Is it OK, if I use satin latex paint or do I need to use matte? Also for bookshelves what finish should use that won’t change the color to much? The only wax I have is Annie Solan soft wax. Can I use that for a top coat? I appreciate any advice you can give me.
Thank you Claribel Beharry
Annie Sloan Clear Wax is a wonderful topcoat for a bookshelf Clairbel. And it won’t change the color of your paint (especially white paints) like some poly’s can over time. As for sheen, that’s a personal preference. Matte/eggshell or satin will work.
Why do you use a different topcoat for the dresser and another for the drawer pulls? Why don’t you just use the same for all? Is there a reason why this topcoat is only used for drawer pulls and smaller areas? Is it the price?
I much prefer spraying or brushing on my poly (rather than a wipe-on) for large surfaces because I feel I have more control in the application. The few times I’ve used this wipe-on poly on a large surface, I didn’t like the outcome. A little uneven…but I am really picky…lol. Having said that, this wipe-on poly is perfect for smaller surfaces and hardware! So easy and convenient too.