Aging a Seria wooden box with Turner antique wax
Seria sells small unfinished wooden boxes. Cute, but a bit cheap-looking. Since they are bare wood, I tried aging them with Turner’s antique wax.
Before and after
Big change for a cheap box—now it feels like a Pirates of the Caribbean prop. Took about 10 minutes to coat.
How to
- Buy the wax (around 2,000 yen). It is palm-sized-but-chunky; one can covers a big desk or bookshelf.
- Use an old sock or rag; press firmly to scoop the wax.
- Dab onto the wood and spread to avoid streaks.
- At first the dry wood drinks the wax, so it streaks. Scoop a generous amount and spread gradually.
- Let it sit briefly, then buff with a dry cloth.
- If streaks stand out, apply a thin second coat to even it out.
Official tips: brushing with a stiff brush before buffing gives deeper gloss—the wax left in the grain catches light.
Why this wax is nice
Spreads reasonably well
It soaks in at first, but flow improves as you go. There is a distinct smell, so ventilate (mild beeswax-like scent until your nose adjusts).
Many colors
Eight colors: Walnut (dark brown/blackish), Tudor Oak (dark brown), Rustic Pine (yellowish brown), Clear, White, Teak (reddish), Jacobean (dark brown), Dark Oak (dark brown).
I own Walnut, Tudor Oak, and Rustic Pine. Tried Walnut to match a Muji walnut shelf—too dark. Rustic Pine looked too yellow against regular oak furniture. Tudor Oak was just right. The Seria box here uses Walnut plus brushing; Tudor Oak would give a lighter tone.
Water repellent
It is wax (oil), so it sheds water. One review said they sanded out a water stain on a board, then waxed it—looked good and became more water resistant.
Great for quick DIY upgrades
Because the grain shows through, a quick sand on surfaces/edges then wax gives easy antique vibes. Common DIY woods like pine, SPF, and falcata get an instant upscale look.
IKEA sells an unfinished wooden letter tray for about 1,500 yen: KLAMMEMACKA. A dark wax coat makes it look premium—recommended.
Pair it with Turner’s black “Iron Paint” series for an easy industrial style: rough black “iron” plus muted wood. The paint is water-based, low odor, and wipes off easily before it dries, so indoor work is fine. Fun project.
