Hard wax oil is a product that’s designed to provide long-lasting protection for timber floors, benchtops and furniture.
Made from a combination of natural oils and waxes, hard wax oil sinks into the fibre of the wood and protects it from the inside. This prevents timber furniture from becoming damaged or stained by water, spills, grease and dirt.
Hard wax oils not only protect timber, they rejuvenate the wood and enhance its natural appearance. This makes them especially popular for use on interior furniture and surfaces.
The best part about hard wax oil is that it’s a DIY-friendly product. If your timber furniture is starting to look tired, you can bring it back to life with some hard wax oil and a bit of elbow grease.
There are lots of products on the market, so in this article we’ll look at the best hard wax oil for furniture and its application process.
What is the Best Hard Wax Oil for Furniture?
We recommend Ciranova’s Hardwax Oil Titan for use on furniture, screens, panels and other timber surfaces. Ciranova is a leading European manufacturer known for producing high-performance, plant-based hard wax oils that are trusted by professional floor sanders and furniture makers alike.
Hardwax Oil Titan is one of their best-performing products, available in our hard wax oil collection.Their range is designed to enhance the natural character of timber while providing reliable protection against everyday wear, spills, and moisture.
Ciranova Hardwax Oil Titan
Ciranova Hardwax Oil Titan is a high-performance, plant-based oil finish suitable for timber furniture, floors, panels, and interior wood surfaces. It’s a popular choice for both DIY users and professionals thanks to its balance of durability, ease of use, and natural appearance.
One of Titan’s key advantages is its long open time, which allows the oil to be applied evenly with a roller without rushing. This makes it especially practical for larger furniture pieces such as tables, benches, or cabinetry, where consistency is important.
Once cured, Titan forms a tough, breathable finish that offers excellent resistance to water, stains, and everyday wear. It’s available in natural-looking finishes including matte, satin, and silk, allowing the timber’s grain and texture to remain the focus.
For furniture or surfaces that see heavier use, Titan can be reinforced by adding 5% Ciranova Hardener UA, increasing resistance to spills, grease, and abrasion without compromising the natural look.
Titan is also easy to maintain over time. Like most high-quality hard wax oils, it can be spot-repaired or refreshed without sanding the entire piece back to bare timber.
Why Titan works well for furniture:
- Easy to apply, even for first-time users
- Low odour and user-friendly
- Suitable for a wide range of timber species
- Fast drying, with recoating after around 8 hours
- Adaptable for higher-wear furniture with optional hardener
Ciranova Hardwaxoil Magic
Ciranova Hardwaxoil Magic is a premium modified oil designed to create an ultra-matte, non-shiny finish that closely resembles the look and feel of raw timber. It’s particularly popular for contemporary interiors, wire-brushed finishes, and furniture where a very natural aesthetic is the goal.
Magic enhances the timber’s natural colour and texture without adding visible sheen, making it ideal for furniture pieces where you want the wood itself to stand out.
Magic is typically applied as a two-coat system, using a brush, pad, or buffing machine depending on the surface and finish required. Like other Ciranova hard wax oils, it is easily repairable, scratches or worn areas can be locally reworked without sanding the entire piece.
Why Magic works well for furniture:
- Creates a very flat, natural, non-gloss finish
- Preserves the look and feel of raw or wire-brushed timber
- Excellent resistance to wear and chemicals
- Low VOCs, making it suitable for indoor use
- Simple long-term maintenance with re-coating rather than sanding
How to Apply Hard Wax Oil to Furniture
Protecting your furniture with hard wax oil is a DIY friendly project that can be tackled over the course of a weekend. You’ll only need sandpaper, rubber gloves, a paintbrush and/or roller, and a can of Ciranova Hardwax Oil Titan.
Use these instructions to apply the hard wax oil:
- Prepare the surface by sanding with 120 grit sandpaper. The aim is to remove imperfections and rough spots – these may be highlighted by the hard wax oil. Sand the furniture evenly to prevent patchiness once the coating is applied.
- Clean up any sanding dust with a vacuum cleaner.
- Using a paint brush, microfiber roller or spray gun, apply the hard wax oil according to the manufacturer’s directions. If using a paint brush or roller, try to work along the length of the grain. Brushes are often the best way to apply hard wax oil to furniture with intricate details. For large, flat surfaces (such as tabletops), a roller is the better option.
- Apply the hard wax oil in an even layer and allow it to soak into the timber. Leave the hard wax oil to dry for about 8 hours.
- Once the first coat is dry, you can apply a second coat. Gently wipe away any excess hard wax oil with a microfiber cloth.
- Allow the furniture to dry for 24 hours before use. It takes 7-10 days for hard wax oil to cure fully, so be careful not to scratch your furniture during that time.
Hard wax oils vary between manufacturers. Follow the directions on the tin, and always make sure you’re wearing appropriate PPE, such as rubber gloves and goggles.
Can Hard Wax Oil be Used on Outdoor Furniture?
Ciranova’s Hardwax Oil Titan is suitable for use on internal furniture, floors, screens and timber panels. It is not specifically rated for outdoor use. Generally speaking, hard wax oil provides good protection against water and weather, but it is susceptible to UV rays.
Hard wax oil should only be used to treat outdoor furniture that is protected from the sun. For decking, deck chairs and other outdoor timbers that live in full sunlight, we recommend choosing a more conventional decking oil.
If you’d like to see the application process in action, check out this step-by-step video on restoring timber furniture using hard wax oil
Protect Your Furniture, Floors and Timber Surfaces with Quicksand Supplies!
Hard wax oil is the perfect treatment for any timber furniture in your home. It’s hard wearing, easy to apply and it provides great protection against moisture, spills and everyday accidents.
If you have timber furniture that’s looking a little tired, Quicksand Supplies offers hard wax oils that we’ve trusted for over 20 years. We have decades of experience in floor sanding, and we’ve seen firsthand how hard wax oils perform when used on furniture, benchtops, tables and other timbers. Ciranova Hardwax Oil Titan is ideal for DIY-use and it’s the best hard wax oil on the market.
Our team is happy to help out with any project you have in mind. Feel free to browse our floor varnish or timber floor cleaner range online, or contact us if you need help selecting a hard wax oil for your furniture!