Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Various wood restoration questions
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cmcnally
06-10-06, 04:20 PM
I just want to preface this post by saying I searched the forum as described in the sticky, and although I found useful info, none if it spoke to the specifics of my questions. If I could've phrased the search differently to turn up the answer, please let me know so I can get better in the future.
I'm trying to spruce up some beat up furniture. One piece is a futon. It's processed wood of some kind. And it has some scratches and places where the finish is wearing away on the arms. Can I sand and stain this as if it were "real" wood? Not sure about the factors to consider here. Also, it might be tough to match the finish exactly, and I certainly don't want to redo the whole thing
The second piece I have is an old trunk. Most of the finish has worn off and there are numerous stains and watermarks on the top. I don't have the workspace or the energy to completely strip and restain it, but I wouldn't mind sanding the top down to remove some of the marks and then treating it somehow to improve the appearance. Just not sure what the best way to go about that is. Thanks in advance for help.
I'm trying to spruce up some beat up furniture. One piece is a futon. It's processed wood of some kind. And it has some scratches and places where the finish is wearing away on the arms. Can I sand and stain this as if it were "real" wood? Not sure about the factors to consider here. Also, it might be tough to match the finish exactly, and I certainly don't want to redo the whole thing
The second piece I have is an old trunk. Most of the finish has worn off and there are numerous stains and watermarks on the top. I don't have the workspace or the energy to completely strip and restain it, but I wouldn't mind sanding the top down to remove some of the marks and then treating it somehow to improve the appearance. Just not sure what the best way to go about that is. Thanks in advance for help.
George
06-26-06, 01:29 PM
In answer to your first question, yes. Since factory finished furniture is almost universally coated with lacquer, I'd suggest that for a finish to alleviate any compatibility problems between the old finish and new.
For the trunk, sanding is a viable option for removing the old finish and some of the marks. Wood bleach will remove some (if not all) of the watermarks that remain.
Afterward, just pick a stain color that best matches. To obtain a uniform appearance (hide the repair work) you'll probably need to recoat the entire piece.
Personally, I suggest not touching this piece until after you've had an antique dealer look at it. If the trunk is one of the older types, you may be destroying its value by working on it.
For the trunk, sanding is a viable option for removing the old finish and some of the marks. Wood bleach will remove some (if not all) of the watermarks that remain.
Afterward, just pick a stain color that best matches. To obtain a uniform appearance (hide the repair work) you'll probably need to recoat the entire piece.
Personally, I suggest not touching this piece until after you've had an antique dealer look at it. If the trunk is one of the older types, you may be destroying its value by working on it.