Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Question for re-finishing dining room table
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irish girl
08-23-08, 01:57 PM
George, I have a question - what if you want to remove the finish coat but not the stain. Dining Room table is approx. 25 -30 years old. Very expensive piece. Owner before me waxed table then kept a pad on it all of the time. The finish has impections and light scratches in the top coat. Has lots of inlay wood running different directions. Beautiful piece. I want to strip away finish but not the stain color. Probably varnish considering the age, though not sure. The piece matches a china buffet so I don't want to strip the stain color. Just want to remove varnish and recoat with whatever will be the best.
Do you have any suggestions?
Irish Girl
Do you have any suggestions?
Irish Girl
George
08-25-08, 09:41 AM
Most commercial strippers will remove at least some the stain. I have had moderate success using a 50-50 mix of denatured alcohol and lacquer thinner to remove old lacquer & shellac finishes.
This mixture USUALLY does not affect the stain to any great degree,
Apply with a natural bristle brush (cheap) and wipe off with paper towels. Don't use steel wool as it will remove the stain as well as the finish.
This mixture is highly FLAMMABLE - BE CAREFUL!!
This mixture USUALLY does not affect the stain to any great degree,
Apply with a natural bristle brush (cheap) and wipe off with paper towels. Don't use steel wool as it will remove the stain as well as the finish.
This mixture is highly FLAMMABLE - BE CAREFUL!!
mikeTN
08-25-08, 02:53 PM
George, I have a question - what if you want to remove the finish coat but not the stain. Dining Room table is approx. 25 -30 years old. Very expensive piece. Owner before me waxed table then kept a pad on it all of the time. The finish has impections and light scratches in the top coat. Has lots of inlay wood running different directions. Beautiful piece. I want to strip away finish but not the stain color. Probably varnish considering the age, though not sure. The piece matches a china buffet so I don't want to strip the stain color. Just want to remove varnish and recoat with whatever will be the best.
Do you have any suggestions?
Irish Girl
What are you callling imperfections? Anything you do to the finish, if it is a good piece, will affect the value of the piece(negatively). If it is the wax that is affected, use a good cleaner to remove the wax build-up; and maybe with it you will remove some/all the imperfections. I would think long and hard before using lacquer thinner. If you get it cleaned, you may be able to apply hand rubbed finish to the scratches to cover without affecting the original finish.
Do you have any suggestions?
Irish Girl
What are you callling imperfections? Anything you do to the finish, if it is a good piece, will affect the value of the piece(negatively). If it is the wax that is affected, use a good cleaner to remove the wax build-up; and maybe with it you will remove some/all the imperfections. I would think long and hard before using lacquer thinner. If you get it cleaned, you may be able to apply hand rubbed finish to the scratches to cover without affecting the original finish.