Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Refinishing antique cedar chest with mildew and heat damage

I have an antique cedar chest that is probabably at least fifty years old. It came out of my grandmothers basement and has suffered some damage from the elements. It has a white sheen and very fine line cracks on the top of the chest. The cracks don't bother me so much. I think they add character. I have tried to remove the white sheen with Murphy's Oil, but it does not help. Any suggestions on what else I could use? And if that doesn't work, are there any special steps I need to take if I decide to refinish the chest.

The fine lines you speak of are usually the result of the finish breaking down because of widely varying temperatures. The white sheen was caused by exposure to excessive humidity over an extended period of time.

If the lines don't bother you, the white can be removed by making a paste of baking soda and water and rubbing it on the sheen with a damp sponge. The sheen can be restored (and some of the lines eliminated) by following with an application of Turtle Wax Polishing Compound and Scratch Remover (1 product) found at most automotive stores. Follow the directions on the can.