Originally Posted by
greywuuf
hey all, let me start with a picture:
this is what I am working on. I am going to make the assumption that it is shellac finish ( and will test with denatured alky) my plan is to use either steel wool or a "scotch brite" pad and lots of alky to try an rub the top of this table. I am hoping to A: lighten some of the dark edges on the water stains and B: smooth the existing finish. I was then going to apply a new coating of Shellac. I was hoping this would preserve some but not to much of the used character of this old piece and brighten it up and preserve it.
my questions are...
Will this work ?
will I need to oil the dry area's first.... if So i assume I need to strip the whole top andd oil it all
commens questions or suggestions welcome.
Thanks
Dan.
Dan do not oil the dry spots on the cabinet as it will do nothing for the wood. the wood looks dry because the finish is worn off. Yes do strip the cabinet with alcohol and steel wool or scotch brite pad. rinse pad often in alcohol(it is messy) Once all the old finish is off you can stain to bring out the grain(a matter of choice) Then apply three thin coats of shellac by brushing or using the rag method of application. I as a refinisher do not recomend tung oil. It is not correct for sewing machine cabinets and will not have the same look. They use three top coats on sewing machine cabinets. Laquer, shellac and varnish(no poly) shellac being the most common top coat. Now keep in mind this is a matter of choice in the end LOL