Expert: Eileen Cronk - 11/10/2008

Question
Hi,  I am refinishing an old Sellers Cabinet I inherited from a family member.  The original finish was an enamel gray. That is what is stamped on the back of the cabinet.  Well, it has been stripped of the gray paint and looks to oak underneath.  The problem is that someone had stained the raw wood a dark stain.  If I take some steel wool and sand it the stain does lighten up some and the grain shows through.  My question is, what can I use to take the dark stain off? It looks like they used a stain only no finish.  Then I would like to stain it with a golden oak color to give it a gold hue.  Then what should I use to seal it with, Minwax or tongue oil  or what do you recommend?  Thanks much,  Betty Morton

Answer
Hi Betty
Sounds like a great project.
You will need an MC stripper (ask at the hardware) to remove this stain. But understand it will likely not entirely remove it.
There will still be some color in the wood which will not come off.
This is actually desired in my opinion.
Use the steel wool with the stripper after the stripper has been on the wood the required amount of time.
Then your Minwax Golden oak stain.
Even if a bit of the old color remains I feel it will look great.
After staining you can certainly use tung oil.
Wipe on 3 or 4 coats with a rag. Let dry between coats of course.
I would never put poly on old furniture.
Hope this helps
Kind Regards
Eileen