Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/16/2008

Question
I have a waterfall style dresser & a vanity w/a round mirror. On both pieces the finish/varnish is cracked and worn off in some areas. I would like to refinish them but am not sure of the best way to strip them since I don't know what they were originally finished with. What would you recommend using to strip them and then to revarnish them with to keep them as close to their original look and the best way to go about this?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Lael
Nice to hear from you.
You do not need to know what finish is on this furniture in order to strip it, but you must know what the finish is if you want to replace that finish.
So I recommend using paint and varnish remover to strip the furniture.
Lael, I have refinished many many pieces of this old waterfall furniture and I can tell you its strips and refinishes beautifully.
I was never concerned as to what the original finish was because I use tung oil as the new finish. Its fool proof for us do it yourselfers. Shellac, varnish and lacquer finishes are not.
And it looks better than the original look in my humble opinion.
Here are my instructions for the process

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING FURNITURE
The first thing you must do is assemble the material to do the job.
The stripper is the most important item.  
I am hoping you can get "CIRCA 1850" brand paint and varnish remover in your area.
Here is a link
http://www.jamestowndistributors.com/userportal/show_product.do?pid=1694&familyN...

MATERIAL LIST For the stripping stage.
1 gallon stripper
3 boxes of Bull Dog steel wool in medium grade.
One 3 inch oil based paint brush.
Rubber gloves (like you do dishes with), and a pair of cotton gloves inside the rubber ones.
People react differently to stripper. A lot of people feel heat through the rubber gloves, but I feel cold. Have no idea why.
An empty large coffee can. (for the stripper)
A couple of old tooth brushes.
Lots of old rags (I like t-shirts or cotton but for this first stage whatever you have)
Lots of newspaper to protect the garage floor
LOTS OF VENTILATION..A MUST
That's all you need to get started.
HERES WHAT YOU DO...
Work in sections. Perhaps one side of the piece at a time.
Brush on the stripper with the brush. Stripper will quit working if it dries, so keep it wet till the finish softens.
Then take a rag and wipe this mess off.
Then another coat of stripper, rag off again, then while the wood is still wet, take the steel wool and rub with the grain till the wood is nice and clean.
Use the toothbrush in crevices.
Thats all there is to it ...move to another section and continue.
No other prep is necessary...and DO NOT SAND
When the stripping is complete, stain with Minwax stain applied with a rag, then 3 coats of low lustre tung oil also applied with a rag.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
Regards
Eileen
PS..If you are determined to replace the existing finish you must test it to find out what you have.
If its lacquer, lacquer thinner will remove it.
If its shellac, denatured alcohol will soften it.
If its varnish, paint stripper is the only thing that removes it.