Expert: Eileen Cronk - 5/21/2008

Question
We have a blond bedroom set that was handed down to us by our folks.  I'm thinking 1950's.  It's great quality, but I don't care for blond oak that's yellowed over time.  It has lots of flat surfaces, so I'm thinking it wouldn't be too hard to strip and re-stain.  Is this a simple process?  We've stripped painted furniture and stained them before, and I was very happy with the results.  What all is involved?  Thank you for your advise!!

Answer
Hi Cindy
Nice to hear from you.
Sounds like you have a bit of experience stripping so this should be an easy job to do.
And stripping this finish off will be a lot easier than stripping paint.
Here are my stripping and finishing instructions that will apply  your bedroom set.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING CINDYS BEDROOM SET
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.
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 or 4 coats of low lustre Circa 1850 tung oil also applied with a rag.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
Great project
Regards
Eileen