Expert: Eileen Cronk - 6/29/2008

Question
Hello Eileen,

I have no clue on how to refinish or salvage my father in-laws funiture. I am told they were built some time betwwen 1930's and 1950's ~Tri-Bond III Furniture~ and it is a waterfall style with no handles at all. I would love to rifinish due to scuffs and water stains. I am told not to sand them because is is wood veneer not solid wood. so now I don't know where to start or what agent to use to take off the top layer.
PLEASE HELP ME> I do love these art deco peices and want them as my main bedroom furniture.
I could send you a pic of them it that would help.

Sincerely,


Answer
Hi Evelyn
Nice to hear from you.
These old pieces will refinish beautifully.
I have done many such.
And whoever told you not to sand is correct.
You must strip the finish off with paint stripper.
You know Evelyn if you have never done this before its a great place to start.
And like I said, this particular furniture refinishes beautifully.
Here are my complete instructions for doing this job.
Everything applies to your furniture.

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 a 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.
And write if you get in difficulty.
Regards
Eileen