Expert: Eileen Cronk - 7/29/2008

Question
Hello. I want to know if there is a special polish to use on waterfall veneer.Also,what is a good product to use on scratches and chips? I do not want to refinish the furniture. I just want to cover up the scratches.
Regards,Darrick

Answer
Hi Darrick
Nice to hear from you.
There is no special polish to use on this furniture but it is advised that any polish we use should be silicone free as it has been known to harm old finishes.
So read your labels.
Darrick they make a lot of products called "scratch cover" or similar sounding things.
All are supposed to hide these scratches. They often don't.
The chips can never be covered.
On the actual veneer surface I find the best method is a good cleaning so the surface is dirt and wax free.
Then I rub on a coat of Minwax stain in a color as close to original as I can get.
This does hide the scratches.
To clean the surface prior to rubbing on the stain, I use mineral spirits and a rag. On heavily waxed and soiled surfaces I use fine steel wool dipped in the spirits. Just dry as you go with clean rags.
After the stain is dried I rub on a light coat of tung oil also with a rag.
This really makes the veneer look like new.
Darrick on your waterfall furniture there will be areas that are solid wood.
These areas will be on the outer edges.
These are the areas that usually chip of finish and in most cases the stain does not penetrate the wood because its just too hard.
If you feel adventurous, you can get a colored lacquer and mask off these areas and spray them with this lacquer.
Here is a link

http://www.constantines.com/browseproducts/Behlen-Jet-Spray-Lacquers.HTML

You will see it comes in many colors so pick the closest.
And finally I want you to post back to me if you decide to order this stuff as there are some specific directions I will give you for its use (nothing hard LOL).
Also if you go this route, these edges must be cleaned the same as the veneer, so you might as well clean the entire piece at once.
Good Luck
Regards
Eileen