Expert: Eileen Cronk - 9/1/2008

Question
I have a maple 6 drawer chest I've had for over 24 yrs. I'm planning to give it to my neice who is pregnant. I've just started to refinish it and after using stripper and a plastic scraper and 0000 steel wool pads, I've discovered zillions of small scratches across the grain. I don't believe that it was what I did, was it? I have also used a 220 grit sandpaper and the stain finish, ugly brown and thick, is mostly gone. Except in those scratches. I'm thinking that was the reason for the heavy stain. Any ideas as to what to do now? I thought about some type of crackle treatment or I don't know. Can and will you help? inside the drawers is original maple. The piece has a medal tag inside one of the drawers from Templeton, Brattleboro, VT. The top drawer would lock with a long gone key. Love the piece, want it to be the best I can make it for my neice.
Thanks for your time,
Gary D. Manning


Answer
Hi Gary
Nice to hear from you.
The scratches are nothing you did rest assured.
I have seen this finish and these tiny scratches across the grain on maple many times.
I call this wood "rock maple" not sure if others do but it sure describes it.
Its difficult to sand and will not take a stain at all. The wood is just too dense.
So hence the heavy color finish you removed. This is not a penetrating stain because oil stain just will not take to this wood.
These pieces however are very well made as a rule and will last a lifetime.
If all the finish is now stripped off, a suggestion would be to have a colored lacquer sprayed on it (this is what was on it or similar).
I feel a colored lacquer will cover the fine scratch marks.
You will need to take it to a shop that does this but there are lots around.
This is the very best way to finish this piece, and it should not be cost prohibitive.
Gary a paint job is fine but paint does not last long and she will be repainting over and over.
Hope this has helped.
Regards
Eileen