Expert: Eileen Cronk - 3/18/2009

Question
Hi Eileen,

I have several pieces of black American cherry wood furniture made in Vermont.  I’ve had it for about 15 years and I am very tired of it.  I wanted to get it refinished by professionals but it was so expensive I could buy new furniture for the price they wanted.  What I love about the furniture is that it looks like it doesn’t have a finish on it.  The following is a brief description of how it was treated before it was sent to me.

1.Your furniture has been through a four step refinishing process.  We first dip the entire piece in a bath of Watco Danish penetrating oil.,
2. The piece is then dried and rubbed by hand.
3. Before shipment, it is sprayed with a coat of Watco Rejuvenating oil – a thinner, lemon scented oil designed to deepen and replenish the original finish.
4. The fourth step is WATCHO Satin Wax.

I have oiled the furniture over the years but it is very dry right now.  I haven’t wanted to do anything until I talked with someone.  I would like to stain it a very dark espresso that is so popular right now.

I thought I could do light sanding, put some stain on it with a rag, and then rub some kind of wax on it and that would be all.  But the professionals wanted so much I’m sure I don’t fully understand the process.  

Could you explain the process of refinishing including what I would need to do to prepare the wood for staining.  And also some of the names of products you would use.

Also I would like your opinion on staining this cherry.  It’s beautiful but I’m so tired of it.  The reason I don’t just sell it and buy something new is I can’t afford this kind of well built furniture now.

Thank you so much for your advice.

Jen


Answer
Hi Jen
Nice to hear from you.
Yes its expensive to have furniture refinished.
If you want this dark expresso color thats so popular today its a many step time consuming process done with spray lacquers.
It is done after the piece is stripped by pros in a shop and cannot be duplicated in the home.
The finish currently on your furniture is however the easiest to remove.
So you see Jen, its quite reasonable to think you can strip the pieces (I know you can with guidance), but you just cannot get the finish you desire.
You can however strip and apply another type stain like Minwax for instance. Then repeat the original finish schedule with the oiling etc.
Here are the stripping instructions

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.
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.
Depending on the material you are removing, another coat of stripper is often needed but you will know this as you progress into the job.
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 the oil schedule.
Jen its advisable to test stain colors before committing to them.
Do this on a hidden area of the furniture.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
Regards
Eileen