Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/10/2009

Question
Hi,my lovely oak dresser and bookcase have been stained in Tung Oil, however, this means they are a DARKER colour than my light oak dining table and it looks terrible.  Can anyone offer me some advise on how to make the dresser and bookcase ligher to match the dining table.  I dont think I can do anything with the table as the finish seems to have a seal on it.  thanks. Geraldine

Answer
Hi Geraldine
Nice to hear from you.
Your pieces will not be stained in tung oil but will have a dark stain under the oil finish.
Fortunately a tung oil finish is the easiest of all finishes to remove but you still need furniture stripper to remove it.
Here are my complete instructions for the process revised to remove your tung oil finish.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR STRIPPING GERALDINES DRESSER & BOOKCASE
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...
Remove all hardware.
Work in sections. A drawer at a time or a side or top of piece etc.
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 (In Geraldines case I recommend Minwax Golden oak oil based stain ) applied with a rag, then 3 or 4 coats of low lustre tung oil also applied with a rag.
Please let me know if anything is not 100% clear.
Good Luck
Regards
Eileen