Expert: Eileen Cronk - 2/1/2010

Question
QUESTION: Hello,
I am new at this and attempting it on my own.  I have an antique dresser with wood laminate on the drawers.
I have gotten most of it off, but still have some small areas in the corners where it broke off.  I also have the glue to remove.  I was told I could use rubbing alcohol to spray behind/down the edges of the remaining laminate and then use lacquer thinner to remove the glue.
Can you tell me if this is correct and if I scrape with a putty knife the glue after applying the thinner?

Thanks so much!
Dena Price

ANSWER: Hi Dena
Nice to hear from you.
An old iron is the best thing to remove old veneer.
Just run the hot iron over the veneer for a minute and it will soften the old hide glue so you can get the pieces off. Its very easy.
Don't try the lacquer thinner or alcohol.
I have always used hot vinegar to remove this old glue but I have come to the conclusion thats its not the vinegar but actually the heat that removes the glue.
But keep in mind, whatever you use, trying to make the wood under the veneer is never too sucessful unless you plan to paint the surface.
After you have removed all the glue you can, there will still be lots left in the grain.
Agressive sanding will have to be done and it still won't all come out.
Good Luck and great question
Regards
Eileen



---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: thank you Eileen!
Will do.  Unfortunately we already removed much of it and started with the stripper to get the rest off!  I am pooped!
I can see what you mean, however, the grain is full of glue that has soaked into the grain.

Our bedroom is full of dark antique furniture.  Dark Mahogany and Deep cherry wood.
Any suggestions on what type of paint I should use to make it look as close to a stained item as possible?  Or maybe some sort of shabby chiding or patina or ????? Again, this is my first time at this and I am not sure what to do.  it does look as if we won't be able to stain it, unless very dark, and maybe not even that will work, and we will have to paint.  I heard something one time about using paint and stain together to make something look more like a stained item and not so matte like a painted item?

Thanks for all your help!  You are awesome!
Dena

Answer
Hi again Dena
I knew you would have problems. Just the way it is.
But you can certainly make the dresser really nice anyway.
And as long as the drawers are smoothly sanded, you don't need to worry about glue residue.
And there is no need to strip the rest of the piece. Just lightly sand.
Go to your local high end paint store and as for a furniture graining kit.
This consists of a small can of base coat and a can of colored glaze.
These kits come in many different shades so you can pick what you like.
You paint on the base and when dry, paint on the glaze and then before the glaze dries, you make wood grains in it.
They have tools that do this but all I ever used was a coarse paint brush. It puts a finer nicer grain in the glaze. Some of the grains the tools put in the glaze are hideous.
You have lots of working time with the glaze so you can get an idea of what pleases you.
Good Luck and thanks for the great ratings. It makes helping others very nice.
Regards
Eileen