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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/sticky build up on late 70s early 80s Ethan Allen dining set

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Expert: - 1/23/2011


Question
I recently purchased an Ethan Allan dining table, 6 chairs and a hutch in tavern pine finish. It looks very much like the set my mother purchased in the late 70s. There is a sticky build up on some of the seats. I tried Homer Formby's build up remover and Murphy's oil soap. My husband thinks I cleaned the polyurethane off but my brother says that furniture that old doesn't have poly on it. Is there anyway to know what is on the furniture? I would like to clean it without damaging it. Some of the chairs are slightly darker than others and the table. The darker chairs are as dark as the hutch. After getting it home and sticking my head in it to clean it seems the folks that had it before smoked. Thanks for any help you can provide.

Answer
Hi Tonya, the furniture is certainly lacquered. If it's sticky after cleaning, then the lacquer has degraded to a point that it will likely need refinishing. Lacquer can break down with certain cleaners, (like Bleach based cleaners, Ammonia, etc), and there's no way to save it when it has gotten to that point.The Formby's is really a better cleaner on lacquer, especially for cigarette residue. Murphys contains things like water, Propylene Glycol, and Vegetable soaps, which can leave a residue, and should not be used often on a lacquer finish.Lacquer can also oxidize and dull, and can be revived with a polishing compound, providing the finish is otherwise clean and in good shape.This requires quite a bit of elbow grease and a suitable polishing compound like 3M's One step or Finesse It.(and a little experience). I would have a Pro come in and evaluate it with you, as restoring/repairing/refinishing lacquer is not the realm of the novice. Hope that helps- post back if need be- regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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