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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing a Lovig veneer Teak Desk

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Expert: - 4/2/2011


Question
Hi Greg,

I recently purchased a Lovig veneer teak desk and I want to refinish it because it has some scratches and discoloration. I'd like to avoid aggressive sanding so as not to damage the veneer. What type of stripper and oil topcoat would you recommend? Thanks!

Answer
Hi Greg, any good methylene chloride stripper will work fine for stripping your Teak desk.....and even Citristrip, which I use almost exclusively now, would work almost as well.These Teak pieces were finished with "long oil" finishes which penetrate and cure from within the wood, like a penetrating varnish.Often called Danish oil finishes, they use various Phenolics, oils and resins to produce a durable soft luster finish that accentuates the Teak, and won't flake, chip or peel. Watco Danish oil is a good product to use, and it is available in colors...I usually like the Medium Walnut color as that seems to be a pretty close match to a lot of the "factory" Teak finishes....one restoration technique that is sometimes employed is actually wet sanding the Teak surface with the Danish oil and some 400-600 grit wet/dry sandpaper...often a surface can be cleaned and renewed with this technique....but in my experience, it's usually better to strip the piece.Stripping needs to be done well, though...letting the stripper sit long enough to be able to dissolve the cured resins, which can take a few applications of the stripper, scrubbed off with #1 -#2 steel wool. The Ace brand 'semi paste' stripper from Ace Hardware store is a very good stripper at a reasonable price.Read, understand, and follow ALL the directions and precautions on the label. Then after a thorough drying, a light, hand sanding with some 180-220 should open the pores, and even the surface in prep for the new finish. Post back if need be- regards- Greg

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2000767/Watco-Penetrating-Danish-Oils.aspx

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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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