Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/8/2007

Question
Hello, I have some time off this summer and I am refinishing the veneer doors inside a ranch style bungalow that was built in the mid seventies.I have tried to refinish and outward facing (south door) and ruined the venneer sanding it down, but it was beyond saving.And chalked it up to a learning experience.But the inside doors are veneer and was varnished with flat lacquer and have not been done since 1975.I am an autobody mechanic and treat the venner like bondo, stop sanding once I broke through the finish(lacquer) but find that their are dark spots where I have had to sand down the finish(lacquer) more aggressively to remove small scratches.And the doors are spotty when installing them with 4 to 5 coats, although I have not gone through the veneer finish.Standing level with the venner it looks good but at an angle their are spots.The doors do have high spots but I have been sanding with a block to keep thing staight, then anything that I can not get by hand.I am using flat or satin polyurethane clear, they have not been stained? How can I keep the finish the same?Without stripping the old varnish which may have yellowed?

Answer
Hi Dee
Nice to hear from you.
This is a real tough question without actually seeing the doors.
I gather you want to see the wood through the finish, but with the spots you refer to I think this will not work.
Have you considered an opaque stain? It hides a multitude of sins.
Other than that, a complete stripping of the old finish will be needed.
Its really not that hard if you can take the doors off and work on saw horses.
Good Luck and great question.
Get back to me if needed
Regards
Eileen