You are here:
- Home
- Style
- Antiques
- Collectibles-General (Antiques)
- Refinishing an old oak dresser
Collectibles-General (Antiques)/Refinishing an old oak dresser
Advertisement
Question
Hi there,
)
I've been given an old dresser, that I believe to be oak. I'm sure it needs some TLC and refinishing. Can you tell me anything about it? (age, vintage) and suggest how I should refinish and/or care for it?
Any assistance at all would be most gratefully received.
Thank you so much!
Sue
Hi Sue
Nice to hear from you.
This is indeed an oak dresser and a very nice one too.
The drawers are veneer and the oak I call quarter sawn or some refer to it as tiger oak because of the stripes.
This piece I believe has been refinished at some point in its life and I do not feel it needs it again. The finish looks in good shape but I can't see the top..thats usually where the problems are.
Personally just a cleaning and a nice waxing.
But the finish really looks like it could be an oil finish and if thats the case you don't want to wax over it. Just apply another coat of oil.
To clean the dresser simply dip a rag in a bit of mineral spirits and wipe the surface (although the piece does not look dirty, you will be surprised at what this often takes off.)
Then a coat of low luster tung oil also applied with a rag.
The dating is out of my line and the refinish and knobs actually make this piece quite new looking but I'll hazard a guess and say its from the 1930's or 40's (just a guess LOL).
Sue my guess is you will write back and tell me the top has some damage.
Before you contact me, try to determine if the top is solid wood or veneer. I really think its solid but the veneer will be easy to spot.
The very edge of the top will be solid and the veneer starts at the thin raised up portion back from the edge.
Keep me posted
Kind Regards
Eileen
- Ask a Question
| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Thank you so much! | ||
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
- Michael Andrew Wilson
- robert klein
- Fred Taylor
- Rodger Knutson
- Eileen Cronk
- Bill & Jan Berning
- Irene Schwall
- Barbara K. Acchino
- Rex Ransome
- Larry Bieza
- Anderson's Restorations-Rob Anderson
- DARWIN D. BEARLEY
- Chad Boekelheide
- The Wicker WomanŽ-Cathryn Peters
- David Burritt
- Bob Wiley
- Marc A. Hess
- Tom Novitski
- Marvin D. Miller
- Robert Barnes
- Frederic Rozier
- G Zimmerman
- Jack Freund
- Russell Barnes
- Dennis Wolbach
- David Silver
Eileen Cronk
Expertise
I can answer most questions about the repairing and refinishing of all your old furniture items (the things we call antiques). I can also give you advice on what wood items to choose and what wood items to avoid at auctions, flea markets etc. I DO NOT give appraisals on antiques as this is not my field of expertise.
Experience
I have been repairing, refinishing and of course buying old furniture for the past 30 years. On any given weekend I can be found at auction sales or flea markets searching out a good buy. I have taken several courses in this area over the years, but I find "Hands On" learning to be the best teacher. I can help you avoid the pitfalls and problems of this wonderful rewarding craft.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.