To strip or not to strip?

[helentherasa]

Hi all,

I hope I'm in the right bit of the forum but I nee a bit of advice.

I have just bought an Edwardian Satin wood chest of drawers from an on line auction site, suffice to say that when they arrived it was immediately apparent that they need more than just a little TLC.

The Varnish (especially on the top) is stained, chipped, roughened, gouged etc. Would stripping be the answer and if so what would be the best treatment afterwards?

Any advice would be gratefully received.

Thank you in advance.

Helen x

 

[JohnD]

is it veneered or solid?

 

[helentherasa]

Hi,

As far as I can tell it's solid with the exception of the back and the drawer bottoms which feel and sound very thin, more like plywood.

Helen

 

[JohnD]

have a careful look at the grain on the ends and the sides of the top piece, and the grain on the underside of the top. Is it the same grain? If solid you would find end grain at the sides.

Also look at the backs of the drawer fronts, can you see the same grain as is on the fronts?

I think it is more likely to be veneered on a less expensive timber.

If you can post some close-up pics of the edges, showing the corner where the top meets the sides, we may be able to tell.

The reason this is important, is that if you try to strip a veneered surface, the veneer will probably come off.

If you try to sand it (depending on how old it is, older veneers are thicker) you may grind through the veneer.

 

[JohnD]

I've just had a look at the one I keep my spare RCBOs in. Mine has a solid top (grain follows, and some chips and cuts show no veneer or different wood underneath) But the front is veneered (and a much better figuring), there are a few chips in the veneer where you can see the pine (or whatever) underneath.

The solid top could be sanded, the veneered front can't (except very lightly)

Top

Front

see if your top appears to be veneered. You may be able to check by scraping or sanding the back edge which won't show. If it is veneered, don't use a stripper on it. try rubbing it down with wire wool (along the grain; never ever rub in circles or across the grain). If you get tired doing that, use a fine glasspaper on block. The finer the better or you will roughen the surface. For a superfine finish after you have got the polish off, use wire wool again.

If French Polish is too expensive or difficult, use a clear varnish, very thinly. This is an antique piece so do not use a polyurethane varnish, and use a satin finish. If you use thick gloss it will look like a toffee apple.

 

[helentherasa]

Thank you John, you have been very helpful.

I'll try and take a piccie or 2 and post them as I've had a look and I'm not much the wiser by looking at it. So far all I can say is that it is very orange with very little figureing and a very fine/non existant grain, and where there is scratches and gouges they are either darker where dirt has got in or paler where the scratch is new.

Thanks again, your star.

Helen x