DIYbanter - View Single Post - Refinishing tips for a 70-year-old mahogany dining room set

dpb

On 12/17/2012 7:59 PM, wrote:
On Monday, December 17, 2012 6:23:04 PM UTC-5, DanG wrote:

I question whether you really should refinish this set. I assume it is
fairly good shape and just needs some TLC.

Pick out some portion that is inconspicuous, perhaps the legs or
....

Rub it down really well and clean and wipe with clean rags and paint
thinner until a white rag comes away clean. The paint thinner won't
hurt any finish that is on the pieces and will remove wax and polish.

I'm wanting you to see what it looks like with just a really good
cleaning. If there are any scratches, etc use some Watco Danish oil of
an appropriate color. ...

So what you are saying is to use paint thinner and it will get all
that built up wax and sticky fingerprints off and leave the finish
alone. That's what I wanted to hear most of all. I was surprised
when somebody said they used stain way back then to make things
darker. That is probably the reason the tops of the chair backs are
lighter than everything else: because people always put their hands
right in the middle of that spot.

Is that where I could put a little danish oil? This isn't the best
piece of furniture. Because of circumstances, we use this dining set
at least a couple times a month. Sometimes for eating and sometimes
for doing things on it. We keep it covered but the old scratches and
such are there. There was a cat years and years ago that used to
jump up on the table and got some claw marks in it. There are marks
from writing on the table top--some are probably as old as the table.
And, like I said, there are several deep gouges in the buffet top.
....

Well, do some more research before you really start if this is really a
piece/set of any value (monetary or personal)...

I'd suggest at least watching the Mohawk videos and practicing some w/
their or similar products before you even _think_ of beginning on the
real thing.

http://www.mohawk-finishing.com
http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=109
http://www.mohawk-finishing.com/catalog_browse.asp?ictNbr=106

They've got a "veritable plethora" of you-tube videos on filling w/
various products for the various types of damage and locations.

As for cleaning and restoring old finishes, start here...

http://www.refinishwizard.com/refinishing_antiques.html

Then perhaps start w/

http://extension.usu.edu/files/publications/publication/FL-HI-500.pdf

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