Mary Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 This forum is very informative! I was recently given a burled walnut bed and matching dresser with a granite top and a framed mirror above that. Due to a fragment of the manufacturers "sticker", I was able to find out it had been made in Milwaukee, WI in 1882. The interiors of drawers are completely finished. The entire set is all walnut and my question is this: In some areas the finish is completely off on the exposed pieces of wood. I plan to use this furniture and am wondering if I should just clean it all with Murphys oil soap and just leave it alone? Or do I strip the whole thing and re -shellac (which I have never used before)? Thanks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Llama Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 Do you have a picture of the items? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 1882 is over 100 years old. I've heard that if you want to sell something as an antique, refinishing can lower the value in some cases. So, that's something you might want to consider.Marc has several articles (articles and article) on refinishing decisions and techniques. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RPCV_Woodworker Posted August 19, 2015 Report Share Posted August 19, 2015 First, figure out what the original finish was... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted August 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I posted pictures in the Gallery under the title "Burled Walnut".I have zero intentions of selling it; I'm more concerned with the fact that part of the finish on the wood is gone, worn away. I don't want it to deteriorate further. I have refinished some furniture too but it was mostly not valuable stuff that belonged to my great-grandmother. I'm happy to leave the bedroom set as it is, even the bare spaces where there is no finish if that will be the best thing to do.The dresser has a granite top, not marble. Did they use granite then as well as marble? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gilgaron Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 If you're just looking to preserve it then I would have it restored. No sense in letting it degrade if it isn't some collectible piece. If you want to do it yourself you'll need to figure out what it is first and then experiment a little with matching the original finish.If you think it is shellac then you can test in an inconspicuous spot with denatured alcohol, which removes/dissolves shellac. One of the benefits of shellac is that it is very easy to repair, but you'll want to try to match the color. I've purchased variety packs of flakes at Shellac Shack: http://www.shellacshack.com/If it isn't shellac I'd probably have it done professionally, but that's just my comfort zone. Bob Flexner has a few finishing books that have sections that tell you how to determine what finish something has and how to apply or repair various finishes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beechwood Chip Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I knew that Marc did a short series on refinishing, and I managed to find it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted August 20, 2015 Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I would get it appraised before I dropped any serious cash on restoring or refinishing.Another approach would be to just get it touched up. There are services that touch up furniture that was damaged while moving. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mary Posted August 20, 2015 Author Report Share Posted August 20, 2015 I think the finish is shellac; I wiped a very small bit of acetone in an inconspicuous spot and the finish melted right off. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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