We have
created some articles that will help you get the most out of
your wood furniture.
MAKE
THAT OLD FINISH SHINE AGAIN
Stripping
an old finish isn’t a task you look forward to doing, so
how can you avoid it? Fortunately, the right materials, some
know-how, and a little resourcefulness will often save that
“ruined” piece you’ve been meaning to work on.
A
GOOD CLEANING MAY BE ALL THAT’S NEEDED
Over a period of time, the accumulation of dirt, oil, and wax
darken and dull finishes on wood furniture. A solution to bringing
that lackluster, near-antique back to life might be as simple
as cleaning it with an appropriate cleanser.
Murphy’s
Oil Soap, an available old-time favorite, cleans and conditions
in one step.
To
rejuvenate varnish which has tiny surface cracks, clean well
using a cloth saturated with a half and half mixture of turpentine
and tung oil, or boiled linseed oil.
For
finishes heavily coated with dirt and grime, use #0000 steel
wool with the cleanser. Scrub gently with the grain to avoid
scratching.
HOW
TO GET RID OF SURFACE BLEMISHES
Through normal use, furniture picks up minor surface scratches.
Moisture also shows up as surface cloudiness. Smoky rings can
be left by wet drinking glasses. The following tips will help
you triumph over these problems.
Blemishes
on Surface-Finished Items
Finely ground abrasive powders can remove surface scratches.
You can make a paste out of pumice, a powdered volcanic ash
which has medium grit, by mixing it with lemon oil. Rubbing
with the grain, use a felt pad until the scratches disappear.
Wipe with a clean cloth. For a higher shine, follow the same
steps but use Rottenstone, a much finer abrasive powder which
is made of ground slate.
Blemishes
on Oil-Finished Wood
Bad spots on pieces finished with penetrating oil (Danish, tung,
or linseed), are easy to repair. After rubbing the marred area
with #0000 steel wool, apply an additional coat of the appropriate
oil to the entire surface.
Stubborn
Small Scratches
If the pumice and Rottenstone treatments don’t do the trick,
you’ll need a heavier remedy. Pour a small amount of lemon
oil on the affected area and sand the surface lightly with the
grain using silicon-carbide (Wet/Dry) sandpaper until the scratch
disappears. If 600 grit doesn’t remove the blemishes, work
your way down to 320 until you get good results.
Moisture-Caused
Blemishes
If the moisture hasn’t penetrated too deeply, wet glass
rings and surface cloudiness usually surrender to the pumice
and oil paste treatment mentioned above. If spots resist, the
only solution is sanding and refinishing.
HOW
TO CAMOUFLAGE DEEP SCRATCHES
When a scratch cuts through the finish and damages the wood
itself, abrasive remedies won’t work. However, with lots
of patience and practice, you can learn to permanently repair
them by filling the scratches with hot lacquer sticks or cover
them by spot refinishing. Fortunately, there are some less permanent
and easier to master techniques that will hide the damage.
CARING
FOR FINE WOOD FURNITURE
Once the finish is restored, light maintenance keeps it shining.
Avoid
wax buildup
Dust furniture weekly with a soft cloth sprinkled with lemon
oil.
Polish
only when necessary
Apply spray-on and liquid polishes only when furniture actually
needs polishing. Do not use them for weekly dusting.
Use
paste wax sparingly
Though paste wax provides a long-lasting sheen and thicker protective
barrier than spray-on and liquid polishes, it builds up fast.
Don't use more often than every six months. Characteristics
of paste wax buildup include wood finish getting tacky to the
touch or surface becoming dull or attracting fingerprints. Clean
off the buildup with the oil soap or 50:50 mix of tung oil and
turpentine mentioned earlier.
Back
to home page
