My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spent=
the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued j=
oints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in dus=
t and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed air =
but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I =
could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want t=
o completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.=20
Thanks!
Tom
On Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 6:33:44 PM UTC-5, Tom Crist wrote:
> My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spe=
nt the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued=
joints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in d=
ust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed ai=
r but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what =
I could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want=
to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.=20
> Thanks!
>=20
> Tom
The Restore-A-Finish sounds like it is a solvent and stain that dissolves t=
he finish, colors it, and smooths it out. I think I have to give the dresse=
r a good cleaning first so the dirt doesn't become part of the finish. Mayb=
e I'll try cleaning with soap & water then apply Danish oil and see how it =
looks. I can always move on to the more aggressive Restore-A-Finish if need=
be. Thank you everyone!
Tom
On Sat, 16 Nov 2019 15:33:41 -0800 (PST), Tom Crist <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spent the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued joints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in dust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed air but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.
If most of the original finish is there and it's just dirty and beat
up, there's a product called "Howard's Restor-A-Finish". Get the
color that is closest to what's there now.
https://www.howardproducts.com/product/restor-a-finish/
Read the instructions carefully.
On Sun, 17 Nov 2019 11:21:06 -0800 (PST), Tom Crist <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 6:33:44 PM UTC-5, Tom Crist wrote:
>> My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spent the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued joints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in dust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed air but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Tom
>
>
>
>The Restore-A-Finish sounds like it is a solvent and stain that dissolves the finish, colors it, and smooths it out.
> I think I have to give the dresser a good cleaning first so the dirt doesn't become part of the finish.
> Maybe I'll try cleaning with soap & water then apply Danish oil and see how it looks.
> I can always move on to the more aggressive Restore-A-Finish if need be. Thank you everyone!
>
>Tom
Murpys Oil Soap works well, that and a bit of elbow grease. Which my
elbows seems to running dry of lately.
On 11/17/2019 1:21 PM, Tom Crist wrote:
> On Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 6:33:44 PM UTC-5, Tom Crist wrote:
>> My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spent the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued joints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in dust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed air but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Tom
>
>
>
> The Restore-A-Finish sounds like it is a solvent and stain that dissolves the finish, colors it, and smooths it out. I think I have to give the dresser a good cleaning first so the dirt doesn't become part of the finish. Maybe I'll try cleaning with soap & water then apply Danish oil and see how it looks. I can always move on to the more aggressive Restore-A-Finish if need be. Thank you everyone!
Murphy's Oil Soap as a first step towards cleaning it up.
On Sun, 17 Nov 2019 11:21:06 -0800 (PST), Tom Crist <[email protected]>
wrote:
>On Saturday, November 16, 2019 at 6:33:44 PM UTC-5, Tom Crist wrote:
>> My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser that has spent the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement. Most of the glued joints are coming apart and the entire dresser is covered with ground in dust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing and blew it off with compressed air but it needs much more. Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I could apply to enhance what remains of the original finish? I do not want to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.
>> Thanks!
>>
>> Tom
>
>
>
>The Restore-A-Finish sounds like it is a solvent and stain that dissolves the finish, colors it, and smooths it out. I think I have to give the dresser a good cleaning first so the dirt doesn't become part of the finish. Maybe I'll try cleaning with soap & water then apply Danish oil and see how it looks. I can always move on to the more aggressive Restore-A-Finish if need be. Thank you everyone!
>
>Tom
Murphy's oil soap and a good hog-bristle brush for starters
On Sat, 16 Nov 2019 15:33:41 -0800 (PST), Tom Crist <[email protected]>
wrote:
>My current project is the repair of a small, child's dresser
>that has spent the last 60 - 70 years stored in an attic or basement.
>Most of the glued joints are coming apart and the entire dresser
>is covered with ground in dust and dirt. I gave it a light brushing
>and blew it off with compressed air but it needs much more.
>Any suggestions on how best to clean it and what I could apply
>to enhance what remains of the original finish?
>I do not want to completely refinish this dresser, rather keep the old look.
>Thanks!
>Tom
>
For my ancient roll-top desk - I gave it a rub with 0000 steel wool.
Then a wipe-down and wipe-off with some < ~ Danish ? > oil
and clean soft cloth.
The grubby blackened look turned into a nice natural dark oak.
I also wanted to avoid the re-finished look.
John T.