Hi folks, my name is Susan. I recently purchased a used 1990s era Henedon Rittenhouse Square dining room set. There’s only two significant flaws and I need your help as I live in an area of PA where there are zero Furniture Refinishing experts. Sett attached photos for the issues:
1. A burn mark. The daughter of the former owner seemed to recall it was from a candle. She thought the red was red wax, but based on where the mark is (where a plate or serving dish would go) maybe it’s a hot serving dish burn.
2. Paint spatters. The daughter said her mom decided to hire a neighborhood friend to paint the dining room walls, but he didn’t cover the table or chairs. I’d feel confident, taking fresh, water-based, paint off of finish, but this paint could be 10-15 years old.
I appreciate your assistance. I’m a pretty decent diy’er with good tools so I can handle more challenging repairs, I just need the order or operations and chemicals for the best result.
Replies
The pictures didn't make it. I think a little more info is needed. Are you hoping to completely refinish the surface or just repair the damage? And what will the final finish be? Or are you looking for suggestions?
Personally, I'm not a fan of chemical stripping. It can make the wood more porous and also it can be hard to completely remove strippers, which then affect the final finish if you're using varnish or other hard topcoats. Generally, sanding and scraping (with a cabinet scraper) would be the way to go.