Need suggestion on finishing a mahogany chest restoration
Found a Mid-Century Modern chest of drawers on CL for $25. My sons needed a dresser for their room…
It is finished in a blond shellac / varnish of some variety… I suspect it was popular during the MCM era. After sanding the varnish off, I realized that the veneer, which is not thin, is mahogany. Found a sticker inside to confirm this.
Tapping into the braintrust here – what is the best way to show off the beauty of mahogany? My instinct is to put a coat of Watco Natural Danish Oil on it, then follow up with a couple coats of polyurethane. But you all might have a better option- would love to hear. Thanks.
Replies
Clearly, finishes are a personal choice. I don't like the look of poly on anything that's not a table top. I like the luster and feel of Osmo on most pieces. It's easy to apply and safe for kids.
Watco danish is a safe choice. I shy away from poly over oil. I would wait for the danish to fully dry and the go over it with wax applied with 000 steel wool. I like Briwax, but it is a bit stinky. Buff it to your desired luster.
Thanks so much for the replies- I've heard about Osmo Polyx, but haven't tried it yet. This would be a great project to give it a try.
What about bringing out the color of mahogany? Will the Osmo bring out the natural warmth of the wood? Thank you in advance.
I think water based poly is a good choice for your sons dresser. It probably won't be treated gently. But I also wouldn't put it over oil.
I use Zinsser Sealcoat, a dewaxed shellac, as the first coat or two. It seals, adds some really rich depth and a little color. Then I put 2 coats of General Finishes High Performance poly on top. It's very durable, and looks beautiful.
Like John^ I think shellac is always a good start, anyway. Most other finishes can be applied over shellac.
I used ArmRSeal on my last project and really liked the way it turned out. Very easy to apply. But it takes a while to cure.
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled