I have a Chinese rosewood chest that is all scratched up and needs refinishing. What is the best way to do it? Chemical strip or use a heat gun. It is very precious as my parents gave it to me many years ago. Any advice would be much appreciated.
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I'd use a chemical strip, then sanding for the most even color after restaining.
Try denatured alcohol on it first. Rub some on. If the finish is shellac, it will come off. If it doesn't, you can step up to a chemical stripper.
I am no expert on refinishing, but this chap is - I recommend watching all his videos, but this one involved specifically the restoration of rosewood.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Khh8wPHCwV0
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