Replies

1. 
   Gretchen | Nov 06, 2003 07:29pm | #1

   Well, first of all you wouldn't "sand down to the bare wood".  That is a destroying way to remove finish from furniture.   You would strip it. 

    For the places there is paint (are these just brushes or was it really painted?) you can try putting some stripper on fine steel wool and gently rubbing it, followed immediately with some mineral spirits to remove the stripper.

   In an inconspicuous place rub the finish with denatured alcohol. If it softens the finish is shellac.  If nothing happens then rub with lacquer thinner. If it softens it is lacquer. If nothing happens it is probably varnish.  If the finish is in comparatively good shape you might just treat it with Howard's Restor-a-Finish.  If it is not in good shape then stripping and reapplying a finish would provide the best result.

   Gretchen
1. 
   SenorDorado | Nov 07, 2003 07:44am | #3

   Thanks Gretchen.

   The paint is merely an area on the upper back rest with what looks to be an uncontrolled swipe of a paint brush with pink paint.

   I'm judging from your response that I'm better off staying with the original finish rather than making a mistake and put shellac over varnish for example.

   Butch

2. 
   forestgirl | Nov 06, 2003 07:39pm | #2

   Butch, if you're likely to run into situations like this and want a good, practical, introduction to restoring/refinishing "vintage" pieces like this, you might want to get a  copy of "The Weekend Refinisher" by Bruce Johnson.  It an excellent book, easy to read and follow, and not expensive.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl   ;-)

1. 
   SenorDorado | Nov 07, 2003 07:47am | #4

   Thanks for your advice.

   Work Safely

   Butch