Refinishing veneer

[BWR1953]

I was on my way home from Lowes when I stopped at a yard sale. (Mostly cuz of the cute chick administering same.) The nice lady had an old dresser which I really don't need or have room for, but something about it struck me as "right" and I asked how much. Fifteen bucks. Oboy. Good price for a unit with honest-to-goodness dovetailed joints. It's a solid, heavy sucker too.

It definitely needs refinishing though, so I didn't make the purchase. I may go back for it later. Maybe. It appears to be veneer, not solid wood.

I have an orbital sander and know how to use chemical stripper, so getting the old finish off wouldn't be an issue. But I'm wondering if it's possible to do the cleanup without destroying the veneer so that I could keep a wood finish rather than just slapping on a coat of paint.

Suggestions?

Thanks!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Well, I figured out a way to make it fit into my master bedroom, so I went back and bought the dresser. It'll be another piece of furniture to refinish (someday). LOL!

I'm not good about styles or periods or anything. I just know what I like. I think it's oak veneer in maybe a Mission style? Anybody know?

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Well from what I see, 1) lightly sand. 2)get some stain the same color and touch up the raw areas let dry.3) seal with sanding sealer. that is if you want the same color.If you want to change color that will be a bit harder best way is to find a dip and strip it will be hard to do with DIY strippers but if you got the time well it is possible.Or try your hand at antiquing

 

[Bass Man Bruce]

Re: Refinishing veneer

It's a little hard from the pics to tell if the wood has been nicked up enough to require a complete refinish.
You may get away with just sanding down the varnish without getting into the wood or the staincoat, touch up the places were the stain is gone and then put a couple of new clear coats on it.
It does look like a lot of veneer so any serious sanding could be very detrimental.
Good luck, nice looking piece of furniture.
On the other hand, if it all goes south, open all the drawers and fill them with rocks and it will make a sweet artificial reef!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Well from what I see, 1) lightly sand. 2)get some stain the same color and touch up the raw areas let dry.3) seal with sanding sealer. that is if you want the same color.If you want to change color that will be a bit harder best way is to find a dip and strip it will be hard to do with DIY strippers but if you got the time well it is possible.Or try your hand at antiquing

I do plan to change the color a bit, so will have to remove all of the old finish. I also have an old maple desk that I'll refinish in the same color. That way, I have consistency from room to room in the home. The new dresser and the old desk should nicely complement my Art Deco style armoire with built in secretary that I picked up last year.

Think I should use the orbital sander with some 220 grit or maybe 150 for bulk sanding, then followup with stripper?

So many projects! My my... I do keep busy, eh? LOL!

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Refinishing veneer

It's a little hard from the pics to tell if the wood has been nicked up enough to require a complete refinish.
You may get away with just sanding down the varnish without getting into the wood or the staincoat, touch up the places were the stain is gone and then put a couple of new clear coats on it.
It does look like a lot of veneer so any serious sanding could be very detrimental.
Good luck, nice looking piece of furniture.
On the other hand, if it all goes south, open all the drawers and fill them with rocks and it will make a sweet artificial reef!

Yeah, one reason I picked it up is because there aren't any serious gouges or scratches that I can see. From what I can tell, stripping, sanding and refinishing should yield a suitable outcome.

Of course, I could always go the OD green & black look! Did that with a $6 dresser I picked up from a thrift shop last year. Put it out in my workshop, where it fits in very nicely! Here are the before and after pix of that chest.

 

[eaglejim]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Well as BMB says hard to tell from the pics but it looks like (by the style) that it is all wood. 1)use Dad's Paint Remover I know Sherwin Williams carries it.2)Apply like the can says.after it starts to bubble up use a wall scrape to take sealer off (get a box,scrape into it ) 3) apply another light coat of Dad's,scrape excess off again and let dry, use palm sander to try to get it down to raw wood the hard part will be around the draws(that little piece of wood) Stain it and seal ,sand lightly and reseal wave the magic wand and you are done. You do good work by the way.Does the right end cap feel a little like plastic? And is that piece very heavy? Look on the back for a date when it was made, good luck

 

[Jeep Man]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Definitely NOT mission style. Mission style would have very clean lines, no spindles etc., plain squared off handles. Could be a nice piece. I'd keep sanding to a minimum, especially if it is veneer. Remove hardware and use chemical stripper. Dip and strip if you don't mind the extra expense, OR, what I have success with is handrubbing with steel wool dipped in stripper after removing most of the finish using stripper, a brush, and scraper. Finish up with finer steel wool dipped in varsol or paint thinner.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Refinishing veneer

Definitely NOT mission style. Mission style would have very clean lines, no spindles etc., plain squared off handles. Could be a nice piece. I'd keep sanding to a minimum, especially if it is veneer. Remove hardware and use chemical stripper. Dip and strip if you don't mind the extra expense, OR, what I have success with is handrubbing with steel wool dipped in stripper after removing most of the finish using stripper, a brush, and scraper. Finish up with finer steel wool dipped in varsol or paint thinner.

Thanks. I figured Mission style would be cleaner. Wish my dad were still around, he'd know in a heartbeat.

When I get around to doing this project, I'll be sure to use chemical stripper as the primary stain removal method. Won't sand unless absolutely necessary.

Thanks folks!

 

[Bigprairie1]

Re: Refinishing veneer

It looks like it has what is remaining of perhaps the original finish. If not it may have had just a varnish coat reapplied at some point.
Given that I wouldn't go quite so heavy duty as to use a really heavy stripper. There is a lighter duty stripper made by min-wax called (antique) 'refinisher' which takes off the upper coat a little at a time without wiping it out completely. It is designed for furniture that still has its original finish hidden available but hidden under years of wax, and crap, etc. You put it on and rub it off mostly with a fine grit steel wool. It really can do a nice job without having to take it all the way back which is often reserved for full resto jobs after painting, etc.
You could try this out on a corner and see if you like the result...it doesn't take that long. If you don't like the result then go the full strip route.
Either way, very nice find (and for $15!!)...it'll look great redone for sure!
BP