Finish Question

[Nancy McMillan]

Hi Ken,
I worked for an antique restoration specialist here in Woodbury, CT (which
is the antique capital of CT) for several years. Practically everything he
worked on was finished with Shellac. The first thing every piece of
furniture got was a good cleaning with Soilax. This is a sudless floor and
tile cleaner and can be found at most hardware stores. Mix about 2
tablespoons of Soilax in a 1/3 bucket of water. Soak a pad of 0000 steelwool
and rub a small area in the direction of the grain. Have plenty of
papertowels on hand. Once you've rubbed(cleaned) a small area ( approx. 2
sq. feet, or one surface of the fallboard) wipe dry with a paper towel or
two. You might have to do this process 2 or 3 times depending on how much
dirt and wax is on the furniture.
You are going to be amazed at the difference this one process makes in any
piece of furniture. Dirt, wax, cig. smoke, nicatine, and even white rings
from water stains comes out. Sometimes if the finish is in good shape just
the cleaning is all it needs. You might want to apply a fresh coat of wax if
this is the case.
This now leaves you with a completely clean finish in what ever shape it is
in, crazed, no finish, or good finish. But it allows you to correctly assess
the direction you want to take the project.
If the finish is crazed and the customer wants a smooth finish then start
sanding the old finish off and reapply a new one.

Hope this helps.
Doug Mahard, Associate