Any furniture restoring experts out there. I have a varnished welsh dresser and table that I want to strip down to look more 'antique'. Any products that I could use to get the varnish off and get a more natural look, or do I need to get the sander out.
Lorna

Dudley, you can borrow Teelin - she will definitely antiquate it :D! Only joking

Lorna
I do hope you get some serious answers on this but I once tipped my mother's massive bottle of "Opium" (the perfume, not the ....oh nevermind) on her dresser and that seemed to do the trick quite nicely !!!!:D :D Shame that she didn't actually want it stripped....I got a HUGE kicking for that one (when i finally stupidly admitted it was me and stopped blaming the poor dog !!!)

Beth

That Bethn again lol:D nearly nine

Nitromors is a chemical solution be careful with it - it's harnful stuff and burns like mad if you get it on your skin. Elbow grease with hand sanding or orbital/belt sanders will do the trick. For your final sandings and for the waxing use wire wool working down to the finest grade for a satin smooth finish. Use a stained wax to give it an old fashioned/antiqued look but watch for the colour carefully as many stains and waxes turn pine a yucky orange colour. (Does it show that I've done this many many times):D

Pam n the boys

.......or for lazy folk like me........take it to the dippers........by the time you allow for the nitromors, the time it takes, the mess & the hassle I always think its a lot easier to get someone else to dip it!

Can you wax kitchen tables and still use them for cooking on? I have a horrid orange kitchen table that my mother in law gave me and I'm planning on sanding both it and the dining room table.

I am definitely going to wax the oak dining room table, but wondered if there was anything in the ronseal wax that would make it incompatible with cooking. ( I know you can't use linseed on a kitchen table )

You can use something like a beeswax - but preparing food straight onto the table would spoil it. You'd get knife marks and stains from certain foods. You also wouldn't be able to use the spray kitchen cleaners.

My advice - do the deed but then buy a really nice laminate cloth to use as a daily protector with a really nice chunky chopping board and take off the cloth when you want the bare table to be seen.

hth

Pam n the boys

Pam & Kate, the Ma is a demon with wax, polish, you name it. When she gave us a big kitchen table years ago she had impregnated it with so many layers of wax that you just had to look at the thing and it marked. Which does not work in this animal infested, messy household. So the wax had to go, but I'd sooner have sanded a dozen tables than get layer upon layer of this stuff off.

In the end we moistened a vast number of cloths in a mild solvent, placed them on the table, then Ian and I sat on them side by side for evening after evening sliding our bums across the table top. It was the only way to keep up enough pressure to move the ruddy stuff without total biceps collapse. It worked eventually, and we had a lovely table (until Teelin got it), but we did feel like a pair of prats!

lol - Know what you mean Sharon - wax does look nice but it's not that easy to keep. I've got loads of waxed pine furniture and I hate it when it needs re-doing - grrrrrrrrr

Pam n the boys

I find it therapeutic - call me strange.

Maybe I'll just leave the kitchen table and put an oilcloth on it then!!

Now I am frightened How often do you have to re-do the waxing?
I have just replaced my manky old staircase with a lovely fresh pine one and am busy waxing it with BRIWAX (rustic pine yummy:) ) It is taking so long to do. By the time I have finshed the stairs will need replacing again
I can't bear the thought of doing it all again :o
Smells nice though
Ali

Right, so I have a choice:
1. Find some decent perfume and pour over the furniture.
2. Find a good use for my backside to remove wax.
3. Spend ages emptying the dresser, finding a dipper and then hire a van to get it there (or do they collect)
4. Roll my sleeves up and get to work with the elbow grease
5. Just forget it and stay with the varnish.

Now see my posting on decorating, I can't wait for the answers
Thanks Lorna

You are meant to rewax every year to stop the wood drying out. But we used to do my mum's doors every 2 years. You'll be able to tell from the wood whether or not it needs doing.

Lorna,

To be truthful if you can afford it get it dipped and stirpped. it turns out better and you can spend a bit trying to do it yourself.

They use an acid..it is great. I got oak drawers down but it was years ago and it cost £40 the are the focal point in my house. 200 years old.

If you cant paintstipper will do but alot of elbow grease.

Done use a paint stripper gun as they will scorch the wood unless you are an expert.

Pam