Featured Can I Refresh The Finish?

Hey Everyone! We’ve just had new floors and carpet installed which necessitated emptying furniture, getting everything off the floor — rather like moving half your house!

Now the furniture is back in place and I’m filling it up with stuff again. However, after cleaning and dusting, the old furniture looks worn and tired. It is pretty old, after all, and been through quite a few moves.

I’m up for a bit of work, but not a lot — I don’t want to refinish it, but just make the finish a little less tired looking. Suggestions for products and application?

The items in question are a 1950 mahogany Duncan Phyfe hutch and sideboard and a small “whatnot” table. I don’t know what the wood is, but the top is quite faded. Thanks! And photos below:

 

I would suggest Howards Restor a Finish with a Howards Wax and Feed application once it is dry. I use painter's cloths to apply the restor a finish. I use soft cotton cloth on the wax. They have some how to videos on their website. https://www.howardproducts.com/products/videos/

 

Your sideboard appears to be walnut, perhaps a veneer?

Your small table appears to be 2 (or more) different varieties of wood. The bottom is most likely maple wood stained darker, the edge may be walnut, I don't know for sure if the center is walnut but it's very pretty.

 

@Ghopper1924 , would you please identify the woods used?

 

Thanks Antidiem. The O.P. listed the sideboard as faced in mahogany, which looks right. The bottom table may be mahogany with a flame mahogany top, but with only one photo it's hard to tell. Could possibly be maple. The bottom could also be walnut.

As far as refinishing goes, Kiko has it down. Use Howard's Restore a Finish and follow the directions. It should make a big difference without stripping the pieces.

 

Thanks, everyone. I shall get busy at some point! Yes, mahogany, but faded on that face. I think there is walnut used in the little table, but I don’t know about the top, which is pretty. It was my grandmother’s. I hope Howard’s is available in Canada.

 

Available in most hardware stores and antique shops in the USA. At least where I live.

 

Thanks, Ghopper! Yes, it can def be mahogany, I've seen them used interchangeably.

 

SPAM REPORTED.

 

Howards is only one of the manufacturers, so you have other options if you can't find them. I use Watco Danish Oil, which is the same stuff. Basically a mix of stain, linseed oil, and varnish. If you can find someone who knows what they are talking about at a hardware store, ask for Wiping Varnish, and pick the brand and stain color that matches the furniture you want to touch up.