Message:

<p>[QUOTE=&quot;verybrad, post: 191381, member: 37&quot;]This doesn&#039;t need a lot.&nbsp; I think if you clean it thoroughly with lacquer thinner first to prepare the surface, you will find it takes a color of its own while wet.&nbsp; If you like that color, all you would need to do is add a finish.&nbsp; I don&#039;t know if you want to try and do something with those stains but they will be hard to eliminate completely.&nbsp; I can&#039;t tell if this is a solid or veneer top from this picture.&nbsp; If solid, they can be sanded out.&nbsp; If a veneer, you will probably have to live with them.&nbsp; You can try bleaching with oxalic acid but it is usually only partially successful and may damage a veneer.</p><p><br /></p><p>If you want it darker, you can stain it.&nbsp; This probably would have been available in both a golden color or a darker finish.&nbsp; I doubt you will be able to replicate a golden finish exactly at this point without sanding first but the natural color of the wood should be pleasing.&nbsp; For dark finishes on antiques, I really like Minwax Jacobean.&nbsp; It has more red in it than a dark walnut stain but not as much as a mahogany stain.&nbsp; If you don&#039;t want any red, use a dark walnut stain.&nbsp; Also, a dark finish could be used to blend around those stains to some extent so may be a factor for you. </p><p><br /></p><p>Once you decide on the color, it is time to add a top finish.&nbsp; I would start with a penetrating finish that will allow you to even out the color if necessary along the way.&nbsp; I like a tung oil varnish for this.&nbsp; There are several commercial products or make your own by mixing equal parts oil-based varnish, mineral spirits, and tung oil.&nbsp;&nbsp; Once the first coat is on (apply thinly with a rag) you will be able to see if you need to even out the color in any areas with stain.&nbsp; Because the finish penetrates, you can still do this at this stage.&nbsp; If you had used a poly or other finish that doesn&#039;t penetrate well, you could not do this.&nbsp; Once the color is to your liking, you can add more coats of finish.&nbsp; You can usually recoat with out it thoroughly drying but it should feel pretty dry to the touch.&nbsp; If the wood continues to soak in the finish and look dull, keep coating.&nbsp; This usually takes at least three coats of the oil-varnish mixture to get a good look but may take more. The final coat could eliminate the mineral spirits in the mixture but it is fine to continue with it as-is.&nbsp; Once thoroughly dry, top it off with a furniture paste wax.</p><p><br /></p><p>This is my method to get a good look for antiques.&nbsp; It doesn&#039;t necessarily replicate the original finish but you probably don&#039;t want this to look new anyway.&nbsp; You should achieve a warm, not too shiny, glow with this method.&nbsp; I am sure that others have different methods than this.&nbsp; Theirs may be equally viable.[/QUOTE]</p><p><br /></p>

Your name or email address:

Do you already have an account?

• No, create an account now.
• Yes, my password is:
• Forgot your password?

Stay logged in