Home » Forums

[Don'tskipit]

Hi all
I have been given and old mirror backed sideboard, approx 5' wide.
I'd say it's ugly but lovely!
The oval bevelled mirror is in good condition, but the woodwork wants a bit of TLC. The front is veneered, diamond shapes. And there is a bit of scratch damage.
Any help please?
Don't tell me to skip it!!
Any advice appreciated.
Ta

Enter e-mail to get it:   View Past Emails, FAQ Privacy Policy

[ceridwen]

Hmmmm....maybe it depends on what its like underneath that veneer. Is it the case that there is a decent "proper" wood underneath that veneer - but its just had a veneer put on top to look like a dearer wood?

I'm just wondering that - as from what you say of the design of it then I'm thinking maybe its an older piece of furniture - and not some modern chipboard item.

Perhaps - if there is something decent underneath that veneer - you might think of a way of removing said veneer and then using some woodstain or paint or something to colour it up??

I know what you mean about some older pieces of furniture - as I've looked at ones just abandoned down the "dump" sometimes and thought "Hmmm....old-fashioned looking colour/finish to the wood ....but basically a nice style and sturdy bit of furniture....I wonder......" and thought in terms of they could be colourwashed or limed or something.

EDIT: I put a link on todays post on my blog (see homepage) - where theres an article from a newspaper giving examples from a book about DIY furniture amendment.

[Don'tskipit]

Ta ceridwen,
Yep it is old.
Need to know how to remove build up of polish without damaging veneer.
Ta again

[ceridwen]

Hi

Well.....as I recall - mary43 has done some renovating of furniture before now....perhaps she knows.....I don't think she'd mind if you sent her a P.M. asking her advice on how to get that polish build-up off.

[sillyvixen]

dont skip it - i could not afford a dining table and chairs when i moved into my house but greatfully recieved a 1970's formica table and yellow plastic upholstered chairs free gratis. as i live in a very open plan house it did not go with any thing but was free. after several trips to various fabric suppliers with a cushion cover from my suite in my bag i managed to buy some cheap fabric that matched my sofa and it took me and my mum 6 hours to cover the 6 chair but only cost £10. now my dinning room matches the rest of the downstairs and i have been complimented on it.

you will find a way to make the furniture match your taste with minimal outlay and a bit of effort - much better than buying new - cheaper and a form of recyling.

all the best

[Don'tskipit]

Hi again,
Read somewhere that vinegar can remove old wax polish. does it have to be diluted?
Anyone tried it?

[hot.chick]

I sprayed some old wooden furniture white and changed the handles - did no preperation - just sprayed it...

looks pretty good )

[lizzyb1812]

I can remember my gran using vinegar to remove a build-up of polish. It would have been malt vinegar but I think any vinegar would do - vinegar is a mild acid and that is what must remove the polish. She used it neat. You could always try it on a side piece that won't really show.

I know furniture restorers use all sorts of stuff including wire wool and take great care and a lot of time restoring really good pieces, but perhaps a vinegar scrub, some Topps scratch cover and fresh polish would give you an acceptable finish?

[dander]

I would rub it down with fine wire wool. Veneers aren't so thin they can't take a bit of rubbing down - you're taking the surface finish off, not grinding the wood down. You could use a furniture cleaner to help if you like. Rub danish or teak oil all over, if the scratches are still visible after the rubbing down, use a wood-coloured wax crayon to fill them. Then give it a polish with a beeswax polish, should come up lovely!

If it's just the top surface that's suffered, just rub down and refinish the top. You don't need to do the whole thing if it isn't neccessary.

[Penelope Penguin]

Hi there There's a thread here on removing wax build up

Please don't remove the veneer The wood underneath is likely to be of cheaper quality, and it unlikely to have been finished (planed and sanded smooth) so won't be nearly as nice as the veneer that you currently see

Good luck, Penny. x

[silvasava]

Methylated spirit will also remove any wax/grease build up. Penelope & Dander are correct - dont remove the veneer! If the surface is damaged use VERY fine wire wool to get rid of the varnish - if the surface has been damaged by heat rings try sanding also with VERY fine sandpaper - I've sometimes used a coloured satin varnish to re-coat and the furniture has come up like new but the secret is as usual - take your time on preparation - Good Luck

[calleyw]

There use to be a shabby chic thread that I can't find now. And refurbing stuff.

As the thread got so long people start a community here

I have some 1970's ercol dinning chairs. Only got 3 but keep saying I am going to strip them down and paint them and get new foam and fabric and do them up. Had they for last eight years and still going strong.

Yours


Calley

[IFA Barbara]

Hi there, why dont you respray with an appropriate colour to match you other furnishings, my brother has just updated 2 sets of chest of drawers for his bedroom with 1 £5 spray paint from the DIY shop. They look brilliant. I have just upholstered my bedframe for £8 as it didnt match the new wardrobes I bought. I cant believe I am saving so much money a new bed would have cost me at least £500. Its catching this moneysaving and soooo environmentally friendly!!!!!!

[ceridwen]

Originally Posted by silvasava

Methylated spirit will also remove any wax/grease build up. Penelope & Dander are correct - dont remove the veneer! If the surface is damaged use VERY fine wire wool to get rid of the varnish - if the surface has been damaged by heat rings try sanding also with VERY fine sandpaper - I've sometimes used a coloured satin varnish to re-coat and the furniture has come up like new but the secret is as usual - take your time on preparation - Good Luck

Am I correct in thinking this sounds like a good way to deal with candlegrease droppings on the top of a pine chest I have? Looking at the above - I'm thinking: I suppose that means I use meths for the candle drippings, then very fine wire wool to sand the top, then coloured satin varnish? (er...daft question time - would I have to use that satin varnish ALL over the chest - or would it be okay just to use it on the top? - as its only the top that has been damaged).

[Estimator1]

I'm always getting candle wax on the dining room table, and have found the following method the best:
Try a warm iron, on top of a few pieces of kitchen roll. It'll melt the wax into the kitchen roll, and if there's still some left on the table, use your fingernails to remove the rest whilst it's still warm. Anything harder than that will leave scratch marks on the wood (I know, because previously I used a table knife, and it made a mess!). I didn't need to finish off with meths...........my table has danish oil on it and it was ok after the iron treatment.

[Cacran]

I got an old coffee table from a charity shop for £15. I liked it because it was similar colouring to an Ercol bookcase that I have. The top had a burn on it and the varnish was cracking. the legs were fine. I used one of those little mouse shaped electric sanders on the veneer. I managed to remove all the varnish with repeated sanding and cleaning off with white spirit then I waxed the top. It look great. I also got an old chest of drwers, years ago. Rubbed it down and painted it in white eggshell. It is the most useful bit of furniture that I have and goes wll with the white melamine bedroom furniture that I have. The benefit is that the dovetail jointed drawers do not drop to pieces. The other week I bought a teall boy from local ebay for £6.50. I intend to rub trhat down and wax it to mach my other furniture. Last week I got a mahogany table from ebay for £3.71 and I don't even need to do anything with that, it is gorgeous. Bargains are out there to be had. Free cycle is a great source, too.

[maman]

Thanks, calleyw. I visited the cafe and loved it. I've never been able to access the shabby chic thread (I can never get into really big threads I think it's to do with Vista) so this was great.

Now excuse me if I ask an ignorant question. Are there lots of communities on mse? how do you find out about them?

[michael52]

I just paint everything with paint from sales and cheap pound shops.Did a 70s sideboard white but highlighted areas of interest in black looks cool. Old sideboards painted in colours are great in kids rooms.Remeber to pick up free furniture try your local freecycle site.To seal paint on furniture I throw some varnish into the paint.Remeber the rule water based paint use water based varnish.Heavy high acrlic paints use same varnish.But no mix varnish in paint saves time and effort.

[Horace]

Originally Posted by maman

Thanks, calleyw. I visited the cafe and loved it. I've never been able to access the shabby chic thread (I can never get into really big threads I think it's to do with Vista) so this was great.

Now excuse me if I ask an ignorant question. Are there lots of communities on mse? how do you find out about them?

Hi there are lots of communities on MSE for all sorts of different things - to access them click on Forum and a list will pop up of all the different ones. Also if you scroll down past the last page on a thread then you will come to another box detailing the board that you are on and if you click on the arrow next to it you will be able to see the list of fora.

HTH

Most of my furniture is old, if I buy tatty bits of furniture cheap then I use a fine grain sandpaper (or rougher one depending on item and damage), white spirits or meths and then some varnish. Its great fun and the furniture looks fab.

[bev1231]

Hi, I have just been given a recliner chair, I love it but its the wrong colour. Is there any way I can spray paint the chair? Are there special paints for fabrics? Just a thought as I would love to change the colour. Bev