Refinishing a coffee table

ZootHornRollo

Hi,

we were fortunate enough to receive an ercol coffee table from Freecycle.

Its a lovely table but needs refinishing.

Can anyone tell me what kind of finish Ercol use on their furniture? oil/wax/varnish/laquor? It's a Pandora's Box coffee table of that helps.

i am hoping to get started on it this weekend but need to know the finsih before i can go buy the right stripper.

ZootHornRollo

also,

any way to determine the type of wood used to construct it?

TomsMom

I believe the Pandora's Box coffee table was constructed of Elm and the finish was Golden Dawn. My b-i-l/s-i-l had a lot of Ercol furniture but I don't know what type of finish and I wouldn't like to guess, sorry.

ZootHornRollo

mnay thanks TomsMum.

Thats one question answered.

ZootHornRollo

looking at their current ranges they all seem to be 'hand waxed lacquer finish'.

any idea what the best way to remove it is?

do i need to remove the wax first and then the lacquer or can the whole lot be removed in a one-er?

TomsMom

Colron do a wax remover which also removes lacquer. Nitromors do a lacquer remover but if it's the one my OH has it's quite smelly and doesn't mention wax.

Maybe there are other choices in DIY shops by the Colron.

ZootHornRollo

Thanks again!

I have been looking at lacquer finishes and i appears they are best applied with a spray which i am not keen to do.

If i use the wax stripper and take it back to bare wood and clean down with white sprit, could i then apply something like a danish oil to refinish it?

TomsMom

We have got some new oak veneered doors to finish and I asked on here the other day about wax, oil, etc. Our builder says he uses Danish oil for everything and in his opinion it's brilliant.

A bit of research and I've popped these into my favourites for OH to look through when he's got time

A selection of wood waxes.

This site has a few finishes which say they're for floors but OH rang and said we wanted a finish for doors and they sent us a free sample of Polyx Oil (but OH not tried it yet).

I can't recommend anything in particular for furniture as we've never done it, we're just looking for finishing the doors, so maybe if you google you might find something else.

ZootHornRollo

thanks once more

thats given me a start. i am erring towards the oil for two reasons. I don't have anywhere big enough to spray the table and lacquer will cost a small fortune to apply three or four coats.

theres also the dust aspect. the oil can be applied in a dusty enviroment.... which my shed is!

cheers.

TomsMom

Just one other thought, our builder told us that Danish oil can be applied with a cloth - just wipe on. Don't know if that applies to all oils but if it does then it's quick and easy and no problems with brush marks like you could get with lacquer.

Must try and persuade OH to try out the oil sample he's been sent and see what it's like .

chivers1977

I would give their customer care a call. I am sure that they are used to this type of question as the furniture lasts forever and ever............

http://www.ercol.com/mm5/merchant.mvc?Screen=CTGY&Store_Code=EOS&Category_Code=CUS