Refinish antique cedar chest

Jane Chappell
by Jane Chappell
My cedar chest was belonged to my great-aunt and I am guessing it to be circa 1930's or 1940's. The wood is dull and in need of some spit and shine. Not looking to paint, prefer to polish the wood. Should I just give it a good rub with Tung Oil or should I use a stripper and then use varnish or shelac, versus polyurethane?
  5 answers
  • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Aug 30, 2014
    If you like the aged look of the cedar chest, I would just clean and polish it good. I have used Howard Feed-N-Wax Beeswax and Orange oil wood and polish conditioner on my antique bedroom set and it did an awesome job. Purchased it at Lowe's. I wouldn't refinish not unless I absolutely had to do so.
    • See 1 previous
    • Donna Byram Donna Byram on Aug 31, 2014
      @Jane Chappell The Beeswax contains the orange oil.You could probably find Howard Clean-a-finish there too.
  • Hope Williams Hope Williams on Aug 31, 2014
    Hemp oil from Miss Mustard Seed. Excellent product!
    • Jane Chappell Jane Chappell on Sep 01, 2014
      @Hope Williams Thanks Hope and Shari. Watched the video, interesting. To see a bigger scope of what wood looks like with this treatment, would have liked to see more of the wood after applying the oil.
  • Shari Shari on Aug 31, 2014
    I was going to recommend Miss Mustard Seed's all-natural hemp oil too. If you are not familiar with it, you can read about it and/or watch a video tutorial here: http://missmustardseed.com/2014/08/hemp-oil-video-tutorial-2/ If you are interested in it and don't have a retailer who sells Miss Mustard Seed's products near you, Robyn Story Designs, Tampa, FL, offers free shipping on all Miss Mustard Seed products. http://shop.robynstorydesigns.com/miss-mustard-seeds-milk-paint/mms-hemp-oil-free-shipping/
    • Jane Chappell Jane Chappell on Sep 01, 2014
      @Shari Thanks Hope and Shari. Watched the video, interesting. To see a bigger scope of what wood looks like with this treatment, would have liked to see more of the wood after applying the oil.
  • Jane Chappell Jane Chappell on Sep 01, 2014
    Thanks Hope and Shari. Watched the video, interesting.
  • Evelyn McMullen Evelyn McMullen on Sep 02, 2014
    My husband refinished a junkstore cedar chest years ago. It was covered with glued-on newspaper. I still use it, beautiful.