Need advice to refinish cedar chest with parquet veneer front.
by
Nanade7
+8
Don't want to paint it.
I have one just like this I am working on took off veneer with my Joy Mangono steamer lol it was in bad shape. I am going to put new hinges (good ones) and perhaps use leather paint on top...still thinking
I have this identical chest! It had been in my mom's garage forever. I used a Howard's oil that had a light stain in it and it turned out great. It's at another home or I would send a picture. The Howard's can be found at a lot of antique stores. Hope this helps.
Can you sand it down to get rid of any remaining finish/imperfections (light sanding so that you don't damage the veneer) then wipe with a tack cloth and stain (if desired) and/or use a clear polyurethane as directed to replace the finish
You could try a gel stain as well, which might not require as much sanding.
If this is an antique it would be a shame to sand away the patina that has developed over the years. Most older furniture has a lacquer finish. This can be confirmed by testing a spot with lacquer thinner. If the finish liquifies, you can redistribute (to reuse the finish that exists) or remove the old finish with the thinner, then reseal with a new lacquer coat ... good luck with your project.
I think a nice coat of stain