JHZR2
Staff member
Hi,
I have an old (probably 100 years old) dresser that my grandparents gave me. They didnt think much of it; it was in their attic for probably 50 years... the finish was begining to devellop microcracks, and looked generally dry. However, all in all, it is nice, I like it, and have been using it in my apartment.
Well, I put a fishtank on it, and underneath I put a piece of linoleum. In time, water has made its way underneath and has caused the finish underneath to start to get bad.
The tank has been on there for about a year, and the damage is relatively minor in size, but I can see it and fear the worst.
The finish is a thin coating of clear, semi-shiny covering agent. From time and drying out, it has develloped lots of tiny cracks, triangle and trapezoid shaped. They are all about 1/2 mm in size, and all are connected. Despite these (which have been there since I got it), the dresser looks good with a coating of old english.
The coating, where water had contacted it has turned a whitish yellowish color. In some particularly bad spots, it seems to have dissolved somewhat.
I have coated it in old english wood oil, and it looks a little bit better. I tried in one small spot to scrape off the upper surface with a scotch brite scouring pad (didnt want to be too aggressive), but this didnt do much of anything. It seemed to help make the old english work a little bit better, but not significantly.
So, Id like ideas on how to (a) get the white coloring off of the finish (b) replace or re-build up the surface where it is discolored or dissolved. (c) get the color back.
I know that some people have refinished the (geavily coated) wood trim in old mercedes benz cars VERY nicely with tung oil or something similar. It creates a dark, rich color and coats the wood somewhat. But I dont know much about it. Also, would it be best to sand the bad areas, or just coat directly?
I wish this site let me post pictures. Ill post a couple if I find a place to easily host them.
Thanks for any help that you can give me.
JMH
I have an old (probably 100 years old) dresser that my grandparents gave me. They didnt think much of it; it was in their attic for probably 50 years... the finish was begining to devellop microcracks, and looked generally dry. However, all in all, it is nice, I like it, and have been using it in my apartment.
Well, I put a fishtank on it, and underneath I put a piece of linoleum. In time, water has made its way underneath and has caused the finish underneath to start to get bad.
The tank has been on there for about a year, and the damage is relatively minor in size, but I can see it and fear the worst.
The finish is a thin coating of clear, semi-shiny covering agent. From time and drying out, it has develloped lots of tiny cracks, triangle and trapezoid shaped. They are all about 1/2 mm in size, and all are connected. Despite these (which have been there since I got it), the dresser looks good with a coating of old english.
The coating, where water had contacted it has turned a whitish yellowish color. In some particularly bad spots, it seems to have dissolved somewhat.
I have coated it in old english wood oil, and it looks a little bit better. I tried in one small spot to scrape off the upper surface with a scotch brite scouring pad (didnt want to be too aggressive), but this didnt do much of anything. It seemed to help make the old english work a little bit better, but not significantly.
So, Id like ideas on how to (a) get the white coloring off of the finish (b) replace or re-build up the surface where it is discolored or dissolved. (c) get the color back.
I know that some people have refinished the (geavily coated) wood trim in old mercedes benz cars VERY nicely with tung oil or something similar. It creates a dark, rich color and coats the wood somewhat. But I dont know much about it. Also, would it be best to sand the bad areas, or just coat directly?
I wish this site let me post pictures. Ill post a couple if I find a place to easily host them.
Thanks for any help that you can give me.
JMH
