Rejuvenating a Chiswell teak veneer sideboard

[skidave]

Hi all,

Is there any to brighten a slightly dulled finish on an original Chiswell sideboard?

Can you wipe over some varnish/urethane or something like this, or would it need to be stripped back? If wiping, would a tung oil/urethane mix do the trick?

Further, I have a small chip out of the veneer. Can I just fill this with some filler or something of this nature? I'd prefer not to cut it out - it's only half the size of a 5 cent piece.

[Clinton1]

If it is an original Chiswell veneer piece....

Replace the venner with a piece of veneer cut to match the 'chip', and try a good cleaning and rejuvenating furniture polish on the finish, then a good quality furniture wax, before even considering any further steps.
(mixed sample veneer packs from good suppliers are a godsend for restorations!)

Restoring/rejuvenating polish: here... (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/reviver.html) I use it and it gives great results... strips off the old wax, cleanses the original polish and then you wax it with this here (http://www.ubeaut.com.au/trad.html).

Varnishing over the original finish, or using a poluU topcoat is a good way of lowering the value of the original.... the best way is to identify the original finish, and (only if the original can't be rejuvenated and cleaned) applyng a restoration coat of the exact same original finish... the technique dependant on the original finish.
French polish is easy... spirits wipe down, another weak french polish coat, and then full strength coats, however man-made finishes are more problematic.

I'd research the piece, Chiswell is still around, so they may be able to offer advice.

[skidave]

Thanks Clinton. It is original yes. I might get those and try on a small area first.

Are you suggesting then, that the original just has a waxed finish?