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View Full Version : How to refinish pine drawers?















gnu52
23rd January 2005, 07:35 PM
Hello all,
We have a set of hoop or northern rivers pine drawers in need of refinishing.
They are probably 80+ years old and the original finish is RS. I am not sure what it was, but it has crazed over the years and was then covered with stickers ( remember the old water transfers?).
The drawers are structurally sound, excepting a cupped top, and came to us via SWMBO's grandfathers estate, so we want to make something of them.
I am thinking the way to proceed would be to scrape clean, sand and then finish with organ oil or similar. Aiming for a soft looking finish that is easy to maintain without odour to transfer to clothing etc.
Thanks for any advice you can offer, Bill

Gumby
23rd January 2005, 08:17 PM
You're on the right track. Hard Burnishing oil would be my pick. It requires a bit of elbow grease but it comes up with a lovely soft sheen.

conwood
25th January 2005, 01:53 PM
If you can pull it to bits then clean (with machines) each piece the better. Hard burnishing oil as suggested by Gumpy is fine.
I have used danish oil, rubbing between coats, then buffing with Organoil wax product (can't rmember exact name now) with buffer.

If you are not going to use a machine, those little sandvik scrapers with the triangle bit are excellent. To get into corners and inaccessable place use a sharp chisel to remove old crazing finish.

Good luck, sound like a nice piece.
conwood