A set of five chairs

[Christos]

I was at a friends place yesterday and we got to chatting about the chairs he had and how he was sanding (by hand) back the finish.

He picked these up second hand and had them for at least five years.

The flash was used for the first photo but gives more of a darker colour in the photo.

Attachment 183320

I also took photo of chair without flash but that seems to be too yellow with the light available.

Attachment 183323

The chairs are very much solid with no loose joints.

Another two more photos of the joints where these are wedged and something stamped on the bottom.

Attachment 183321 Attachment 183322

One chair was partly sanded back to bear wood but not every part of the chair, so more like two thirds done. This had taken about a week (2 hours a day) for one chair and I would put that down to the quality of the sandpaper.

He wants to remove the finish from the chairs and refinish to bring out the natural wood.

On the top part of the chairs there is normal wear and tear where some wood is exposed. I would not say that it is flaking and does not come off with a bit of force with the finger nail.

So what type of finish would this be?
How can I confirm this?

[wheelinround]

Sounds like lacquer Christos try stripper or better quality 40grit

Ok what grit paper was used and I think a trip to Bunnings and by a Random orbital sander is in order seriously $100 spent will save 6 weeks worth of work sanding. As for sanding the spindles you need to get your lathe finished first same if your making the new/replacement ones.

[J.B.W]

To sand out all the stain is a big job, use sharp card scrapers of different profiles to remove as mush as possible first before sanding (as some grit remaining in the wood from the paper will take the edge of the scraper quick) then give it a coarse sand working your way to the finest grit required for the finish you want. Work to remove all the stain with scraping and the first coarse grit. Its a cow of a job. Good work out for the hands.

[ClintO]

The best way to sand those is to get someone else to do it. Rather you than me.

[rustynail]

Stripper and a pressure washer. Sounds brutal but it works.

[conwood]

I use sanding belts cut to small sizes with the tough backing. Fold them over and sand away in the corners. On spindles you can go with the grain in short sharp movements.
If you get tempted to go across the grain, you will create more work getting the scratches out.
Tedious yes but the result is excellent. I sometimes use a sharp chisel to get into corners too and then sand with a less aggressive grit.

Go up thru the grits. For a really good finish apply the first coat and then lightly rub over with fine grit again.

cheers
conwood

[Christos]

Any ideas on how old these chairs might be?