Dear AT SF: Ok, so I actually have two questions. I recently bought a used dresser off Craigslist, and though I'm delighted with the design, it had seen some better days (such is to be expected for $20). I used Restore-A-Finish (ie. awesomeness in a can) to buff away the many scratches and give some warmth to the faded wood. But it doesn't seem to be taking in some spots. Is the wood too dry, or is there a wax buildup?...
...Also, while the rest of the dresser has wood veneers, the top is an ugly faux wood laminate that's faded to an dull greyish-brown (it's hard to tell from the photo, but trust me, it doesn't match the rest of the wood at all). Is there anything I can do to it, or should I just accept it, live with it, and be thankful the rest of the piece looks good?
Thanks,
Tammy
Can anyone help Tammy?
Note: Include a picture and your question gets posted first
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Q: What to do with this dresser?
A: Give it to me! 20 bucks?! Man I'm jealous. Sorry that was no help, just had to express that.
I only see nicks in the 2nd photo, which I wouldn't worry about. If the top is really worrying you, you could make a new top for it. (I did that with an old find and stained it)
Or, maybe you could get a piece of glass cut to fit the top and put a pretty paper or fabric underneath.
Try this in a test/inconspicuous spot. It's worked wonders for me.
materials:
super fine sanding sponge -- like 600 grit
can of tongue oil
clean rag
Lightly hand sand the veneer. Emphasize lightly. Like the way you'd buff a fingernail before polishing.
Rub tongue oil into the sanded area and let it dry overnight. Polish with a clean dry rag.
If the top bothers you cover it, there are many many options. Quick and easy is to use some serving trays to cover it, while you decide whether to do glass or marble or whateveer over the top. As to the other nicks, they are only little, consider them 'character' of the piece and move on! its pretty!
I think AT featured a re-reveneered top. Or, there's always decopage--like some people did in the January Jumpstart project.
took me awhile to see the problem in the second photo, and it looks like dryness to me, not a wax buildup.
you could always paint the top, then modge podge it. like this one.
Tammy, I'm in the same exact predicament. I haven't done anything about it yet, but here's what I've learned so far...
Marks and surface scratches can easily be removed by using Gamble & Sons paste wax and #0000 super fine steel wool. Simply apply paste wax with the steel wool by rubbing it in and going with the grain of the wood. Allow the wax to set-up 10 - 15 minutes and then buff and polish thoroughly in a circular motion to ensure that all surplus wax is removed.
For deeper nicks or gouges, overfill it with a wax stick that matches the finish, scrape off the excess wax with the edge of a credit card and remove any residue with a clean cloth.
Good luck...to the both of us!
Thanks for your feedback, everyone! I like the ValHalla's idea of covering the top with nice paper and a sheet of glass. In the meantime I might get some trays too!
As for the 2nd picture, it's difficult to see, but the grain of the wood on the lower half of the drawer is a slightly lighter than the rest. That's where the Restore-A-Finish isn't staying. I guess ung pointed out that it's dryness. Any way I can remedy that?
Have you tried oiling it?
second the Tung oil and Allsunday- you could even use Danish oil. First sand it with fine grit sponge, then follow directions on the danish oil can. Funny, from the photo it looks like teak or rosewood, not veneer.
I used Howard Feed-n-Wax to hydrate my CL nightstands (same company that makes the Restor-a-Finish). It took a couple of coats for the wood to stop absorbing but it looks great now. Pics are here.