finish reamalganation? What do you use

[kirtley2012]

I have a few items, both phonographs and a radio I just picked up where the finish is there, but It needs reamalganation, what products do you use, is it just white spirit?, or something else?

[Henry]

I refinished a maple chest of drawers using Formsby's Furniture Refinisher, Scotch-Brite pads, and 0000 steel wool, followed by a coat of Johnson's Paste Wax (in the yellow can). Ace Hardware has all of these supplies. The Formsby's and Scotch brand products are available for le$$ under the Ace label: same basic stuff. The furniture refinisher is powerful! Follow directions on the can and work outdoors if possible. Formsby's dissolves the old finish but leaves the stain/color in the wood, and there is no need to sand or strip the original. My chest of drawers was basically in good shape, but the finish had aged badly and the top had water stains and other wear which were covered and smoothed out by the original stain, softened and redistributed by the solvent.

I don't know about availability of these supplies in the UK, but I suspect their equivalents can be had across the pond.

BTW, I wouldn't try this on a phonograph unless the finish was really really wasted, in which case the above method might not be the right one to use. More experienced hands will doubtless join in this discussion, and there are some spectacular examples of restoration by the members here, so heed their advice, and good luck!

[martinola]

Hi Kirtley,
I've used Formby's as Henry has suggested, but find that it lightens the color more than I like. I vastly prefer re-amalgamation of the existing finish.

For re-amalgamation, the main question one needs to answer is: "what IS the original finish?". Something like an Edison cylinder machine is almost certainly a shellac finish. U.S. machines and radios in the late 20s and up tend to be sprayed-on Nitrocellulose Lacquer (with the color mostly in the lacquer rather than a stain in the wood itself).

To achieve the re-melting effect of re-amalgamation, each finish needs to have the proper solvent applied. The solvent for Shellac is Denatured Alcohol (Methylated Spirits/Surgical Spirit). The solvent for Lacquer is Lacquer Thinner (Cellulose Thinner). In either case you'll want to first clean the case carefully with 0000 steel wool and Paint Thinner (Mineral Spirit) to remove all traces of oil and wax. Wait for it to dry completely. Eric Reiss' THE COMPLEAT TALKING MACHINE, has a pretty thorough description of the process. You'll also need to have either Shellac or Nitrocelluose Lacquer for needed additional coats.

Good luck, and keep us posted!

Martin

[Henry]

Agreed, the Formsby's did lighten the finish on my chest of drawers, but in this case it was a good thing, considering the effects of aging that were visible. YRMV!