What kind of stain/varnish etc does everyone use?

[a12548]

I wouldnt use any brushing method on mahogany. I refinished a Vic Colony..and used all wipe on after stripping and sanding.

[m0xiemama]

My husband paints cars. I am trying to talk him into spraying it at work. It will be th most accurate and he should do a reasonable job color matching.

[Jerry B.]

I'm getting in on this thread rather late but here is a little sheet music cabinet that I refinished for DeeDee. I stripped the old dark finish, using no sandpaper, stained with Constantine's "Red Mahogany" stain and finished with many coats of Deft satin lacquer from a spray can. I rubbed the finish after every two coats and it eventually filled the grain. It was easy and anyone could replicate the finish. Jerry Blais

[m0xiemama]

That came lovely Jerry. That would be a nice way for me to stay somehwat true to the original but refinish it myself.

I have already taken the old finish off using lacquer thinner and a rag. It has left a lot of the color variation so I just have to get it back to the brownish mahogany it was before.

[Jerry B.]

On any object like a Victrola or the above record cabinet I do the following:
I completely disassemble the object and remove all hardware.
I strip one piece at a time.
I use a cheap paint brush to apply liquid stripper.
After a few minutes I start to remove the stripper and finish with a moderately course steel wool like "0" steel wool.
I usually apply a second coat of stripper and use "0" steel wool.
When the old finish appears to be gone, I go over the object with denatured alcohol and "0000" steel wool.
The last step in the stripping process is a final rub with just 0000 steel wool.
I used Constantines's Red Mahogany stain for the music cabinet.
I finished the music cabinet with aerosol satin Deft with 0000 steel wool used gently between coats. I used probably 1.5 cans.
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NOTE:
It's important to protect yourself so I work in a ventilated area and wear rubber gloves and safety glasses when needed. Please read directions and labels.

Happy collecting, Jerry Blais