Is this mahogany?

[swee'pea99]

Now l have to change my opinion having just seen these photos it is for sure one of the mahoganies , nothing flashy but a useful table !

Thanks! I can report with authority!

What d'you think? Bit of paint-stripper & then varnish?

 

[Poacher]

Thanks! I can report with authority!

What d'you think? Bit of paint-stripper & then varnish?

Won't somebody think of the children patina!

 

[woodbutchmaster]

Thanks! I can report with authority!

What d'you think? Bit of paint-stripper & then varnish?

Before you use paint stripper may l suggest fine steel wool and meths. Be very gentle (no scrubbing) just dip the steel wool in a dish of meths (don't pour the spirit directly onto the surface) then light circular movement of the wool. You will probably find that the surface becomes sticky , just add a bit more meths and carry on. If it has a polyurethane type finish the surface won't melt . That's stage one , give it a try and see how you get on , this is a slow process but worth it ( thats why furniture restoration is expensive)

 

[ClichéGuevara]

I'm totally confused. I though mahogany was what the Scots did at New Year.

 

[Randomnerd]

Waiting for the camera to pan back on an eighteenth century writing bureau with cabriole legs and gilded fittings....and. No. That will come up a treat with lots of patience and some wire wool. Synthetic turpentine will help remove a wax finish. If you’re happy with the wood colour at the end, Osmo Polyx oil is the best I’ve used on furniture. They also do tinted finishes. I’m not a fan of a hard varnish finish, but it’s all personal choice.

 

[Reynard]

Certainly a useable piece of furniture.

I'd remove the varnish, sand to a smooth finish with progressively finer paper or wire wool, then just apply some good old fashioned beeswax floor polish - the stuff that comes in the screw-top pots. Several light coats are better than one thick one. Requires a bit of elbow grease, but it's worthwhile.

 

[swee'pea99]

Thanks very much for the restoration tips. I'll moot them with mini munchkin and see what she reckons. Thinking about it, she's - how shall I put this - on the artistic/impulsive/scatty rather than the buttoned-down and sensible end of the scale, so it might be worth waiting a while to see how well she looks after it, if at all. Be a bugger to spend hours returning it to perfection only for her to start decorating it with coffee cup rings. I'll have a think. But in the meantime, I told her it was definitely mahogany and she was definitely pleased, so that's the main thing. Thanks again all.

 

[raleighnut]

I wouldn't use 'wire wool' on any hardwood furniture, it is likely to stain it (microscopic particles of Iron get into the grain) I would sand it using 'garnet' (aluminium oxide) paper, no more than 120 grit then 180 and finally 240/400 and using a rubber/cork block. this will take some effort but will give far more control over the stripping process and leave some of the original varnish in the grain to act as a 'grainfiller'. likewise I'd avoid polyurethane 'varnish' to finish it much prefering a more traditional spirit based formulation thinned down with white spirit/turpentine at about a 60-40 % dilution (Varnish as bought is too thick/gloopy) using several thin coats 'denibbed' when each coat is suitably hardened.

A lot of work but then I am a Cabinet Maker

 

[woodbutchmaster]

Thanks very much for the restoration tips. I'll moot them with mini munchkin and see what she reckons. Thinking about it, she's - how shall I put this - on the artistic/impulsive/scatty rather than the buttoned-down and sensible end of the scale, so it might be worth waiting a while to see how well she looks after it, if at all. Be a bugger to spend hours returning it to perfection only for her to start decorating it with coffee cup rings. I'll have a think. But in the meantime, I told her it was definitely mahogany and she was definitely pleased, so that's the main thing. Thanks again all.

Good show, there's a career in diplomacy waiting for you

 

[wheresthetorch]

I'm totally confused. I though mahogany was what the Scots did at New Year.

I thought it was something to do with only having one wife.