Need Advice on best way to refurbish an Antique Oak Secretary.

[Huber]

I bought my wife Antique Oak Secretary, The doors on the front bottom
are not the original and are stained a different color (darker). The
rest looks natural golden color with darker regions at the board's
ends. What is way to refurbish the piece and retain the great look of
the antique wood? I should take a picture. Help.

[Serge]

You have a difficult task on your hands. I am trying to match the color of a
copy of an antique chair so it matches the 3 (real) old ones and it's very
difficult. It's difficult to age wood. I will get close at best.

I am very interested in answers that come in that thread. I have started
mixing water based stains to try to match the old stain on the chairs but
it's difficult to predict the final color with the finish applied...

"Huber" <hub...@hotmail.com> wrote in message
news:cb54fd3a.02011...@posting.google.com...

[Tony D.]

I have had some luck in this area by tinting white shellac with Honey
colour "Trans Tint " dye stain from woodcraft. I would say to go light
on the 1st coat or two, as you can always add more to the next coat.
keep in mind it may get darker or more of the honey tone to it the
more coats you apply. To me, shellac seems to blend in well in this
case and almost give a instant pitina.
This has worked for me and is JMO.
Thanks, Tony D.

"Serge" <phiso...@hotmaill.com> wrote in message news:<neK%7.34628$os5.3...@news20.bellglobal.com>...

[Huber]

Check out the pictures of the secretary!

http://www.webphotos.com/list_photos.asp?mi=3&smi=1&a=51187

Notice that the lower doors ar stained darker and are not original. I
was thinking of putting a arc (scrolled) edge on the bottom of the
doors and refinishing them. But what to do to the rest to restore it?

Thanks

Mike

Sorry the pictures are bad!

[chib]

In article <cb54fd3a.02011...@posting.google.com>, Huber
<hub...@hotmail.com> wrote:

If this is a genuine antique, you should not attempt any restoration of
any kind. Simply clean the thing with mild oil soap solution. Lessons
from the "Antique Road Show" on PBS; you could be turning a $50,000
piece of furniture into firewood.

Although, from your description and the photos you linked later, it
seems as if the damage has already been done.

-chib

--
(Email: change out to in)

[Serge]

Never tried that, I wonder how water based stains would mix with shellac. It
never occured to me to try to tint the finish and not the wood. I will do
some experimenting....

Thanks

Serge

"Tony D." <ant3...@yahoo.com> wrote in message
news:4108ce99.0201...@posting.google.com...

[Huber]

I need more help, thanks for the guys that helped but please look at
the picture I posted earlier