Wood Finish Identification & Finish Repair (oil, shellac, lacquer, and poly/varnish) | How To

[@kbrollins77]

I've understood the concept, but seeing how you actually spotted the material on the finish and WAITED 3 minutes was golden. Thanks!

[@pharoah125]

‘I’ve spent hours and hours looking for how to test a finish. You can’t learn this process in jumbled bits and pieces because the testing needs to be done in a sequence. This video is so incredibly helpful. You are without a doubt my favorite woodworker on KZbin. Thank you so much for providing free information. You’ve made my life so much easier!

[@philgray3443]

Wish I had found this channel earlier. You have unlocked the mystery of our 135 year old table!

[@johnrogers-thorn9521]

Found this site this morning by accident repairing a 1870s chair. Boy wish I found it years ago. Fantastic videos buddy, I'll continue my viewing eagerly, thankyou.

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you found it helpful John. I hope our other videos are as useful for you. Cheers. Scott

[@kraptastic333]

I needed a scientific method/ comprehensive education on this subject, from context of repair rather than refinish. This was a perfect delivery of the content with great jumping off points for the next content

[@kestrelpounces]

I'm still new to this, but already whenever I'm searching for answer, I breathe a huge sigh of relief whenever I find one of your videos in the results! I know I can trust what you say not only to correctly address the problem, but also that your solution won't ruin the piece later on. Not to mention your relaxed low-key delivery in your excellent voice. Pretty sure I could listen to you read the phonebook, as they used to say. (Oh my, we're starting our second generation of people who don't know what a phonebook is, aren't we?! Doddering back to my workshop now....)

[@donbushek733]

Is there no need to distinguish between polyurethane and varnish finishes when it comes to over-coating the existing finish? Can I scuff sand a polyurethane finish and over-coat it with a varnish, and vice versa? And finally, what about Minwax Polycrylic?

[@ac1143]

I've watched this video repeatedly. So useful

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for sharing that. Scott

[@skyhawaii5446]

Another great video. You are a great teacher and provide vast knowledge that is second to none. I have 35+ years in painting and decorating, so I hope my word means a lot to anyone who watches your posts. Many thanks.

[@FixingFurniture]

Wow, thank you! I appreciate that! Scott

[@garmiellis]

Great sequence tip, I like it. Also, if you can't mamage to have solvents, but have a UV light in hand, flsh it over surfaces in the dark, and whatever glows orange is more likely shellac.

[@FixingFurniture]

Great tip! Thank you!

[@IrishChippy]

Great video. Paint Thinners = Turpentine used for normal oil paints, varnishes and polyurethane. Lacquer and 'sand and seal' are nitro cellulose and need lacquer thinner for thinning. Denatured alcohol = Methylated spirits (UK and Ireland) is used in shellacs and can be used to make waxes instead of turpentine. Back in the 70's and 80's Methylated spirits had to be regulated because people used to drink it. Oils (Teak, Tung, Linseed and Danish) allow wood to breath somewhat. Mineral oil is the favorite for end grain chopping boards etc. It is food save and hydrates the wood. It is also used in creams, lotions and ointments etc. I now live in The Philippines where I will be soon teaching fine woodworking

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks for sharing your knowledge and terminology from the UK. Good luck with your teaching - that sounds fun! Scott

[@soulgaard]

Can acetone be used to test for lacquer?

[@hijackn2890]

This is such a fantastic video. I’ve been following your channel for years now and this is one of the videos I keep coming back to.

[@ellenfoster9764]

Wow, this was fabulous! Wish I had seen this before I thought I’d quickly spiff up a shellac finish on an antique dresser. I assumed shellac given the age of the piece. However, at some time in the past, someone had applied poly. Much bigger job than I had planned on

[@marlenomahony8649]

Thank you so much . I have a bunch of old furniture from my great-grandmother and the finish needs some tlc but I had no clue what to use/do. So happy I found your channel.

[@lovetrump1088]

Wonderful....now I gotta get to making a few repairs I have been putting off because I could not identify for sure what finish was used. Thanks a MILLION!

[@selenapollard2841]

It’s been a few years since this video was posted but thank you! Now I know how to start restoring all 6 of my sewing tables.

[@FixingFurniture]

You're welcome. Good luck with all those sewing tables. Do you collect them?

[@TippyPuddles]

This popped into my recommendations. I wasn't particularly looking for it but had in mind to fix the finish of the foot-board to my bed. It's an Ethan Allen French Country Slay-bed from the 80's. Wear is showing on the top of the foot-board from placing things over it and I use to sit in bed with damp long damp hair and the finish in that spot on the head-board is damaged too. I don't mind some nature wear on furniture, but now it's looking very tired. I have some woodworking knowledge to build, but little on repair. Thanks for the tip, I wasn't sure what finish it was and your other videos showed me how to approach the wear on the finish. Looks more like it's chipped away.

[@dawnisin]

Love this video! Thank you so much. This single video just gave me the answers to 3 projects I’ve been needing to finish but hesitant because I’m new to restoring and / or painting furniture. I subscribed and will share. Thanks again!

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad it was helpful! Thank you for subscribing Dawn! Scott

[@kathleenborsch1312]

I'm touching up some musical instruments, also trying to figure out how to restore the finish of a 100 year old German zither in good condition except for its finish. Research indicates it's probably shellac, but I will test it. (I don't feel I need a luthier just yet! ) This was VERY valuable info, presented very clearly. Thanks!

[@FixingFurniture]

You’re welcome. Good luck with your project. Scott

[@Mr.C-Mister]

Very easy on the ears and super informative. Thank you.

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad it was helpful! Scott

[@barbarateterus8252]

Honestly, this is so well explained and through… I have to share your channel with my friends 🙌

[@robdavidson1663]

Simply excellent explanation that I've seen elsewhere. Both Simple & Excellent! Many thanks.

[@kimberlythompson1835]

Thank you so much! 😃 This information is invaluable to a newbie furniture refinisher and explained in a way that's easy to understand.

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad to hear it was helpful Kimberly. Thanks for the supportive comment. Scott

[@petestaint8312]

Scotty, love your channel! I'm addicted. Bingeing on your vids. 👍

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you like them Pete!

[@joshieb33]

Wow this is EXACTLY what I needed, and so well done. Wish I had found you sooner!

[@nickwit21]

So very helpful. Subscribed! I have an early 1900s rolltop desk im refurbishing and wasn't sure how I was going to refresh it you.

[@RobertAdkins689]

I followed the video and tested for oil and then shellac. The alcohol took the finish off but also some of the color. could it be that it was a colored shellac? btw thanks for all you do.

[@FixingFurniture]

Yes, you're correct. That's exactly what happened. Powered stains mix well with shellac, so the colour and finish were applied at the same time. I hope that helps. Scott

[@richarddelaney8570]

Wow, great video! Some of the best I’ve seen are from this channel!

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks Richard! Scott

[@kevingeaney7741]

Your videos are very informative and explained very clearly, thank you .

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you like them! Thanks for sharing that. Scott

[@jasonmorris2493]

we purchased a 100 year old Victorian home and I want to repair the dents and scratches in the wood work of the baseboards and the pocket doors. I'm pretty sure its shellac but I will test as in this video. My question is how do I repair the dents and scratches? Do I use wax? Wood filler? Do I remove the shellac first? Thank you, and great video, very helpful.

[@FixingFurniture]

If the marks are on painted surfaces, I would use a wood filler. If it's a wood finish, my go-to tool is burn-in wood fillers as you can match the color after the finish is applied. Here's a video that shows burn-in wood fillers. kzbin.info/www/bejne/jnq9pGqAf72Na9U

[@TheFrozenMind]

I had this small wooden statue from Hokkaido Japan ( I think it's an oil finish) , can I use "baby oil/mineral oil" to test? before I buy a can of Tung Oil. I learned a lot from your videos! Thank You

[@WorkingViews]

very helpful and detailed explanation. great to note the importance of doing it in the right order. thank you for sharing!

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad to hear you found this helpful. Thanks for sharing that! Scott

[@nathaliep8512]

Finally! Now I have a way of testing the odds and ends I pick up and want to refinish. This is such an easy and common sense video to follow. Thanks so much for posting it!

[@FixingFurniture]

You're welcome Nathalie. I'm glad you found it helpful. Scott

[@gracegorman642]

Excellent. Just what I was looking for. Thank you.

[@michaelwhitt6025]

Thank you for your videos! I have several pieces of Ethan Allen furniture from the late 60s or early 70s that need refinishing. I am trying to determine the finish. Tung oil does not absorb. Denatured alcohol does seem to soften and remove the finish - my rag turns brown. Lacquer thinner also softens the finish. Could these pieces be shellac underneath lacquer? Thank you for any information that you can provide.

[@dj2028]

I have a mid-century walnut table that I wanted to find out the finish as I wanted to re-new rather than start from new. This was super helpful. It was lacquer. A million thanks!

[@drewborgholthaus2010]

What are the possible varnish finishes? Isn’t varnish a general term for different types of finishes? Do you have a video on how to determine a type of varnish?

[@chris-terrell-liveactive]

I'm wondering about a wax finish, how would you test for that? I guess repair is then just to reapply and rub in more wax?

[@CoryTobin-q1u]

Excellent and very informative! This was precisely the information I was looking for. Thank you, New Subscriber

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for your support! Scott

[@dianecolosimo5319]

i applied denatured alcohol - it didn't seem sticky to me but it did lighten quite a bit. I want to make sure if it is shellac. Thank you for your great info.

[@FixingFurniture]

You may have just cleaned off some dirt. Shellac will get soft and sticky with denatured alcohol. I hope that helps. Scott

[@wyomingprairie]

Thank you! This is really informative and well organized.

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you enjoyed it! Scott

[@hollymabee7879]

I have a tabletop that is finished with dewaxed shellac, not french polish but brushed on. Over that it has 3 coats of polyurethane. I am sure of this finish because I applied it myself. The table now has 3 small circular areas where the finish was eaten away by something. I am wondering what is the best way to go about repairing those spots?

[@debkeyworth8429]

Heard about you from the Thomas Johnson site. Subscribed !

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks for subscribing Deb. Tom is a wonderful craftsman!

[@liamk1798]

Thanks very much for the videos, they’ve helped a lot in my restoration of an antique rocker my family passed down.

[@mrt1626]

Question; I have Bruce Engineered Wood Flooring and spec show that it has a "Premium Urethane" finish but also says that the fisnish has Aluminum Oxide. I will have to completely sand most of the damaged boards but would like to get away with only doing some touch ups on some. What method works best for that?

[@liftheart84]

I'm trying to find out the likelihood of any of these clear finishes on antique items having lead in them? I usually just think about colored paint or white paint having lead but can chilack or lacquer or any type of glass cover contain lead? Thank you

[@mr.shellcracker9161]

What finish would you recommend to a woodworker who needed to finish a dining room table they built knowing that eventually it would need to be refinished down the road? Excellent video

[@DownthePathwithTonya]

Thank you for your tutorial videos. They are very helpful. I am looking for guidance regarding two areas on a second-hand dining table I purchased and would like to make some minor repairs on without causing more damage. After watching your video I am pretty sure the table has a polyurethane finish. The 60" round tabletop is solid wood but appears to be topped with particleboard sections covered by veneer to create a slat design (Imagine a round table separated into quarters and slats running on a 45°angle toward the center, creating 90° angles with the quarters next to it). 1: Two of the tips of the slatted sections are missing veneer and appear to have gotten moisture under them because they are raised. They are small areas, but I would like to flatten the raised area without causing greater damage to the table. After flattening them, I am considering using a marker to replace the wood color. 2: There appears to be a very small amount of silver paint (or something) on the tabletop that does not come off with polishing. I would like to remove it without removing the finish of the table. I should say I have NO experience with wood working or repair and would like to do the project as economically and simply as possible (and did I mention I don't want to cause greater damage?)

[@chris-terrell-liveactive]

very useful, thanks, I'm making a flow chart to summarise this. For repairing the oil finish on the cutting board (04:32) you say you use a mineral oil, is this a food-safe one? I would have thought Tung oil might be better but would appreciate your advice on this. Thanks.

[@craftgirl1831]

Hemp oil is food safe

[@timothywalker2104]

WNAT IF I AM GETTING A POSITIVE TEST FOR BOTH SHELLAC WITH DENATURED ALCHOL AND A POSITIVE TEST FOR LAQUER WITH LAQUER THINNER? BOTH MAKE IT STICKY AND OULL OFF THE STAIN. THANKS

[@briangoodale7167]

Great video, thank you for posting - Do you have a remedy for a waterbase poly that appears slightly cloudy?

[@jimwiskus8862]

I assume the cloudy is white? That indicates moisture. The reason I say this, my son found his guitar floating in his basement after it flooded on him. He brought the guitar up here and oddly enough it was still in good shape other than the back was cloudy white. I did a little looking online and found that if you take a Terry cloth like a towel, or a washcloth and use a hot iron on the backside maybe keep it moving 10 15 seconds and then pull it up. It pulls the water out into the cloth. It’s unbelievable. If it’s a small spot see if you can find some Tibetan almond stick. It’s in a little red and yellow round can about 2 1/2 3 inches tall. It does work pretty well for me. Most hardware stores like an ace type hardware will carry it.

[@pteddie6965]

Outstanding video. Thanks for sharing your knowledge and expertise with us.

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you enjoyed it! Scott

[@randallsmerna384]

I need help. I have an antique. I promised my daughter that I would fix up. It's a gorgeous Edwardian style (?) desk with scrolled hinged lids. It's a darker wood with a fine blonde inlay border on every surface. It has tapered legs with square cup beaded edge brass castors. It has a dark finish shellac. There are many areas that were white-ish which I think I've come to understand is old wax. I've never worked with shellac but but when I learned that one could reconstitute it with alcohol, I was excited. That excitement was short-lived because this has turned into a nightmare. Because of those whitish areas and because it had some staining it had a lot of rehydrating of the shellac which produced tinted reconstituted shellac. It was going well as I used an artist brush to touch up damaged finishing areas like cup rings, water damage, etc.. It was going well but I was running out of reconstituted shellac and I couldn't take it from anywhere else on the piece. I was running out of shellac so I bought Zinzer in a quart can and an aerosol spray to see which would worked better. BIG MISTAKE. I used sprayed on shellac first thinking that might be easier and being for more familiar with polyurethanes, but discovered that this new shellac wasn't blending with the old shellac. Or was acting like a stripper of sorts making it kind of wrinkly. The spray also has an orange peel that I don't like. I then tried to use some straight alcohol to gently go over the top hoping that it would reflow but that didn't work either and it looks like hell I don't want to strip this desk but I don't know what else to do. What the hell is wrong with this Zinzer crap! 😡 Now I Have stopped working on it because I was so discouraged but she's upset that I'm not finishing the desk. I don't know where to go from here. I can't seem to get a good damn finish no matter what I do. It's streaky. It doesn't lay down well. It's thick and thin in spots. I was excited to use shellac as it could somewhat be reconstitute d... but now I freakin' hate it! 😡😡😡 I bought some darker/ purple shellac flakes and I tried to make my own thinking that something was wrong with the Zinnzer shallac that's a pain in the ass.

[@FixingFurniture]

Sorry to hear about your trouble. Each type of finish takes practice to learn and adding the challenge of restoring a finish compounds that. I provide Advice Sessions where I can coach you over a video call to find the right path to a solution. Here's a link www.fixingfurniture.com/coaching If you prefer a self-help type of route, here's a video about repairing and tinting shellac kzbin.info/www/bejne/fp2TeYyZrZeqmsU

[@thomasjosejosephjose7036]

Please have one for removing these finishes for new application

[@kjteach1269]

Thanks for your video. After watching I learned my MCM table has a shellac finish. I got denatured alcohol to remove the finish but wonder the best way to apply it and then clean the remnants. Last, I’m going to refinish with teak oil (the table is very similar to the MCM coffee table from your other video). My teak oil says to mix with teak prep. Is that necessary? I dont have that and am struggling to find. Thanks! Really appreciate your helpful vids!

[@FixingFurniture]

Hi. To remove the old shellac, you can apply the denatured alcohol and scrub it with steel wool or synthetic steel wool. As for the Teak oil, I'm not familiar with Teak Prep so I can't offer any advice there. Sorry. Scott

[@murphyrp01]

What a fantastic video. Offering great information and value

[@beantea5592]

Awsome video!

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you enjoyed it. Scott

[@ianwood8223]

This as always been something I couldn’t get my head round and I’m share there are many others just like me would it be possible to put this in print in just the same way you’ve just described and thanks for all your efforts in making these videos thanks from the Uk

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks for the suggestion. I'll look at adding that to our website. Scott

[@samuelroberts334]

I really in joy these videos. Thanks for for sharing!

[@FixingFurniture]

Thank you Samuel. I appreciate you taking the time to post a comment and show your support for our work! Scott

[@drewborgholthaus2010]

So I have a steering wheel with a varnish finish that is chipping from UV exposure through the windshield. Could I just pull off any cracked or chipped pieces, sand down the rest of the wood underneath and neighboring cracked varnish and then put another coat over it all?

[@sandyscherer4401]

Does the first test need to be tung oil, or will other oils do?

[@ribmant]

For the first test, would any oil work (cooking oil)? I am trying to avoid buying a quart of oil for a single drop test and use something around the house if possible.

[@shokora]

When it comes to varnish finishes, can you do a video on how to sand a piece of furniture with lots of grooves and carved details? I have a chair I want to fix and refinish, but I am afraid of sanding off a lot of detail.

[@BlackjackCZ]

Fantastic video. Thank you!

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad you liked it! Scott

[@תמירפרוידנט]

Great video!

[@bruce-le-smith]

This is a really helpful video, thank you so much. I definitely subscribed.

[@evoman44]

Question? My wife ruined the finish on an area of our table by spilling nail polish remover on it. It removed the finish and made it sticky when we tried to clean it up. What finish would it be from that?

[@FixingFurniture]

Nail polish remover is a very powerful solvent, therefore it could damage more than one type of finish (e.g., shellac or lacquer). It's best to use the tests in this video to identify the finish you're working with. Scott

[@terrmaso]

Just curious to find out if you have used the 3M buffing pads to achieve the same effect as the steel wool? I have used the 0000 steel wool and 3M pads and have found the 3M pad to be less abrasive. I even used the 3M pad to buff out scratches on a table top.

[@FixingFurniture]

Hi Terry. I use both steel wool and synthetic steel wool (scotch-bright pads). I haven't done a direct comparison between them but now that you mention it, I do use them for different things. I use the synthetic for scrubbing a surface clean or applying wax to a finish whereas I use traditional steel wool for cleaning off finishes or in between finish coats. I don't know if that answers your question but I hope it's helpful. Scott

[@shushine58]

I really enjoy your channel and I found this video particularly helpful. I have a question re: finishing oil and oil-based wood filler putty. I'm in the process of refurbishing the tabletop of an extendable round teak dining table. I've sanded it down and plan on finishing it with tung oil. I'm currently at a standstill because I need to repair some gouges on the inner edge of the table where the two semi-circle halves meet. I'm trying to determine a) if I should use water or oil-based wood filler/putty, b) if the tung oil will take better to one or the other, and c) if I should color match the filler before or after I apply the first coat of tung oil. Any insights on how I might move forward?

[@FixingFurniture]

Water-based wood filler will work with oil finishes, but not the other way around. Depending on the damaged area, it may be easier to fix with hot wax sticks after the finish is applied to match the finish. Wood fillers take finishes differently so if you choose to go that route, I suggest doing a test first with the finish on top to see how it works. I hope that helps. Scott

[@brandonbranco1]

Great video, thanks!

[@Gwynbuck]

Firstly, in the UK, denatured alcohol is known as methylated spirits. Secondly, if it is coated with polyurethane or varnish finish, then surely the oil drop won't be absorbed either because the latter puts in the impermiable barrier on top of the wood. That said, as usual, a very useful video. Thanks for posting it.

[@FixingFurniture]

Thanks for the UK terminology Gwyn. I'm sure that's helpful for other viewers. Cheers, Scott

[@begarbha]

very good video thanks. i have a modern piece that a drop of perfume totally dissolved the finish. any thoughts?

[@willtheman840]

Very informative. Nice speaking style. I like no music. Only quibble. Ah! Shellac, Lacquer, Polyurethane are all types of varnishes. I am in the school that considers varnish a general category. In addition. when you just say varnish, what do you mean? What sort of varnish.

[@harmpeters1447]

Is there also a way to determine if your table is finished with Beeswax? Thank you for your video!

[@brianmurphy2932]

How can I test for a finish if I don't have the alcohol or lacquer thinner on hand? I have an Amish made kitchen table that I would like to refresh the protective finish.

[@ArchaicAnglist]

IF you still have a little bottle of colorless unscented COVID-style hand sanitizer - which is essentially alcohol mixed with a gelling agent - try that. If you don't, isopropyl alcohol or rubbing alcohol is sold in pint or quart bottles as a household antiseptic in pretty much every store that also sells cough syrup. It's useful stuff.

[@DianneMueller]

Hi, I am restoring a very old settee. May I send you some pictures to see if you can identify the wood? Thanks so much!

[@TravisMizeiRacing]

Just curious. I have a painted metal piece that I’m trying to determine if it is just paint or if it has a top coat. Is there any way to determine with certainty one way or another?

[@madhurimotwani]

I have a table I bought at a yard sale. that stains very easily. Everything seems to stick on it. Dishes, cups., Placemats, everything. I am guessing it has lost its finish. Do you suggest I buy all the above items to test for the original finish.

[@FixingFurniture]

It's likely a failed lacquer finish. It might be shellac too. I suggest testing for shellac with denatured alcohol first, then try lacquer thinner.

[@adamcolon]

Will isopropyl alcohol work the same as denatured alcohol?

[@FixingFurniture]

I'm not familiar with that type of alcohol, so I can't answer that. Sorry. Scott

[@logmegadeth72]

I put some denatured alcohol on a table that I thought was shellac. But instead of turning sticky or gummy, it turned white and opaque. Does this mean I should move on to the lacquer thinner then?

[@FixingFurniture]

Yes, it's likely an old lacquer finish and the lacquer thinner will confirm that.

[@mariushegli]

I have nothing to say really, but I appreciate your content, and wish to help with the yt-algorithms.

[@ryantownsend2720]

Extremely helpful! Thanks!

[@FixingFurniture]

Glad it helped!

[@ryantownsend2720]

@@FixingFurniture for sure. Trying to figure out how to refinish some original mid century doors in my house without breaking out the sandpaper (thin veneer). How does one tell the difference between a varnish and poly? Does it matter if I just want it gone?

[@K7classicrockfan]

In canada we don't have denatured alcohol, are there any subsitutes possible?

[@edd2771]

Ok but how do you tell if it’s polyurethane or varnish if you’ve gotten that far?

[@FixingFurniture]

Polyurethane will chip whereas varnish won't... unfortunately, it's not easy to teach as it's something you learn by experience. Sorry this may not be helpful. Scott

[@laurenm9899]

What can you test shellac with other than Denatured alcohol, it's not able to be purchased in CA due to Prop 65 I've been told at stores here. I think I have a shellac finish, can I use shellac to test since there's denatured alcohol in it to test?

[@FixingFurniture]

Sorry, I don't know the answer to that. I've never tried another alcohol such as vodka to see how shellac reacts. Scott

[@rocko882]

Good video but I got some old walnut paneling that the finish come off when you scratch it with finger nail .what would that be paste or wax?

[@FixingFurniture]

It's hard to say without testing it with chemicals. It sounds odd

[@peterlakis]

Thank you! This is a remarkably well done, informative, no-nonsense and easy to follow video. I have a friend's danish modern dresser to refinish and this was *exactly* what I needed, as I wasn't sure what the original finish is.

[@simplesimon112]

Hi, Did you in the States use nitrocellulose lacquer on tables and chairs in the seventies?

[@FixingFurniture]

That's a question I don't know the answer to. Sorry

[@simplesimon112]

@@FixingFurniture ok

[@dbknight3]

thank you for these videos! very instructive

[@FixingFurniture]

You're welcome. It's nice to hear you're finding them useful. Scott

[@HevyDevy101]

Does anybody know what the finish is likely to be if acetone turns it white, with no real residue ? Thank you

[@rudolphkotze7951]

Awesome video, thanks! Really helpful.

[@tottart56]

I have a beautiful dining room set manufactured by the White Furniture Company, 1966. Would you happen to know what type of finish they used ? This set has been in my family since it was purchased and just recently had water damage from a cup of tea spilled on the top- I am so upset ! Thank you

[@FixingFurniture]

No, I don't know what finish that would be. You will have to test it as I show in the video. Cheers. Scott

[@lancemillward1912]

What if a floor has been oiled previously. But you want to use shellac.

[@FixingFurniture]

Shellac can be applied over an oil finish. You're OK to do that. Scott

[@maryanneharrison9966]

I'm trying to figure out what kind of finish is on my hardwood floors. Are there any other oils that we could use to test for an oil finish? I'd prefer to use something I already have on hand, if possible.

[@FixingFurniture]

Any finishing oil will work. Hardwood floor finishes are not oil finished tough. They need to have a protective film, so a varnish or polyurethane.

[@mcm.walnuter3479]

I have a mcm tallboy. I've tried everything you showed with no luck. I assume it's a poly or varnish finish. How do I get that off? It's driving me crazy! Thanks

[@buusama]

I would like to put two relatively old chairs and a table (with thin veneer on top) into my basement, which is, unfortunately, quite damp as groundwater keeps seeping up the walls. So the humidity level is always higher than it should be. Although there is a dehumidifier, I think I should put a finish on the furniture that will be able to protect it from mildew/mold. What finish would you recommend me to use if I want to make it resistant and keep it look old?

[@FixingFurniture]

No type of finish is going to keep moisture from being absorbed by the wood. The more humid the conditions, the more the wood will absorb, which will expand the wood. I wouldn't recommend storing furniture the a damp place like that. This likely isn't the answer you were looking for, but I hope you will find it helpful. Scott

[@buusama]

@@FixingFurniture I was hoping that there would be some kind of a "super finish" which is really resistant to moisture or at least more resistant than other finishes. Problem is, I don't have the room for these pieces of furniture. The air humidity is under control now.🙂

[@buusama]

@@FixingFurniture Thank you for the answer!

[@christyb2275]

Very concise and helpful. Thanks!

[@Vavala3534]

Really helpful guide.

[@ryanybos]

Great tutorial ! Thank you for the information.

[@FixingFurniture]

You're welcome. I'm happy you found this useful. Thanks for posting your comment! Scott

[@elizabethandiosa4579]

Awesome. I would love to be involved in furniture design and repair. 🥰

[@FixingFurniture]

That's great. It's something I'm really passionate about. I hope our videos help you learn the craft. Scott