Any wood workers in here?

[Mitzi]

I just refinished a beautiful old armoire I have had for years. I first stripped all the old apint off of it. Then I sanded it then I applied tung oil. It come out absolutely beautiful.
I have an old coffee table in bad shape I'd like to do. But, my husband says I can not use wood stripper on it because the top is laminated. What can I use, if anyone knows? The armoire came out so beautifully, I'd someday like to do my kidtchen cabinets but they are laminated too.

[Chopshopcop]

I've fooled around with it a little bit. Haven't done much in a while though.

Think of laminate as a photograph applied to a piece of wood, because that's pretty much what it is.

Chances are if the piece is laminated, it's probably pressed wood underneath, wood chips that have been compressed to form a solid.

You can get new laminates to refinish but it involves taking the original lam up, which will either pull chunks out of the underlayer, or leaves chunks of the lam on the surface, despite your best efforts. Labor intensive and you probably won't be very pleased with the end result.

Best bet is to buy another table. If you just like the refinishing aspect, hit the flea markets and garage sales for salvagable pieces.

[Dinosaur]

The laminate could be either plastic, like Formica, or a wood veneer. Your refinishing options depend a lot on the condition of the existing laminate surface. In order to advise you, I'll need to know a lot more about the table. Size, dimensions, type of edges (curved or flat), type of legs, manufacturer, etc, Some sanding skills and a router may also be necessary to accomplish the task.

[Mitzi]

I think it's just easier getting rid of the coffee table.

[klar]

Yep Mitzi your right when it comes to refinishing a laminated peice you had better be a expert at refinishing otherwise ytour going to hate the way it turns out. I am very good at wood working and I myself will not touch laminated wood I will throw it out it is not worth the extra effort to try and refinish. I am at present time looking at redoing the wall I tore half down last fall and place some in wall book shelves withing this wall to bring out a better looking dining room. I just got done putting track lighting up in the kitchen. Sooo many projects sooo little time LOL.

Klar

[4n6det]

I'm in the same boat with Klar. I'm just now finishing the basement room off after framing, hanging drywall etc. I'll be done that and then have to go to the next item on the "honeydew" list. (Honey do this, honey do that....etc.)

[RoadWarrior]

I refinished our kitchen table, and it's a wood veneer laminate. It had to use stripper to remove the old polyurethane, lightly sanded to remove some marks left by a hot saucepan, hit it lightly with .000 steel wool, applied stain, let that dry, re-applied polyurethane, let it dry thoroughly, and then .000 steel wool again to remove tiny imperfections and give it a high shine.

Hope this helps.

[Mitzi]

Well, I guess it wouldn't hurt to try it I guesss. I have an old 1952 sewing machine I'm refinishing now. It's coming out beautifuly.
The onlything laninated on this coffeetable is the top.
I had never refinished wood in my life until a friend taught me how to. I just strip, sand, wipe off with a damp cloth and let it dry. Then I apply tung oil. It's really pretty on things you don't plan on using a lot. Itherwise, you would have to apply some sort of protectorate and I don't know if you can apply like a polyurethane to something with tung oil on it.
I had had this old armoire for YEARS. The guy across the stret kept telling me he would refinish it for me for $375. It was in really bad shape. But I did it for about 75$ and I have several people who really want it. One had offered me 500$.
The guy across the street keeps finding fault with it but I think it looks great.

[ 03-18-2002: Message edited by: Mitzi ]

[Mike Tx]

Mitzi, you stripped and did WHAT with your tung?

[Mitzi]

NO MIKE, I will NOT show you how I did it!

[klar]

Sounds like you had fun with the styriping and refinishing Mitzi. Most anything that you refinish with will have on the container what you can use to protect or to cover it with. I believe (do not quote me) that you can put a polyurathane coat over tung oil once it has had a chance to seep in and dry for a couple days.

Klar

[Mitzi]

I even impressed myself with the armoire. I bought it years ago at an antique shop for 50$,(or was it 100$, can't remember) meaning to have someone refinish it sooner or later. A friend of mine showed me how to do it and I couldn't believe how easy it was. It took me about a week because I took my time on it. My friend could hardly believe it was the same armoire when she saw it.
I really had to laugh at the guy who lives in our neighborhood though. Don't get me wrong, this man can do anything.....He could build a house by himself if he wanted to. When his wife saw my armoire, she loved it and told him to come and see it. He went out there but kept his side to it and never looked at it. lol! He's so used to being complimented on HIS work, he can't compliment anyone on THEIR work. Now, he tries to point out flaws in it but I won't look at him when he does. It's beautiful, it's mine and I love it.

[klar]

Mitzi most wood products when they are refisnished will show some flaws in them since the aged finished hides spots and other types of flaws. NO wood is perfect and the new finish will show the flaws that will add character to the peice adding value to it. I think that he is a little jealous that you did it yourself and I applaud you I know it is some work but the end result is what makes it all worth it.

Klar