Refinishing Wooden mantel and wood sealant

Thanks to comments received on here to a post regarding removing wooden mantelpieces, we’ve decided to keep them and instead make them a little better. Is this something we could tackle ourselves? Would a light hand sanding on the old varnish suffice? As for the finish, I would like something with low voc. Any recommendations? Or, is this something we should have an expert do, and if so, any recs? On a related note, we have built in drawers in some closets that I think are ‘plain & fancy’ brand that smell bad. I think they are plywood (edges show layers of wood) but I’m surprised they smell so bad because they are not new. I am considering a sealant, like AFM Hardseal to stop the smell. Any advice on this? Thanks so much.

elisenew

in Wood Restoration 11 years and 11 months ago

6

Please log in, in order to post replies!

6 replies

Newest Oldest

metalwork | 11 years and 4 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4838 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4851 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(6) "181255"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "metalwork"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$BgabNFc8N0ORoN8SLQLSrzA9B/OzED1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "metalwork"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(23) "sherwinmorgan@yahoo.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2014-01-17 21:12:08"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(9) "metalwork"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(181255)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(1) {
    [0]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(1) {
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

You should let an expert handle it, one of my guys are very experience with restoring wood, and his work is great, fair prices as well. contact infor is located on the business card below

ParkSlopePS | 11 years and 11 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4837 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4836 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(4) "1512"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(11) "ParkSlopePS"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$ByqYBF34UXDFf/maHuwc7V7m6qTy.y1"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(11) "parkslopeps"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(18) "dean@restoreny.net"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(53) "http://bstoner.wpengine.com/forums/users/parkslopeps/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:16:39"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(11) "ParkSlopePS"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(1512)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

if the existing  finish is not crazed or cracking, or delaminating, it could be a perfect candidate for refurbishment. Clean the surface well, scuff sand it, and then recoat using shellac or varnish. Test a small area first to check the result, you might want to add a coloring step if you ant to change hue.

backeast | 11 years and 11 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4829 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4839 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "24559"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(8) "backeast"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bp/QTxR/ZCbFX9sASGsi2ss2uf3xJI/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(8) "backeast"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(19) "nsunshine@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(23) "/forums/users/novice44/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:06:41"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(20) "JhjzxiiZcOX6AVRCQRaY"
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(8) "backeast"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(24559)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If the drawers smell like paint/varnish, etc., try leaving them outside for a few days (if we ever have a few days without rain!). The warmth and air should help.

BobMarvin | 11 years and 11 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4838 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4840 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "802"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "BobMarvin"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$vXcETAGfbklfbxLqBuZOwe9SvZukjLn11bfJ4K5tk7sYEGuWi6OGW"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "bobmarvin"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "marvbej@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "http:///forums/users/bobmarvin/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2006-09-08 23:16:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "Bob Marvin"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(802)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I too am glad you’ve decided to keep the mantel. IF the finish is shellac you might as well remove it, but giving the woodwork a fresh coat of varnish, when painting a room, was fairly common practice by painters before WW II, so there may well be a few coats of varnish which are MUCH harder to remove.

Bond | 11 years and 11 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4841 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4842 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(5) "10545"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(4) "Bond"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(34) "$P$Bp3RFao3u7M5Jg6R5xu1G6CW6fjBM6/"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(4) "bond"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(13) "BDW13@aol.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(19) "/forums/users/bond/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2017-08-10 14:14:46"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(4) "Bond"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(10545)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

If this is the original mantel post that I’m thinking of, it looks like you have the original sealant on there which is probably shellac or laquer.  Both of these are pretty easy to remove, but shellac is ridiculously easy.  I would buy a small container of denatured alchol and rub a little on a non-obvious place. If the finish melts, it’s shellac.  If it softens, but doesn’t melt,  it’s either laquer or a mix of laquer and shellac (probably).  If nothing happens, it’s a later varnish.  If it’s shellac, you can rub the whole thing down with some scotch brite pads or plastic stripping pads removing the old finish and then just re-shellac which is a pretty good sealant as Steve points out.  You could just paint over the old shellac with new shellac, it will melt it and form a new finish, but if the old finish is dirty and cruddy, you’ll get a muddier finish, so it’s usually worth it to strip it down and start fresh. Since the liquid base for shellac is denatured alchol, the smell is not bad at all and it’s really no more complicated than giving the piece a good scrubbing, changing the pads when they get loaded up with the old shellac.  I for one an glad you are keeping the mantel.

BobMarvin | 11 years and 11 months ago

string(1) "1"
object(WP_User)#4837 (8) {
  ["data"]=>
  object(stdClass)#4843 (12) {
    ["ID"]=>
    string(3) "802"
    ["user_login"]=>
    string(9) "BobMarvin"
    ["user_pass"]=>
    string(63) "$wp$2y$10$vXcETAGfbklfbxLqBuZOwe9SvZukjLn11bfJ4K5tk7sYEGuWi6OGW"
    ["user_nicename"]=>
    string(9) "bobmarvin"
    ["user_email"]=>
    string(17) "marvbej@gmail.com"
    ["user_url"]=>
    string(31) "http:///forums/users/bobmarvin/"
    ["user_registered"]=>
    string(19) "2006-09-08 23:16:42"
    ["user_activation_key"]=>
    string(0) ""
    ["user_status"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["display_name"]=>
    string(10) "Bob Marvin"
    ["spam"]=>
    string(1) "0"
    ["deleted"]=>
    string(1) "0"
  }
  ["ID"]=>
  int(802)
  ["caps"]=>
  array(2) {
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["cap_key"]=>
  string(15) "wp_capabilities"
  ["roles"]=>
  array(2) {
    [0]=>
    string(10) "subscriber"
    [1]=>
    string(15) "bbp_participant"
  }
  ["allcaps"]=>
  array(4) {
    ["read"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["level_0"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["subscriber"]=>
    bool(true)
    ["bbp_participant"]=>
    bool(true)
  }
  ["filter"]=>
  NULL
  ["site_id":"WP_User":private]=>
  int(1)
}

I’ve had good results with Howards Restore a Finish:
http://www.howardproducts.com/…

I don’t know if it’s low voc, but it doesn’t smell too awful–much less than stripping and refinishing.

I have no experience with coating wood to contain an odor but iI think shallac is the standard sealant for this purpose.