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Finally got the finish right on that old oak dresser from the estate sale

The original varnish was this weird, gummy shellac that took forever to strip. I must have done six passes with Citristrip over two full days before the wood felt clean. Sanding it down to 220 grit without losing the carved details was the real headache. Anyone have a better method for stubborn, old finishes on detailed pieces?
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2 Comments
johnfoster
johnfoster15d ago
Honestly, that sounds like a nightmare. Tbh, my last attempt at stripping something detailed ended with me sanding a bit too hard and basically erasing a whole flower. Ngl, I switched to a heat gun and a tiny scraper for the gunk after that, but it's still a gamble.
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michaelnguyen
So you basically turned a dresser into a modern art piece?
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