The Historic District

Gina, generally the antique "refinisher" type of products are made to only dissolve shellac or lacquer, not polyurethane. It may be possible to get off enough of the polyurethane that a heavy bodied stain like Zar or General Finishes gel stain would go over it. Heavy bodied meaning they si...

Really have gotten fond of my super dark shellac trim + doors (over fir) - but its in very rough shape so I tried the technique of applying alcohol to smooth it out.... however it didnt quite work out , so now it looks even worse - uneven color + all the other lumpy alligatored areas. I frankly do n...

Oh wow - this old thread. Interesting to read and remember all the twists and turns of figuring out how to do this. The whole Portland+lime+sand approach proved to be not really easy to figure out cos the bagged cements around here all have their proporietary ingredients which they wont tell you abo...

Re: its old but its not particularly historic/significant. You cant assume that! Modest houses & how ordinary people lived can be considered historic and/or significant too! It really doesn't have to be a grand house or very unusual, just a good specimen of its type. Boomers (of which there are ...

Thanks Phil (and all) I think I misspoke when I said it "looked" fumed - I meant very dark. Since the insides of the drawer fronts are not finished and not dark (looks like plain raw wood) I assume no actual fuming was done? I will try to post some pics I did experiment with some antique f...

Thx - good info. Ive had good luck in past with Titebond hide glue - bought from the local Woodcraft where things don't sit on shelf forever and I can get expiration date far into the future. Nothing worse than glue that wont harden and having to remove it and start over - been there! The back side ...

Got a fantastic Arts and Crafts dresser for free!! In pretty good shape, original everything, not futzed with or refinished before. Its that early 1900s super dark fumed oak look which I love .... but on the other hand.... its quarter sawn and I would love to have the flecks and rays be more emphasi...

Is there anywhere else in the house a shower stall could go and keep this a bath only? Is this an occasional use shower or the whole fam taking a daily shower in it every day? Having dealt with this situation before over the years... Im afraid it could become a nightmare. Not only moisture trapped b...

Try TSP in hot water - or just any hot water detergent. Ive had it just melt off in sheets.

Im a fan of "whatever works." Are you refinishing the door? Fill the hole, sand absolutely flush to surface, and then take artists oil paints and get exact color match replicating the grain. Then your final clear finish - it would have to be a varnish that sits on top of the surface vs. an...