OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

265157 Brent A Kinsey <brentpmed@c...> 2018‑02‑17 Re: Amalgamator and Amalgamator Solvent
John, 
I would check the cedar chest somewhere in the back near the bottom with some
alcohol.  The old craftsman made cedar chest I inherited was made from western
red cedar in the '30's and was finished with shellac. I was able to clean it
well with mineral spirits to get 80 years of furniture wax and polish off of it,
lightly scuff sand by hand with 320 grit and wipe on a couple of 1 pound cut
layers of amber shellac and it melted right into the old shellac finish, evened
everything out and looked great.  Getting the built up wax off is important or
the shellac will fish-eye like crazy and won't melt into the old shellac.

Depending on the age and manufacturer you might find shellac there instead of
lacquer, get lucky and be able to rejuvenate the shellac finish.

YMMV, 

Good luck with it!

Brent K.

Brent A Kinsey

Recent Bios FAQ