What do I use to deep clean wood furniture before revarnishing or painting?

Question

The table I am revarnishing is a mahogony veneer. The chairs are 60 years old and are light oak.

Answer 1

Veneer is tricky,, you don't want to do anything that will pull the glue under it loose,, if your just going to add a coat of varnish, then either sand it lightly before you add, or wipe lightly with paint thinner then sand lightly.

Answer 2

get some wire wool grade 0 or 00 and rub white spirit onto the wood for 20 mins per Metre square, this will lightly abrade and loose varnish and take out any wax that is in the grain, im a decorator by trade btw

Answer 3

If you are revarnishing -- sand with a light grit sand paper (type 80). Stain and then sand again with a 120 grit lightly and then stain again and sand w/ the 120 lightly again (polishing somewhat) and then stain again. After stain is dry apply a polyurethane coat to seal it up (there are shine and matte versions available)..

If you are painting... sand w/ the 80 grit and if there are imperfections in the wood -- dents, marred, etc -- I know this sounds crazy but car bondo works great!!!! Fill the dents, etc and then sand them to smooth and then apply the primer coat and then your final coat. Kilz works great!!

Answer 4

If you are going to revarnish or paint then you should clean with white spirit and "matt" the surface with wire wool or very fine sandpaper before cleaning again with white spirit. Allow to dry thoroughly before applying new coatings. eflatting the surface between coats as layers of varnish paint are applied

Answer 5

Mineral Spirits or Denatured Alcohol I believe will do the trick.

Answer 6

go to home depot and get the product called zep it works great

Answer 7

varsol--it gets rid of any grease & evaporates quickly.