# Need suggestions for antique furniture goop **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 25, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955 "2012-04-25T21:39:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 13\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/1 "2012-04-25T21:39:34Z")
So, like, I have several antiques: Maple; oak; mahogany; cherry; other woods… They’re getting dull looking over the years. I stopped using any kind of furniture polish more than a decade ago. There’s something called rubbing? And then it depends on whether something is shellac or varnish? And why has my dog licked the finish off of areas on my 4-poster bed? So I’m hoping to find some slop that will spruce things up and maybe fill in a few nicks and stuff–a do it yourself thing. TIA. ---
**Author:** ![purplehorseshoe](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/purplehorseshoe/32/2996_2.png) [@purplehorseshoe](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/purplehorseshoe)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 9:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/2 "2012-04-25T21:51:41Z")
Mr. Shoe and his mother both looooove old wooden items, and he usually uses paste wax like [this one](http://www.homedepot.com/buy/cleaning/cleaners/sc-johnson/16-oz-fine-paste-wood-wax-64825.html). Basically, you rub it in, then rub off the excess. Your items look dry because the wood drying out. I found some [basic tips](http://www.furniturecaretips.com/antique-furniture.htm)here. As an aside, we use food-grade mineral oil on our wooden kitchen utensils, which dry out from washing, and it’s _amazing_ how nice they look after you’ve rubbed them down. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![samclem](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a9a28c/32.png) [@samclem](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/samclem)\ **Post date:** [April 25, 2012, 10:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/3 "2012-04-25T22:13:47Z")
Moved from GQ to IMHO. **samclem** , MOderator ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/4 "2012-04-26T01:46:36Z")
> [@samclem](#): > > Moved from GQ to IMHO. > > **samclem** , MOderator How come? ---
**Author:** ![gwendee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/35a633/32.png) [@gwendee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gwendee)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/5 "2012-04-26T12:16:02Z")
For allover there’s some goop called Restor-A-Finish made by a company called Howard. It’s available in assorted wood colors, but also Neutral. Check out your nearest independent hardware store, or woodworking store (why yes, I brought my soapbox to this thread, too). I used it on a well loved mahogany table. It did not suddenly look brand new, but much improved, and less thirsty. For just touching up small scratches and nicks I heartily recommend [Tibet Almond Stick](http://zcwinc.com/). ---
**Author:** ![freckafree](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/freckafree/32/3050_2.png) [@freckafree](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/freckafree)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 12:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/6 "2012-04-26T12:26:00Z")
I’ve used [Formby’s Furniture Refinisher](http://www.formbys.com/products/refinisher/). This was on pieces that had more sentimental than monetary value. I assume the result of using something like this would be the Antique Roadshow-esque “This piece would have been worth a bazillion dollars if you’d left it alone, but now it’s not worth a plug nickel.” Anyhoo, it worked well. It kind of cleaned the old finish but did not leave the piece stripped bare, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [April 26, 2012, 4:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/7 "2012-04-26T16:45:13Z")
> [@cynyc](#): > > How come? It looks like you’re polling people for their individual opinions rather than asking for the one definitive true answer. ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/8 "2012-04-27T22:23:36Z")
Is there ever one definitive true answer? I respectfully request this be moved back to general questions. > [@Ethilrist](#): > > It looks like you’re polling people for their individual opinions rather than asking for the one definitive true answer. ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 10:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/9 "2012-04-27T22:26:54Z")
Yes, mineral oil is supper for cutting boards and the like! I went to your source and they don’t recommend polishes and whatnot which is why I specifically stated I don’t used that stuff. I have some butchers wax. I reckon that’s the same? > [@purplehorseshoe](#): > > Mr. Shoe and his mother both looooove old wooden items, and he usually uses paste wax like [this one](http://www.homedepot.com/buy/cleaning/cleaners/sc-johnson/16-oz-fine-paste-wood-wax-64825.html). Basically, you rub it in, then rub off the excess. Your items look dry because the wood drying out. I found some [basic tips](http://www.furniturecaretips.com/antique-furniture.htm)here. > > As an aside, we use food-grade mineral oil on our wooden kitchen utensils, which dry out from washing, and it’s _amazing_ how nice they look after you’ve rubbed them down. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 10:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/10 "2012-04-27T22:34:40Z")
I’ll check it out. Thanks. I have what I believe is an Important Chair. Stamped GB. There’s a furniture maker from the 19th ? century with those initials whose work command good prices. ANyway, it’s not a piece I would touch. When I got it, it was absolutely mint. Somebody thought they were doing me a favor by putting an upholstered seat with a wooden frame on it so it would be more comfy for me. Now there’s a gash in it. I can hear it know: “If it didn’t have that damage to the wood…” So I know what you mean about the Antique Road Show thing.\* \*I have a funny story about my kid 'playing ARS if anybody cares to hear it. > [@freckafree](#): > > I’ve used [Formby’s Furniture Refinisher](http://www.formbys.com/products/refinisher/). This was on pieces that had more sentimental than monetary value. I assume the result of using something like this would be the Antique Roadshow-esque “This piece would have been worth a bazillion dollars if you’d left it alone, but now it’s not worth a plug nickel.” > > Anyhoo, it worked well. It kind of cleaned the old finish but did not leave the piece stripped bare, if that makes sense. ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2012, 10:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/11 "2012-04-27T22:40:07Z")
So what then is furniture rubbing which I believe would handle something like worn areas\* and fills them in with the smush from a product such as those suggested above. \*And why the hell does my dog like the finish of the mahogany bed? And how do you know if a piece has been shellaced or varnished? Cheers! ---
**Author:** ![Jenaroph](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e8c25b/32.png) [@Jenaroph](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jenaroph)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/12 "2012-04-28T00:29:41Z")
> [@cynyc](#): > > So what then is furniture rubbing which I believe would handle something like worn areas\* and fills them in with the smush from a product such as those suggested above. > > \*And why the hell does my dog like the finish of the mahogany bed? > > And how do you know if a piece has been shellaced or varnished? > > Cheers! We refinished what we think is a '30s sideboard last year and had to figure out what the finish was to know how to strip it. If you rub your item with a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol and the finish dissolves and starts to come off, it’s shellac and will be relatively easy to strip fully. (I say relatively; damned if that thing didn’t have a ton of little nooks and crannies…) If it kind of gets soft and sticky, it’s probably lacquer and will come off easier with lacquer thinner. If the alcohol does nothing to the finish, it’s varnish, and you’ll either need to sand it or use a really nasty stripping solution. After we stripped ours and gave it a light sanding, we didn’t paint on a new finish but rubbed it with teak oil instead. It’s gorgeous walnut and zebrawood, which was virtually invisible under the old yellowed shellac. The teak oil practically makes it glow. I couldn’t tell you what’s up with your dog. ---
**Author:** ![cynyc](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@cynyc](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cynyc)\ **Post date:** [April 28, 2012, 9:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/need-suggestions-for-antique-furniture-goop/619955/13 "2012-04-28T21:08:52Z")
Very interesting. Thank you. Could you please define “strip fully?” I’m trying to avoid stripping. I think. Years ago I had a guy out here to spruce up a wooden table base. He did a rubbing/smush thing. Cost me 400 bucks for 20 minutes and a damaged piece.\* He did a quick light sand then polished it with something. He also used a large brace–I guess to tighten/square the table off? \*The expert, unfortunately, failed to note the extendable table leaves leaving the formica top on one cracked. (Of course it was like that already.) > [@Jenaroph](#): > > We refinished what we think is a '30s sideboard last year and had to figure out what the finish was to know how to strip it. > > If you rub your item with a cloth dipped in denatured alcohol and the finish dissolves and starts to come off, it’s shellac and will be relatively easy to strip fully. (I say relatively; damned if that thing didn’t have a ton of little nooks and crannies…) If it kind of gets soft and sticky, it’s probably lacquer and will come off easier with lacquer thinner. If the alcohol does nothing to the finish, it’s varnish, and you’ll either need to sand it or use a really nasty stripping solution. > > After we stripped ours and gave it a light sanding, we didn’t paint on a new finish but rubbed it with teak oil instead. It’s gorgeous walnut and zebrawood, which was virtually invisible under the old yellowed shellac. The teak oil practically makes it glow. > > I couldn’t tell you what’s up with your dog.