So true Joanne on not messing with sanding too much or at all. I ended up with a very old banged up chest of wood drawers (27 drawers) that belonged to my grandfather. It was a dentists cabinet we think, he worked in the dental supply business, it's not a library card chest. I tested the finish, it was varnish. I was able to save the original finish by using a process called re-amalgamation (not sure if spelled correctly). I was able to clean it up just enough and not lose the patina. It's very rickety, old and beat up but my favorite thing ever.
So true Joanne on not messing with sanding too much or at all. I ended up with a very old banged up chest of wood drawers (27 drawers) that belonged to my grandfather. It was a dentists cabinet we think, he worked in the dental supply business, it's not a library card chest. I tested the finish, it was varnish. I was able to save the original finish by using a process called re-amalgamation (not sure if spelled correctly). I was able to clean it up just enough and not lose the patina. It's very rickety, old and beat up but my favorite thing ever.