More advice... Piano Bench this time

[Oceans64]

Since I am going to do some work on Nana's chair, I thought it might be a good time to do something with my piano bench.  You all have been so helpful I thought I'd ask your opinions first...

The belonged to my Great Grandparents and is probably from the 20's.  I'm under no illusions about it's value (or lack thereof) but I love it's shape and obviously the history.  It was the only piece my grandpa (Baba) saved from their house.  The rest (I am told) he and my Dad burned in a big bonfire in the 50's!!!!  (Vandals!  LOL)

I have read a bunch on refinishing/restoring and am thinking of going with a good cleaning with mineral spirits followed by a light sanding since some of the existing finish is literally flaking off.  Then trying to match some stain and mixing with wax or oil.  There is a ton of crazing as it was kept in an unheated basement for years. The feet are pretty rough as well. I don't want it to look right off the showroom...  I like the dings - I just want it to look less so 

Am I thinking along the right lines for refinishing?

[waywardangler]

If that surface can be "melted" with Formby's refinisher, it might help to blend in the stain left.  The Formby's brand (I am sure there are others that work) I have used and it literally liquifies the finish which you can then wipe off.  However, if you just used it to liquify the current surface and blend it around to an even color, it might work on your bench.  The finish on your bench appears to have one of those deep 'mahoghany' red finishes so popular back in the 20s.

[KC]

By-all-means refinish it.  We even kept a bench in our home.  When we have big gatherings it comes in handy as a seat or a table for food.  Just like us, the dings/marks add character and reflect the integrity of our years!

Like what wayward said about the Formby's!

[Oceans64]

On my way to the store now for some Formby's (must stop for dog cookies first or I wont be allowed back in). I'll post pics when I'm done. I can't wait to get started!!

I use it at the end of the bed to store my extra linens.  The hubs uses it as a place to lay his clothes so I will hang them up for him 

[Oceans64]

My piano bench seems to have a split personality.  The top looks AWSOME… What a difference. I love the reddish brown.  The sides are turning out the color of natural oak.  I treated both the same with the Formby’s. If anything I was more aggressive with the top. I guess it’s just the  color the sides want to be…

Btw…  Formby’s works great!!  Great tip.

Top of the bench…





Sides….

[waywardangler]

Wow!  That top looks great and appears to be real mahoghany.  They probably used a cheaper wood on the sides and legs and then used reddish stain to match it to the top so that is why you are not getting the same results.  That bench top has some nice figure and color in it.

[KC]

Totally agree that the top looks great.  The sides look good too....but agree that they used a different wood.

Nice job!

[cogar]

If that surface can be "melted" with Formby's refinisher, it might help to blend in the stain left.

I’m frugal, ….. some call me cheap, …… and I always thought Formby’s was way over priced.

Lacquer “thinner” would have been what I would have used. It will “cut” just about any ole finish off and it is good for “blending in” scratches. It’s a good “thingy” iffen you do a lot of refinishing because a gallon goes a long way. Never use it in a closed area though, highly flammable it is.

Beautiful piece, …… and I think it is made of solid Black walnut, ….. all that I can see so far.

[Oceans64]

Well I think I have done all I can do are far as removing the finish goes.  There are some black spots remaining but they are embedding in the wood so I think I’ll have to live with that. A few spots refused to lighten up. A few more still have goo that I’ll have to sand out best I can. 

Thoughts on staining?  I have Natural Colored Danish Oil and tons of colors of Minwax (oil based).  I could mix them…  I also see they sell colored oil…  Or just straight stain.

Cougar – Thanks for the tip.  I ended up using Laquer Thinner too.  Worked great. If anyone cares about the comparison, read on, other wise here are some pics of the end results.

Formby’s vrs Minwax Refinisher Vrs Laquer Thinner (LT)
I went thru one can of Formby’s that I bought at Ace Hardware (closest to me).  Needed another so I decided to go to Home Depot and save a few dollars…  No Formby’s but they had a Minwax product that was equivalent but more expensive than the Formby’s!!  Minwax = $14.99/quart at HD, Formby’s = $12.99/quart at Ace. I bought the Minwax product as it was late Sunday and I didn’t want to risk Ace being closed. They worked exactly the same; I couldn’t recommend one over the other - except for price.

I was going to need more so this AM so I went back to Ace and got a quart of Lacquer Thinner.  $6.99.  The LT worked great (just as well as the others) and it doesn’t evaporate as fast.  The only benefit to the Formby’s/Minwax that I could see was it seemed to get thicker once applied which allowed for easier blending of color when needed.

I will probably always have a can of Formby’s around but I agree that Laquer Thinner would work 95% of the time – 100% if I were more skilled.

Finished Bottom





Leg done with LT (Pics are before my final detailed cleaning)



Leg done with Formby’s

[KC]

I totally agree on the LT as well....but am hesitant to mention it due to several people I have encountered over the years misusing it from lack of familiarity with it.  Guess we all need to remember to add cautions and suggestions per skill level!

Glad it turned out great for you.  Nice post cogar also!

I personally would try and darken up the legs to closer match the top....really like the top as it!

[cogar]

Oceans, its looking great.

And I agree with KC, “darken up the legs to closer match the top”.

But do your “test” darkening in different spots on the underside of the cross-bracing until you get the color “just right”.

[talesofthesevenseas]

I second KC and Cogar's comments. Love the deep red! I would try to blend with that.

[Oceans64]

I think I am done…  Except for oiling the base in a few days when all is nice and dry.  There are a few places I think I need to go over with some more stain but I’m going to leave it alone for a few days to be sure.  The anal retentive side of me is coming out. 

What a difference!!!  I oiled the top but the rest I tried to match the stain with varying results...  That said, in this case restoration definitely added value.  It is now something I will show with pride. Who would have thought that this…



Was actually this…



And this….



Could be this….

[sapphire]

BEAUTIFUL Oceans!! Awesome revival............ you must be thrilled with your results!

[waywardangler]

Beautiful job, Oceans!  Beautiful job!