Thread: Veneer cabinets restoration - need advice

Welcome to the forum.

What you've got in the picture there are some really nice looking late Art Deco side tables.

You'll probably hate me for saying this but, if you're going to buy them, I'd seriously suggest you restore (as in take back to their original state) rather than alter them, which is what you're suggesting now.

I'm not sure if you've found them in a shop or whatever but they're a really nicely designed set probably from the late 1920s or early 1930s. The attraction of this stuff for most people is the colouring and finish of the period (and when The Great Gatsby - set in the 1920s - comes out middle of next year, the interest in this stuff will rocket).

If you change colours and use modern lacquers, you're essentially ripping out the innate value of the piece. If you want to re-sell it at a later date, it'll essentially be worthless except for someone who wants a project.....probably to restore it to its original state.

So with that lecture over (and sorry about that but it had to be said), here's a few answers to your questions, heavily coloured by the attitudes expressed above.

"1) For the drawers I would like to darken a bit the color but to keep the grain visible and perhaps with a satin finish. I'd leave the colour as it is and stick with the shellac finish (which is a high gloss). If you want something like you'd described, you'd just be better off finding something from a later period which has the darker wood and satin finish (stuff from the 1950 and 1960s tends to be more like that).

2) For the rest (bottom part, top, stripes on the edges and between the drawers) I am thinking to make them white if is possible with the same characteristics (visible grains and satin finish). Again, it just sounds like you actually want another piece of furniture than the one you're looking at. What makes that piece so attractive is the light poplar drawers against the darker surround - you're essentially talking about reversing the colours, which would give you a similar impression but for an insane amount of work.

The seller told me that the veneer is from poplar wood and the finishing is made on alcohol based shellac.
I do not have experience on restoration and I will hire someone to do the job but I want to know first the details in order to be prepared for discussions with restoration guys.

My questions are:

a) Is it my project achievable? For the drawers color i think is ok but don't know about the rest. For you to get an experienced person to do what you're suggesting, it would be so expensive that you'd be a long way towards commissioning a new piece of furniture to your precise specifications. Craftsmen will obviously do what they're told because they want to get paid but I think you might find some who would suggest you don't go ahead on the basis you're describing.

b) What's the options to remove the alcohol based shellac? Alcohol...but don't do it. Shellac is great in that if it gets damaged, even reasonably inexperienced people can sand it back with some 400 grit sandpaper on a block and "wet" with mineral turpentine - then you can then just re-apply shellac over the old shellac. It's comparatively easy and cheap to do....just requires a bit of care and patience. This is why people (antique dealers particularly) love shellac. If you put a "modern" lacquer over this it is unfixable. If it gets damaged you have to strip it all off and start again. Not so with shellac.
c) Which are the tools to be used in the process? Or maybe which to NOT use. Just say no.
d) What solution to use for coloring the veneer and to be able to see the grain also? On a piece like this, they would have used water-based dyes for the most part. Always best to use the stuff true to the period because that's what made it look like that in the first place.
e) How to achieve the satin finish?Seriously, don't do it...but you'd be using some polyurethane stuff that's around these days. "

If I had any decent shipping options from Romania, I'd be thinking about them for myself.

Hi Alex, and hi Antipodes!!
I have to agree with Antipodes on pretty much all the points responded to. Shellac is by far the prefferred option, and really a novice (ME!) can do it!! If you;'re really keen on changing the colour, you could always try a diluted stain after keying back the old finish and re=applying new shellac. (I did this on an old oak desk I restored earlier this year...go back and read the thread, particularly around using shellac etc.- I brought this piece back after it was BADLY polyurethaned and stained by previous owner!) Also I'm not convinced your piece is shellac? The colour is too white. My experience is that shellac will go a glowing warm tinge of orange (unless it was white shellac)
Anyway, my 2-bobs worth. Let us know what you decide..and dont be afraid to have a go at this yourself. Cheers, Lawry