Restoring furniture varnish

Chemicals

If the polish is covered with a network of small scratches and has become dull, the situation can be corrected using any chemical product that contains orange oil. This component helps to heal small cracks and fill voids, restoring the wood's shine and natural brightness. Cleaning process:

1. Apply a small amount to a sponge or cloth and let it sit for about 20 minutes until it warms up to room temperature. Alternatively, you can microwave the material for 30 seconds.
2. Wipe the surface with a warm sponge and let it dry.
3. After an hour, treat the furniture with a dry soft cloth.

Be sure to use rubber gloves to avoid chemical burns.

Principles of restoration

Restoring lacquered furniture is an excellent way to restore interior items, giving them an attractive appearance. As a rule, to eliminate a scratch, it is enough to wipe off the varnish from the damaged area and re-varnish it. This method allows you to remove any external scratches from lacquered furniture.

However, often the matter is not limited to just minor scratches. Any varnish can darken over time. Therefore, prolonged use of furniture leads to the fact that its varnished coating begins to become cloudy. As a result, interior items lose their presentable appearance.

If your problem concerns the darkening of the varnish, then restoring the furniture will also involve erasing the old varnish coating and applying a new one. You can do all these procedures yourself.

Lacquered table before and after restoration

Marker and wax

More serious damage can be removed using a marker and wax. You can purchase tools that match the color at any furniture store. Cleaning process:

1. First, clean the surface to be treated with detergent. Degrease it with alcohol and wait for it to evaporate.
2. Go over any deep scratches with a marker. You can press lightly for better effect.
3. Buff the surface with wax to remove excess dye and give the polish a natural shine.

Olive oil and salt

Olive oil will restore the structure of the wood, and salt will remove excess moisture and return the furniture to its normal size. Cleaning process:

1. If the furniture is swollen due to extreme humidity, dry it for two to three days before treatment.
2. When the damaged area is completely dry, apply olive oil with a small amount of dissolved salt.
3. Rub the mixture in with a sponge in a circular motion without applying much force. After about 10–12 hours, the result will be noticeable.

Technology of restoration work

Determining the wear of lacquered furniture

The first step is to determine the condition of the surface you plan to restore. The first sign of worn-out and old furniture that has been in use for a long time is its visual aging. In particular, furniture may exhibit darkening in the carving area. In addition, a common sign of aging is the presence of fine mesh directly on the varnished surface.

Of course, if such changes are not significant, then they may not spoil the overall picture, but on the contrary make the furniture more valuable. However, if there is significant damage, there is a need for restoration, which can be entrusted to an experienced craftsman or done with your own hands. At the same time, you can update the furniture without harming its cultural or antique value. In extreme cases, the table can be painted, but the structure of the wood will be hidden under a layer of paint and the furniture will not have such an attractive appearance.

Choosing a material for restoring lacquered furniture

Many people think that they can renew lacquered furniture simply with a swab moistened with alcohol. Of course, an alcohol solution can dissolve the outer decorative layer and eliminate the defect. However, such a procedure may leave an indelible mark. Therefore, it is better to choose high-quality recommended materials, which include:

Shellac polish

This material allows you to beautifully highlight the elegant wood texture, giving it an original shade. Polish is one of the oldest materials for restoring lacquered furniture. In its structure, shellac polish is a special varnish that has the consistency of water. To restore wooden surfaces, it is applied in 40-60 layers. Thanks to this, it is possible to obtain a unique depth of color.

Nitrocellulose varnish

The material is used to restore large areas covered with varnish. The product is applied using a special sprayer, which distributes it over the surface at high speed. If the speed were lower, the droplets would begin to solidify individually. Therefore, it is not advisable to use conventional sprayers to apply nitrocellulose varnish, as they will leave fragments covered with bubbles. Accordingly, it is recommended to apply this material only in a specialized workshop.

Pentaphthalic varnish

The material is easy to use, which makes it an ideal option for do-it-yourself restoration. Pentaphthalic varnish does not require any special application technique and at the same time has a high drying speed.

This paint and varnish material should be applied in at least four layers. The first of these layers acts as a primer. After completing the restoration work, it is definitely recommended to sand the varnished surface. If you want to make the surface semi-matte, then pentaphthalic varnish is best applied with a swab. On the contrary, if you need to get a glossy surface of the varnish, then it is better to choose a brush and carefully carry out the final sanding.

After choosing the type of paint coating, you need to decide on the color. For example, you can treat the surface with a colorless varnish, or you can use a colored paint coating. If you chose the second option, then you should choose the right varnish color.

Selection of tools

To restore lacquered furniture, you need to choose the right tool that you will need to do the work yourself.

Basic tools for restoring lacquered furniture:

• Maalipesu solution;
• masking tape;
• brushes for painting with varnish;
• sandpaper, spatula and metal scraper;
• special putty for wood;
• a rag or brush to remove dust and dirt;
• soft sponge for washing;
• cardboard or plastic film to protect nearby surfaces;
• White Spirit.

Stages of restoring lacquered furniture

1. Preparatory stage

• the surface of lacquered furniture should be thoroughly washed with Maalipesu solution, and then rinsed with regular warm water;
• use a scraper to remove cracked and peeling varnish;
• Use sandpaper to sand the wooden surface to a matte state;
• remove dust using a rag, brush or rag.

Basically, all varnished surfaces are restored with water-based or acrylic-based compounds.

Coating with water-based paints:

• 2-3 layers of glossy or matte varnish should be applied to the prepared surface, depending on your choice;
• after covering the surface with the next layer, you must wait until the varnish dries;
• It is recommended to sand the dry surface a little and clean it from dust with a brush;
• After completing all work, the tools should be washed with soapy water.

Restoration with acrylic-based varnish:

• choose the optimal varnish option in terms of gloss that would suit your interior;
• use the selected varnish to prime the surface, diluting it with white spirit by 10 or 15%;
• the surface primed with one layer of varnish should be slightly sanded;
• Next, you need to cover the furniture with two layers of undiluted paint and varnish;
• After covering with the next layer, it is recommended to additionally sand the surface;
• After completing all work, the tools should be thoroughly cleaned with white spirit.

1. Sanding step using sandpaper

Putty

Chips on the surface of polished furniture are the most difficult to remove. To do this, you need wood or car putty.

To match the color of the furniture, buy a color pigment and a light putty. At home, mix them until the tone of the material is identical to the shade of the wood.

Processing process:

1. Apply putty to the damaged area and give it the desired shape.
2. After complete drying, after 2-3 hours, carefully remove excess substance using a nail file.
3. Sand the surface with wax and a dry soft cloth.

Even the oldest and shabby furniture can be modernized and given a fresh look. A little effort and the right product will extend the life of your headset.

Varnish furniture price

Just varnishing the furniture doesn’t cost much. Tabletop - 5-10 thousand rubles, table 10-15 thousand rubles. Wardrobe or sideboard from 20 to 30. The difficulty is that finishing old lacquered furniture with varnish includes its preliminary, sometimes quite complex restoration. Solid wood gluing, laying, veneer repair, cleaning, color restoration. The table below shows approximate prices for some types of restoration work. If you are interested in the price of restoration of a certain antique item, send a photo with a question to our email or fill out the form. I will definitely answer.

Sincerely, Elena Zhilina. +7 (495) 364-93-23

Workshop gallery

Estimated price of restoration (price as of January 9, 2021)

Restoration of paintwork

By sending us a completed form with photographs, as well as asking a question, you will receive complete information about the item (what it is, material, age) and the cost of restoration work. Next, the restorer will come to the site, inspect it, and determine the final price of the restoration.

The final price will not change. Departure is free.

WhatsApp +7 (985) 364-93-23 or call