|
|
Post by danrhodes on Jan 22, 2016 12:54:25 GMT -8
About time I refinished my cabinets...do most folks just sand off the old shellac? Any chemical strippers recommended, or just too messy?
|
|
mountainsounds
Active Member
Posts: 314
Likes: 104
1957 Rainbow & 1955 Starfire
Currently Offline
|
Post by mountainsounds on Jan 22, 2016 13:35:03 GMT -8
Depends on the look your after. We wanted to keep some of the wear pattern so we mostly lightly sanded to remove dust/grime and activated the old shellac with an alcohol rub down, let that dry, prior to applying the first layer of new shellac. We applied at least three layers of amber and two layers of clear with a HVLP. We are pleased with the result.
|
|
|
|
Post by danrhodes on Jan 22, 2016 13:42:44 GMT -8
Depends on the look your after. We wanted to keep some of the wear pattern so we mostly lightly sanded to remove dust/grime and activated the old shellac with an alcohol rub down, let that dry, prior to applying the first layer of new shellac. We applied at least three layers of amber and two layers of clear with a HVLP. We are pleased with the result. I do have quite a bit of staining to bleach out at the bottoms of the cabinets, so I assume I'll need to get it all down to the bare wood. PO had shag carpet and a leaky vent, which is not a great combo in a wood trailer. |
|
mountainsounds
Active Member
Posts: 314
Likes: 104
1957 Rainbow & 1955 Starfire
Currently Offline
|
Post by mountainsounds on Jan 22, 2016 14:13:59 GMT -8
Yeah, we had minimal/no water staining on our cabinets.
|
|
Hamlet
2K Member
Posts: 2,820 
Likes: 925
Currently Offline
|
Post by Hamlet on Jan 22, 2016 14:33:59 GMT -8
It is not impossible to get the staining out, but the veneer is pretty thin, and it.wouldnt be hard to mess up the wood either with a stripper or a heavy sanding. If it's not too bad, just leave it and call it a beauty mark. We all get those as we age. Years ago, I saw something about removing stains and then refinishing the wood to match the original. It may have been on the old VSTF forum. Good luck!
|
|
|
|
Post by danrhodes on Jan 22, 2016 15:02:41 GMT -8
It is not impossible to get the staining out, but the veneer is pretty thin, and it.wouldnt be hard to mess up the wood either with a stripper or a heavy sanding. If it's not too bad, just leave it and call it a beauty mark. We all get those as we age. Years ago, I saw something about removing stains and then refinishing the wood to match the original. It may have been on the old VSTF forum. Good luck! recommended an oxalic acid wood bleach which I will try. I wonder if it works through the shellac? |
|
turbodaddy
1K Member
Posts: 1,086
Likes: 462
17' 1965 Fan "Sunseeker"
Currently Offline
|
Post by turbodaddy on Jan 22, 2016 16:00:19 GMT -8
I did exactly what moutainsounds described and it looks great. No worries about breaking through the veneer (PO already had in a few spots). I doubt the oxalic acid would work on anything but bare wood. Like Hamlet said they're "beauty marks.
|
|
nccamper
Administrator 
Posts: 7,745
Likes: 2,872
1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by nccamper on Jan 22, 2016 16:31:08 GMT -8
I agree, I think Oxalic Acid has too reach bare wood.
I did a light sand and bamboo oil followed by spar urethane on one of our campers because it had nice wood that had polyurethane put on it at some point. On our Compact I had to sand it down to remove the yellow tint with some unknown top coat. Our 1500 I sanded because the wood was rough and I wanted the shellac to match the new panels.
If you sand don't overdo it or you will pierce the veneer. I do 80 grit to remove most of the coating followed by 120 followed by 220. My theory is you can do it once in the life of the camper. After that the 1/8" birch top veneer will be spent.
I would clean the woodwork before sanding or you will grind in dirt.
Citrus stripe is a different beast. You have to clean off all traces of it of you will have issues later. Nothing sticks to it. Then you have to lightly sand because washing it off will raise the grain of the wood.
|
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 22, 2016 20:31:43 GMT -8
We scrape our shellac with a plane blade. It is very easy to do and the wood is fine if you go with the grain.   A light sanding after is all that's needed. Be SURE you get any white streaks, as they will show when re-finishing... |
|
|
|
Post by danrhodes on Jan 22, 2016 20:42:32 GMT -8
We scrape our shellac with a plane blade. It is very easy to do and the wood is fine if you go with the grain. A light sanding after is all that's needed. Be SURE you get any white streaks, as they will show when re-finishing... Kind of like this technique... I'd be worried it's outside my skill level as even my plane skills aren't great www.highlandwoodworking.com/how-to-use-sharpen-wood-scraper.aspx |
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 22, 2016 20:47:45 GMT -8
If *I* can do it, it's pretty easy. Nothing is more boring. Once you get going, not too bad...
|
|
nccamper
Administrator
Posts: 7,745
Likes: 2,872
1962 Forester- 1956 Shasta
Currently Offline
|
Post by nccamper on Jan 23, 2016 1:31:04 GMT -8
vikx, do you dry scrape it? No softener or stripper? After scraping you lightly sand?
|
|
bmxovich
Active Member
Posts: 187
Likes: 69
1952 Airfloat Skipper
Currently Offline
|
Post by bmxovich on Jan 23, 2016 8:10:42 GMT -8
|
|
mobiltec
5K Member
I make mistakes so you don't have to...
Posts: 9,824
Likes: 3,751
1954 Jewel In Progress...
Currently Offline
|
Post by mobiltec on Jan 25, 2016 9:23:22 GMT -8
The problem with using chemicals on veneer paneling is that the veneer is very thin and can pop up off the panels with the use of chemicals. Scraping is the way to go. Then light sand. As Vikx said, make sure to get any white spots because they are places that still have old shellac in them and will show up with the new finish.
|
|
|
|
Post by vikx on Jan 25, 2016 21:33:53 GMT -8
Those white streaks can be a REAL PAIN. Especially when the woods are different species. That's what happened in Canasta, my 57 Deluxe. Some of the wood was just beautiful, but the cheaper wood, not so much. It did turn out pretty nice, tho.
|
|
