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Finally got a clean finish on a 1920s oak dresser from a Tacoma estate sale
Three weeks ago I picked it up, and the old shellac was a real mess, cloudy and sticky. I stripped it with a card scraper and did four thin coats of General Finishes Arm-R-Seal, sanding with 400 grit between each. It came out glass-smooth yesterday, no dust nibs or streaks. Anyone have a go-to topcoat for pieces that will get a lot of daily use?
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robertsmith11d ago
Honestly, I gotta disagree on the Arm-R-Seal for a daily driver dresser. That stuff is fine for a side table, but it's just a wiping varnish. For real wear and tear, you need the build and hardness of a proper film finish. I've had way better luck with a few coats of a good polyurethane, brushed on and sanded smooth. It holds up to cups and elbows way longer before it starts to look tired.
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felix38511d ago
You're right, @robertsmith, a thick film finish is the only thing that survives my kids.
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