Posted from 12/31/05:
Question: I have an old piano on which the wood finish has grown dull with age. What can I do to bring life back to an old, dull wood finish?
Answer: Bruce Johnson, Ask DIY woodworking expert, has this advice for you:
As a wood finish ages, it begins to turn dark. Older wood actually needs a greater amount of protection than newer wood. And older finishes to furniture that now constitutes antiques weren't as durable as the advanced finishes being formulated today. Regardless, as woods age they do turn dark, dull and lifeless. Depending on the state of deterioration, several options exist for rejuvenating a dull wood-finish.
Often it is best to begin with a light sanding with extra-fine sandpaper, possibly 600-grit paper to prepare the wood.
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For a dry finish, but one that hasn't suffered severe damage, try applying a coat of ordinary paste wax.
Apply paste wax with a soft cloth and rub it into the pores of the wood using a tight, circular motion. Paste wax is easy to apply, and is an effective treatment since it can be worked deep into the wood. Once it penetrates the wood, it hardens to form a protective seal much like an automotive wax. After applying the wax and rubbing it into the wood, allow it to begin to dry. After about five minutes, use a clean, dry rag to buff the finish. Buff in the direction of the grain to remove excess wax and create a low-luster sheen. This results in a subtle finish that is appropriate for an antique.
For a more advanced level of deterioration in which the finish is very dry and lifeless, paste wax may be insufficient. In those cases, tung oil may be a better choice.
Tung oil is a thin-bodied oil that soaks more easily into the grain of wood. It is best applied with a clean rag or applicator pad. Simply dip it in the oil, squeeze out the excess and apply the oil to the wood. Tung oil is very easy to control, but the job can get a little messy, so confine this process to a work area or put down newspaper or other protective layering for easy cleanup.
Allow the tung oil to soak into the wood for about five minutes before wiping off the excess with a clean rag. Allowing time for the oil to soak in for a few minutes ensures adequate penetration and hardening inside the pores. Avoid letting the oil puddle and dry completely on the wood surface, however, as this will result in a sticky mess.
Safety alert: Make sure that you have adequate ventilation when using tung oil or any other oil-based finishes.
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(Distributed by Scripps Howard News Service.)
