r/finishing • • 11h ago

How do I safely remove this existing sealant from wood / walls without damaging them?

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4 Upvotes

Hi all! Not sure if this is the right subreddit for this, but hoping someone here might have some advice!
We bought our home in June and recently had two massive glass panels removed (shown in the first photo). They were part of an art installation/wine room setup right in the entryway of our home. Not really our style, so we decided to take them out.

We paid quite a bit to have the glass professionally removed, but now we’re left with this black, foam-like adhesive and clear sealant stuck to the floors, ceiling, and walls.

I started trying to remove it with a razor scraper but quickly stopped because I was worried about damaging the surfaces, especially the wood floors.
Does anyone know the best way to remove this stuff? Is there some kind of solution or adhesive remover that could help loosen it without damaging the wood finish? It’s really stuck on there, and I have no idea where to start.

My biggest concern is preserving the floors, so I’d love any advice before attempting anything else. Thanks in advance!


r/finishing • • 17h ago

Matching old pine finish

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2 Upvotes

Hi everyone, I have an old pinewood bed frame and I like its color (I know it is controversial). There were some big scratches on the side rails. I sanded them down and I am now trying to match it with rest of the bed. I tried General Finishes gel stain in American Oak color but was not quite happy with the results. The color was somehow off. I was wondering if anyone has experience with recreating this finish. I feel this finish on pine furniture used to be popular at some point and I am hoping someone knows how to make it. Thanks!


r/finishing • • 17h ago

AMA with Tallahassee Tung Oil: American tung oil, from orchard to finish - October 15

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2 Upvotes

r/finishing • • 19h ago

First Project – 1980ies GDR chairs

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2 Upvotes

Hi :) any ideas on what finish to use? Tung oil or shellac?
I‘m a complete newbie to furniture restoration so maybe sth. that’s not too difficult to use. Apparently they are made of teak.


r/finishing • • 2h ago

Replenishing wood on kiri hibachi brazier

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1 Upvotes

Help please! I purchased these old nearly matching Japanese hibachi in Asakusa, Tokyo. The wood is dried out and needs to be replenished, but I want to be very careful what I use. It’s palownia wood - so should I use tongue oil or mineral oil? Can I put a layer of beeswax over those once it’s dry?
Also, should I polish the metalware or leave as is. I’m so in love with them both. I just don’t want to do harm but the wood really needs some love. any insights would be appreciated. Thanks


r/finishing • • 8h ago

Pictures of aged interior Alaskan Yellow Cedar, Douglas Fir, clear finish?

1 Upvotes

I am building a house with a large glulam beam in the interior. The beam spec'd is a Douglas Fir Glu-lam, which I think is beautiful, but I am realizing it will clash with the rest for the interior woodwork, especially as it ages and gets more orange/red, even with water based finish.

I am considering substituting Alaskan Yellow Cedar, which is closer to the rest of the wood, but I am concerned it will age too deep yellow, which is also a color clash.

I understand there are several finishing methods that supposedly can counteract this, but they all sound a bit risky, especially not knowing how the color will change with age. I also want to keep the glue lam look without cladding or veneering it.

I have not been successful finding samples or even decent pictures that show these two woods and how they age, especially AYC. If anyone has a picture of Alaskan yellow cedar with clear waterborne finish in an interior that is some years old I would be interested in seeing it. A comparison between new and aged would be very valuable.

Thanks for any help.


r/finishing • • 9h ago

Mismatched veneer repair help.

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1 Upvotes

Cross posting looking for advice on how to best correct mismatched veneer patch.


r/finishing • • 12h ago

First refinishing project; need advice

1 Upvotes

A few photos

Wish I'd found this subreddit before diving into elsenet advice and the local hardware store. 😅 Please help me salvage this lovely mostly-veneer bookcase! It looks like it was used to hold various bottles in somebody's basement, but I want to put books in it.

Website said to use three grades of sandpaper, but I used the roughest (100?) on only the top and bottom, which are solid. I'm not sure that even that did enough on the bottom shelf.

I then started in with 250 on the veneer parts, which doesn't seem to be doing anything for the rings (see pic), but I also noticed some.tiny chips and stopped.

Hardware store sold me a cherry stain and varathane because of the low VOC. Warned me not to use steel wool or tack cloth, saying they would create problems with the water-based stuff.

Bearing in mind that I can't buy a whole lot more stuff, and that this is sitting in a garage...advice for how to make this pretty shelf at least not any worse than it was?


r/finishing • • 17h ago

How would you restore this stool?

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1 Upvotes

r/finishing • • 18h ago

Fireproof varnish fumes

1 Upvotes

My landlord wants to put fireproof varnish on my bedroom door and have me sleep in the same room that same night. VOC fumes give me migraines and she really could have done it at any other time.

Can I make the argument that it's not safe?


r/finishing • • 20h ago

Veneer Restoration

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1 Upvotes

I am planning to try to repair this Thomasville ernest hemingway coffee table for personal use. There are some pretty deep scratches some down to the veneer in the finish. I have seen that I shouldn't refinish the table as it devalues it and can be hard to do with the thin veneer. Looking for tips on how to make the scratches shown less conspicuous. I bought some wax fill pencils for one deep divot which worked okay. I know the veneer already isn't in the best of shape and there's areas that won't look much different no matter what I do.


r/finishing • • 21h ago

Can I spray 2K over (3+ years cured, buffed with Meguiars) lacquer?

1 Upvotes

I bought a rattle can of 2k Spraymax for a fairly small project, but I don't want the excess to go to waste.

I was thinking of using it on a guitar body I built a few years ago, but if I want to spray it over lacquer that has been cured for 3+ years, would I need to anything special to it if it was buffed with Meguiars?

Do I need some kinda remover before spraying, or a scuff sand, and which grit would be recommended if so?

(Current project, I'm using Aqua Coat, generous sanding up to and beyond 240 grit, and of course 2K)


r/finishing • • 23h ago

Question Best stain/sealer for old wood windows?

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1 Upvotes

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We have almost 100 year old windows. Majority of the stain is okay, but some spots look dry and need to be conditioned and protected. Not so much worried about matching stain at the moment, but I want something I can use on the entire frame - the stained parts and problem spots.


r/finishing • • 23h ago

I’m hoping to even out the black stains on this antique walnut drawer front. Any ideas?

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1 Upvotes

The wood is already finished. I’m not exactly sure what caused the staining whether it was mildew or a tannin reaction. It is not raised it seems to be behind the finish


r/finishing • • 13h ago

Dark varnish beater sofa table makeover

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0 Upvotes

Was originally planned all GF Persian Blue to match some other chairs. Sanding revealed a nice butcher block pattern under the dark varnish. GF nutmeg stain with three satin topcoats.