Before and after - sewing desk

[motorharp]

A sewing table I got in Jan of 2013(?) and started sanding right before I remembered to take "before" shots.  I haven't refinished anything this big before and I probably won't again.  Also, Old Stinky, the sewing machine I was going to put in it, didn't fit, so I wasn't concerned about using this as a learning project. It's a good sewing desk, though, to simply use with a stand-alone machine, with plenty of storage.

I only sanded the drawers and used Citristrip for the rest.  I didn't like using stripper to remove the varnish - I think it would have been better suited to removing paint. The stripper was a little too much mess for me - it dripped as I was scraping it off - and it got in areas I couldn't clean it off of.  But sanding the whole thing would have been more work that I was willing to do, however I definitely like the finish on the drawers better than the stripped areas.

The top now has no water glass rings or burn marks on it.  I was also able to steam out all but one of the deep scratches. The pictures don't show how much lighter it is now. It was stained darker. I don't know why, it's beautiful wood.

If you look at a larger version of this before picture,
you can see the knee pedal was maybe
not in the right spot the first time, or was adjusted for subsequent users.

The trim is pretty but busted up from chair legs knocking into it.  I went over it with the finish to protect what's left.  The finish I used was a quart of Dalys CrystalFin Gloss, put on five coats, and used maybe 1/3 to 1/2 of it. I hope that's enough to protect from the scrapes and dings of sewing tools.

All of the hardware for opening out the leaf is missing.  There should be a chain that fits in the back slot that pulls up the machine when you open the leaf.  The right side doesn't open at all, which I found odd. I may, at some point in the much distant future, saw off the posts it's attached to and add hinges so it does fold out.  I have a feeling this was a custom-made thing.

I'm glad it's refinished and looking at the pictures has reminded me how poor a shape it was in when I got it and how much better it looks now.  But refinishing is definitely not my new hobby. :)

Comments

[gorthx.livejournal.com]

Steamed out the scratches? I was not aware you could do this.

[motorharp.livejournal.com]

As long as the fibers of the wood are not sliced, you can put a drop of water on the dent/scratch and press with the tip of an iron on wool setting. Or let it dry naturally. It can take a few applications. Also, you have to be careful not to do it too much as the wood can over-swell. The deep scratch on the top of my desk didn't respond completely to that treatment, but is much shallower now.

Or you can use the alcohol and lighter (http://youtu.be/cdtsa4Sazvw) method. :)