My old boss told me to never use steel wool on walnut, but a tricky piece proved him wrong

Honestly, he said it would leave tiny gray bits in the grain that you could never get out. I had this 1920s walnut dresser with a super gummy old finish, and nothing else was cutting through it. Out of ideas, I tried 0000 steel wool with mineral spirits on a small spot. Ngl, it worked perfectly and left a smooth, clean surface ready for oil. Has anyone else found a time where the 'never do this' rule didn't apply?

3 comments

3 Comments

ryant5019d ago

Tbh, had the same thing happen with an old oak table. That sticky varnish just laughed at sandpaper. Used steel wool with some paint thinner as a last resort and it came up clean. Sometimes you just gotta break the rules.

erickelly18d ago

My grandpa swore by a mix of turpentine and boiled linseed oil for stubborn varnish.

nancy32619d ago

Wait, so you're telling me the secret to refinishing furniture is just ignoring all the instructions? I tried to be so careful with a chair last year, used the "right" stripper and sanded for hours. It looked worse than when I started, like a sad, sticky monster. My partner still calls it my arts and crafts failure. Maybe I should have just gone straight for the paint thinner and chaos.