I inherited a G Plan dining suite from my grandparents about 5 years ago. I guess it dates from the 1970s.
It's generally in good shape, but the chairs are wobbly as the glue has started to fail quite badly. I've taken one chair apart already and will start to source some supplies to reset the joints (I'll probably post about that separately). Whilst I am doing so and the chairs are apart, I am wondering if I should also think about sprucing up the finish on them and, while I'm at it, the table and sideboard.
Initially, my plan was to strip or sand the finish back and then refinish. However, on closer inspection, the condition of the original finish doesn't look *that* bad to my (untrained) eye. So I am wondering what people who know a bit more about these things than I do might think.
Could I for example clean and then apply wax or oil on top of the existing finish and "get away" without stripping/sanding? Would that cover up the water marks and occasional scratches shown in the photos below?
I realise that I might be stuck with the dents (there aren't that many of them) without refinishing and filling them in some way, but I suppose I can live with that as they're part of the 'history' of the furniture.
I'd prefer not to strip and do a total refinish if I can avoid it as I would have to do it in the back yard (no shed or garage) and there is of course a risk of various mishaps (especially as I believe we're talking veneers with this vintage of G Plan). Also, I suppose it would be nice to somehow save/preserve the original finish if I can.
I'm afraid I've no idea what the original finish is, but Google seems to suggest it's probably some kind of urethane finish. It looks like my grandparents looked after it quite well, although I'd be surprised if they ever oiled it or anything like that - more likely they regularly polished it with Mr Sheen or similar (which I believe is a no-no).
I'm no expert on any of this, but have done some amateur guitar refinishing in the past with nitrocellulose with reasonable success, so I don't think I'm totally out of my depth.
It's generally in good shape, but the chairs are wobbly as the glue has started to fail quite badly. I've taken one chair apart already and will start to source some supplies to reset the joints (I'll probably post about that separately). Whilst I am doing so and the chairs are apart, I am wondering if I should also think about sprucing up the finish on them and, while I'm at it, the table and sideboard.
Initially, my plan was to strip or sand the finish back and then refinish. However, on closer inspection, the condition of the original finish doesn't look *that* bad to my (untrained) eye. So I am wondering what people who know a bit more about these things than I do might think.
Could I for example clean and then apply wax or oil on top of the existing finish and "get away" without stripping/sanding? Would that cover up the water marks and occasional scratches shown in the photos below?
I realise that I might be stuck with the dents (there aren't that many of them) without refinishing and filling them in some way, but I suppose I can live with that as they're part of the 'history' of the furniture.
I'd prefer not to strip and do a total refinish if I can avoid it as I would have to do it in the back yard (no shed or garage) and there is of course a risk of various mishaps (especially as I believe we're talking veneers with this vintage of G Plan). Also, I suppose it would be nice to somehow save/preserve the original finish if I can.
I'm afraid I've no idea what the original finish is, but Google seems to suggest it's probably some kind of urethane finish. It looks like my grandparents looked after it quite well, although I'd be surprised if they ever oiled it or anything like that - more likely they regularly polished it with Mr Sheen or similar (which I believe is a no-no).
I'm no expert on any of this, but have done some amateur guitar refinishing in the past with nitrocellulose with reasonable success, so I don't think I'm totally out of my depth.
