Kevin:
The finish, if it is original, is a sort of spar varnish. It is possible
that it has been refinished in a polyurethane varnish. In any event, these
materials are best removed with a chemical stripper such as Zip-Strip or a
similar solvent. Brush it on and walk away for several hours, letting
nature take its course. You may have to put on several applications to get
to bare wood. A paint scaper will remove the loose finish between coats of
stripper. Use a Scotchbrite pad soaked in stripper for the final removal
step. This will get you bare wood without any damage to the veneer.
Refinishing is up to you, but I applied 4 coats of spar varnish, which is
tougher than conventional varnish and resists yellowing better. Sand
lightly between coats. Use a foam "brush" to put on the varnish and use
smooth, slow strokes to minimize the inevitable bubbles.
BTW, the veneer is probably walnut rather than mahogany.
Philip E. Barnes '71 TR6 CC61193L
Cornell University
Newman Laboratory of Nuclear Studies
Ithaca, NY 14853
607-255-4951
peb3@cornell.edu
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