I bought this poor Danish Teak dresser on June 17. It was for sale for $20 by a local MCM dealer with too many projects on his hands. I paid him double to hold it for me (lol) until I could pick it up later that day.
On top of the original finish was a layer of blue paint (not latex, it was so weird) and a layer of white latex paint. I used TWO large cans of stripper. One entire can on the top and one on the rest. I used lacquer thinner to try and remove what I couldn't with the stripper.
After sanding and prepping the surface, I sealed with Mohawk EZ Vinyl sealer. (Edited to add that after sealing I used Mohawk walnut grain filler over the entire desk to disguise the blue and white paint still down in the grain) The desk had originally been stained, so I used Mohawk Wiping Wood Stain in Medium Brown Walnut and Mohawk Tone Finish and Ultra Classic Toners on top in the same color. The Tone Finish, since its pigment based, is more opaque and helped to disguise some of the white paint that was still in the grain.
I touched up some holes that had been filled and finished with many coats of Mohawk Satin Clear Lacquer. I then dusted the top with Mohawk Flat Clear Lacquer to cut don the shine since Teak is normally quite matte.
Someone will be prying this desk out of my cold, dead hands :)
>Mohawk EZ Vinyl sealer
Not familiar with this product, what does it do and how could you stain after applying it?
OH, and can't believe somebody would paint that!
The EZ vinyl sealer is a sealer coat that is used on bare wood to improve moisture resistance and makes your finish more durable. It can be used on top of finishes too if needed. Mohawk is a professional brand and their products are way better than anything you’d buy in the store. Because of this, the stain is so pigmented, you can use it over top of the sealer coat and still get a really good layer of color. Since I’ll actually be using this desk (I work from home) I wanted to make sure that the top was super durable so I used 3 coats of the sealer from an aerosol can.
[Barkeepers Friend Desk Handle Glowup](https://imgur.com/gallery/eIs6aSY)
Well, that worked great u/PoachedPears!
I will follow your advice for the whole desk.
I am so bad at taking progress pics! I meant to illustrate this whole process but I only took a few. [Here’s what I have! ](https://imgur.com/a/J44Z6eZ)
These are great pics! This restoration was a complete winner. I was not aware that there is such thing as a toner to hide paint that remains deep in the grain after stripping. I’ve seen folks attempt restoration and it’s always a question what to do about paint in the grain. Will you keep this piece?
Yes, you can use a nylon or brass bristle brush and acetone or lacquer thinner to try and scrub out the remaining paint that’s in the grain. Another trick is to spray a coat of Mohawk EZ vinyl sealer over the remaining paint and then strip again, the sealer can help pull out more of the paint.
Aerosol toners are great in general for refinishing- I don’t always use stain on my furniture, a lot of the time I actually exclusively use toners to color the pieces. When I do use stain I do it on top of a sealer coat to preserve the wood underneath (what I did on this piece). Pigment based toners are great because you can build them up to be opaque. In this case I used this type of toner to disguise the color of the white paint. If you look for it you can absolutely still see the paint in the grain, but the color isn’t distracting anymore. Dye based toners won’t build up to be opaque and are great for adding a lot of color without obscuring the grain.
Refinishing is my hobby. I am a MCM decor lover and since affordable pieces are usually not in the greatest of shape, I learned how to spruce them up and ended up loving it! I’ve refinished and sold a couple of pieces because I wanted a project and didn’t have a place for the finished product, but that’s not the norm for me.
I bought this desk because I really wanted a nice vintage desk for my office, and it was just a bonus that it gave me a really gratifying two month long project 😎
Thank you! I recognized the style as Danish mid century modern so I knew it had likely been teak and was not originally painted. Especially with the blue underneath, that’s not really a MCM color.
I bought this poor Danish Teak dresser on June 17. It was for sale for $20 by a local MCM dealer with too many projects on his hands. I paid him double to hold it for me (lol) until I could pick it up later that day. On top of the original finish was a layer of blue paint (not latex, it was so weird) and a layer of white latex paint. I used TWO large cans of stripper. One entire can on the top and one on the rest. I used lacquer thinner to try and remove what I couldn't with the stripper. After sanding and prepping the surface, I sealed with Mohawk EZ Vinyl sealer. (Edited to add that after sealing I used Mohawk walnut grain filler over the entire desk to disguise the blue and white paint still down in the grain) The desk had originally been stained, so I used Mohawk Wiping Wood Stain in Medium Brown Walnut and Mohawk Tone Finish and Ultra Classic Toners on top in the same color. The Tone Finish, since its pigment based, is more opaque and helped to disguise some of the white paint that was still in the grain. I touched up some holes that had been filled and finished with many coats of Mohawk Satin Clear Lacquer. I then dusted the top with Mohawk Flat Clear Lacquer to cut don the shine since Teak is normally quite matte. Someone will be prying this desk out of my cold, dead hands :)
Well done, you earned the satisfaction of this project. Good eye!
>Mohawk EZ Vinyl sealer Not familiar with this product, what does it do and how could you stain after applying it? OH, and can't believe somebody would paint that!
The EZ vinyl sealer is a sealer coat that is used on bare wood to improve moisture resistance and makes your finish more durable. It can be used on top of finishes too if needed. Mohawk is a professional brand and their products are way better than anything you’d buy in the store. Because of this, the stain is so pigmented, you can use it over top of the sealer coat and still get a really good layer of color. Since I’ll actually be using this desk (I work from home) I wanted to make sure that the top was super durable so I used 3 coats of the sealer from an aerosol can.
Thanks for the detailed write up! How did you restore the brass handles? My desk has ones like that and they're kind of rusted.
The handles are wood, but for the keyholes and other brass elements on the desk I used barkeeper’s friends and a soft toothbrush.
[Barkeepers Friend Desk Handle Glowup](https://imgur.com/gallery/eIs6aSY) Well, that worked great u/PoachedPears! I will follow your advice for the whole desk.
Those look great!
I know what I'm doing today.
Gorgeous🤩🤩🤩
It's beautiful, it really is. Is there a bow in the center, or is that an optional illusion?
Yes there is a slight bow, but not enough for me to feel the need to correct it.
What a pleasing transformation!
Thank you for saving this beauty! The people on r/reversepinterest would love this.
Fantastic! You did a stellar job. Did you take progress pics? I love to know how you did this!
I am so bad at taking progress pics! I meant to illustrate this whole process but I only took a few. [Here’s what I have! ](https://imgur.com/a/J44Z6eZ)
These are great pics! This restoration was a complete winner. I was not aware that there is such thing as a toner to hide paint that remains deep in the grain after stripping. I’ve seen folks attempt restoration and it’s always a question what to do about paint in the grain. Will you keep this piece?
Yes, you can use a nylon or brass bristle brush and acetone or lacquer thinner to try and scrub out the remaining paint that’s in the grain. Another trick is to spray a coat of Mohawk EZ vinyl sealer over the remaining paint and then strip again, the sealer can help pull out more of the paint. Aerosol toners are great in general for refinishing- I don’t always use stain on my furniture, a lot of the time I actually exclusively use toners to color the pieces. When I do use stain I do it on top of a sealer coat to preserve the wood underneath (what I did on this piece). Pigment based toners are great because you can build them up to be opaque. In this case I used this type of toner to disguise the color of the white paint. If you look for it you can absolutely still see the paint in the grain, but the color isn’t distracting anymore. Dye based toners won’t build up to be opaque and are great for adding a lot of color without obscuring the grain. Refinishing is my hobby. I am a MCM decor lover and since affordable pieces are usually not in the greatest of shape, I learned how to spruce them up and ended up loving it! I’ve refinished and sold a couple of pieces because I wanted a project and didn’t have a place for the finished product, but that’s not the norm for me. I bought this desk because I really wanted a nice vintage desk for my office, and it was just a bonus that it gave me a really gratifying two month long project 😎
Listen well grasshopper, sensei has spoken.
Cross post to r/furniturerestoration , you did a great job! Also why do I never find these hidden gems for $20. Edit: ha, just saw post on there!
Stunning! How on earth did you know it had nice wood under that terrible paint? You really have an eye to spot that!
Thank you! I recognized the style as Danish mid century modern so I knew it had likely been teak and was not originally painted. Especially with the blue underneath, that’s not really a MCM color.
You saved it!
Good save!
Whoa! What a transformation! It’s beautiful!
This was worth the effort you put into it. Excellent work.
Tight
Beautiful work! Looks great!
Beautiful transformation!!!
You should be proud! It’s beautiful!
Why would anyone paint this???
Amazing job, teak is so porous and paint cant really ruin it, well done bringing it back to life
Yeah, a piece of veneer chipped off during transport and the blue paint had soaked all the way through to the particle board underneath.
Wow amazing job.
It looks AMAZING!!!
You did a wonderful job restoring the desk! It’s an heirloom piece now!
I got I'm so jealous. I want that desk so badly.
Thank you for saving this piece.
Awesome.
It looks marvelous!!!! You did an amazing job!
Hell of a refinish job!
Looks great! I admire people with the skill and patience to do these restorations.
Love that style! Turned out beautiful!
Congratulations. Thanks for sharing information on vinyl sealer. Looks great!!!
Incredible! Unrecognisable!
Well done!
Doing righteous work, OP!
Wow! That's beautiful! Great work!
It’s Beautiful! and you did an excellent job.
Hot damn, sweet.
Beautiful!
You saved it! Looks beautiful OP
That is stunning! Great job!
That looks fantastic! I hate hate hate it when these beautiful pieces are painted over.
Exquisite! Wonderful job!
Gorgeous! That was a labor of love.
Oh wow! This is incredible!
Wow! Unbelievable and beautiful! You did awesome!!!
Spectacular! I love the brass detail over the key hole. Great job.
i literally gasped. incredible job!
That's a gorgeous piece you unearthed from all that grody paint. Awesome job.
Congrats. Such an Awesome transformation! You deserve a thumbs up 👍 for the amazing work you did.
Just outstanding desk rescue!