Treatment for old varnish

[joliette]

I don't particularly want to sand / strip all of the interior varnish on the Levi designed Settimo Velo that I am restoring. The overall condition of most of it is sound, although it does have some scratches here and there and could do with a good clean up.

I seem to recall a treatment to revitalise old varnish comprising of something like meths and liniseed oil. Does anyone know the mix and is it any good?

PS If you'd like to take a peep at my project: http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=179427293999

 

[matthew73]

white vinegar in water's good for a clean up with a shami leather but it might not get rid of the scratches

 

[matthew73]

looks to be a lovely grain in the wood.why not sand her up and have a couple of coats away on her?

 

[xtiffer]

There is an old phrase " Don't spoil the ship for a ha'peth of tar."
Strip it and build up with 4 coats of Epifanes Gloss and a final
topcoat of Epifanes Rubbed Effect on large ares
whilst leaving the trim as gloss.
Lots of effort, I know, but the difference will be worth it.
Cheers,
Chris

 

[oldfrank]

Try a coat and see how it comes up - you may have to 'spot' repair damaged bits but you'll probably find the coats build up over the damage to make it indistinguishable from the rest of the varnish.

If I'd spent all that time on a rebuild, I think I'd probably take the lot back to bare wood ...

 

[Spuddy]

There is a recipe for cleaning up furniture : something like equal parts vinegar, meths and boiled linseed. I think the idea is that the first two act as solvents for most muck and the oil puts a bit of a film on the surface. Sounds like you need something more fundamental.

 

[matthew73]

stripping's a nightmare.keep the dings its more authentic!

 

[xtiffer]

Authentic shoddy

 

[joliette]

stripping's a nightmare.keep the dings its more authentic!

Yes ... most of the interior bulkheads and locker panels are original and I would like to preserve the patina of that (in contrast to the new wood that I've put in) rather than strip everything right back and attempt to make it all shine like a new boat. I hate restorations that come out looking like new boats! There seems to be something a bit dum about that?

 

[andygc]

There is a recipe for cleaning up furniture : something like equal parts vinegar, meths and boiled linseed. I think the idea is that the first two act as solvents for most muck and the oil puts a bit of a film on the surface. Sounds like you need something more fundamental.

Traditionally, one of the recipes is equal quantities of raw linseed oil, methylated spirits, turpentine and vinegar, applied with very fine wire wool, but that is a polish reviver and won't do the job for varnish.

That's real turpentine, not turpentine substitute or white spirit.