Share
Hi there, someone applied a furniture varnish to a chair that was finished in oiled walnut and the result is tacky, slightly shiny finish that has dulled the wood grain and there are black marks all over it. I'd like know if anyone can identify what the black marks are and whether I can completely strip the varnish with stripper vs sanding given the item is veneer (although probably reasonably thick for veneer. Thanks in advance for any help!
Welcome to the Bunnings Workshop community @JamesMW. It's sensational to have you join us and many thanks for your question on restoring timber.
It looks like your chair is a vintage Carl Hansen & Son CH07 Shell Chair, which is a classic mid-century piece and highly collectible. Depending on the condition, age, and provenance, these chairs can easily fetch anywhere from several thousand to over ten thousand Australian dollars if sold on the secondary market, especially if they are original finishes in good condition. Because of that, it is often in the owner’s best interest to have the chair restored professionally rather than attempting a DIY fix. Professional restorers can carefully remove the incorrect varnish, clean the black marks, and refinish the chair in a way that preserves as much of the original look and value as possible.
You could certainly attempt to sand it back or use a chemical stripper to remove the varnish and then re-oil or re-varnish it yourself, but be aware that doing so carries significant risk. The veneer, even if relatively thick, can be easily damaged, and the value of the chair could be greatly reduced if the restoration isn’t done perfectly. If maintaining value is important to you, a professional restoration would likely be the safest route.
Please let me know if you have any questions.
Mitchell
