Wood staining advice

[Hemsby]

We have a Vintage Avalon Yatton bureau/bookcase which is suffering some damage. The top has water damage and there is veneer missing so I think is beyond repair my thought was to buy some veneered ply, not sure if I can remove the existing top but it would be easy to fit another piece over and replace the edging with a wider piece. The bureau front has also some wear to the surface finish around the handle.

My questions are is the finish Teak?

How to finish the new top and match it to the rest of the unit?

Presumably the whole unit will need to be lightly rubbed down and re finished. I assume that the new top even of a similar wood veneer will be way off colour to the original?

I have plenty of painting & varnishing experience but wood staining/polishing is a bit of a mystery to me.

The unit has no intrinsic value, but great sentimental value to my Wife.

Any advice would be appreciated

Thank you

Keith

 

[blackrodd]

FWIW, I am a believer of keeping precious items as near original as possible and allow for the history of the piece.
Otherwise we can end up with an example of Triggers Broom, and lets face it most of the tradesmen before us were very good with their tools and equipment of the day.
Unless the original top is spoilt and of no use at all, I would scrape the original finish off, rub down for refinishing.
Then, match and repair the original veneer.
Make some spare veneering so you can test areas for refinishing.
Should you not feel confident on the veneering,There are normally quite a few cabinet makers available, who would help with advice or even repairing the veneer piece.
Possibly less hassle, in the longrun.
Regards Rodders

 

[undergroundhunter]

FWIW, I am a believer of keeping precious items as near original as possible and allow for the history of the piece.
Otherwise we can end up with an example of Triggers Broom, and lets face it most of the tradesmen before us were very good with their tools and equipment of the day.
Unless the original top is spoilt and of no use at all, I would scrape the original finish off, rub down for refinishing.
Then, match and repair the original veneer.
Make some spare veneering so you can test areas for refinishing.
Should you not feel confident on the veneering,There are normally quite a few cabinet makers available, who would help with advice or even repairing the veneer piece.
Possibly less hassle, in the longrun.
Regards Rodders

+1, even if all the veneer was missing on the top I would still only replace the veneer and not the panel. How old is the piece? It may not need "staining" at all maybe just a few coats of garnet shellac and then waxing.

Matt

 

[Hemsby]

Thank you for you advice.

Probably I was getting carried away with a major overhaul. I think my plan of attack will be just to replace the veneer (hammer) .

I think my wife is of the similar opinion as yourselves, its just every time I walk past the unit my hand has a habit of feeling the rough top #-o.

Regards,

Keith