How to Remove Sheen on a Cabinet

Some wood furniture pieces, particularly older pieces, are shellacked or varnished to a high shine. This shine or sheen can actually take away from the beauty of the piece, especially if it is cracked, old or yellowed. There are three main ways to remove sheen from a cabinet. Once it is gone, you can protect the wood with a thin coat of polyurethane, or just leave it unfinished, but be aware that unfinished wood can be easily damaged.

Heat gun
Plastic scraper
Chemical remover
Sandpaper

Instructions

- 1
  Move the piece outside. Place a drop cloth underneath it while you work. If you will be using chemicals, being outside makes the process much safer.
- 2
  Run a heat gun over the top of the piece. The heat will weaken the bond of the varnish. As you are heating the area, begin scraping with a plastic putty knife. The varnish should loosen as you work.
- 3
  Apply a chemical finish remover. If the heat gun does not remove the sheen, you will need to step up your efforts with a chemical finish remover. Apply this, allow it to set for around five to 10 minutes and then begin scraping with your putty knife again. Keep a small garbage can nearby to scrape the residue into and to use to clean off the edge of your knife.
- 4
  Sand the furniture. Once the first few coats of varnish have been removed, go over the entire piece with a fine grade sandpaper. For detail work, use a piece of steel wool to get into crevices where sandpaper cannot reach.
- 5
  Apply one coat of clear polyurethane. One coat will not supply a lot of sheen, but it will help protect the piece from future damage. Use a paint brush and go with the grain of the wood. Let this dry for at least four to six hours before moving the piece back into the house.

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Woodworking