Featured Giving refinished furniture that patina look

I know, I know, refinishing antiques is a big No-No but I like to save ones from the trash and give them new life..

I'm about to finish up a early 1900s Acme pie safe.
Its sanded down and ready for a finish.

Id like to give it that nice buttery patina glow, which I know only comes with time, but if there's a stain and wax that can help me get close Id love to know

Here's a before of the pie safe


Here's examples of where Id like to take it

 

Brad can probably help. I have no clue. My parents used to wade through old barns and chicken coops and GKWA, looking for, and finding things that looked like your first picture. A week or so with the nice man who fixed such things, resulted in items that glowed like the one in your second photo.

Eventually, everyone in the family learned how to do such things -- except me. Eww! Icky fingers. I don't garden either.

Good luck -- and no one, I think, is going to have a problem with your restoring those examples!

 

Sorry, no idea, but I am looking forward to seeing the result.

 

I think you are off on the wrong foot already. I never would have sanded. That said, I would add some stain. Minwax Early American should approximate your first example. After that, a coat or two (or three) of an oil varnish (Tung oil varnish preferred) and a coat of paste wax should approximate the look you want. Use steel wool or finishing pads after the varnish and before the paste wax. If you want it lighter, omit the stain. You might try just some varnish on a piece of the underside or back that has been sanded to see if you like the natural color first.

Note that your last example is painted. If you want paint, that is a whole other subject.

 

I would like to know what part of the country you are in.
Want to make sure I do not move to an area that has raccoons capable of climbing walls!