How to refinish old oak office chair without taking it apart?

Hello, everyone. Someone local is selling some circa 1900 oak office/bankers chairs (the kind you’ve seen a ton of times, which sell for under $100). I saw them but haven’t pulled the trigger yet because the finish is pretty old and beaten up. The chairs themselves are solid (as chairs from that era are). I know there have been several posts on refinishing these types of chairs.

I saw some good videos on YouTube yesterday by some guys who’ve restored similar chairs by taking them apart, removing the finish, sanding, restaining, waxing with a buffer etc. I don’t have any of that equipment, don’t have that talent, and the chairs aren’t worth taking to have professionally restored.

Absent taking the chairs apart and doing a full restoration (including sanding and staining), what is the best way to improve an oak chair, e.g. what would you use to clean and condition it? I’m pretty good at cleaning things up, but I know my limits and I don’t want to buy a chair that needs a restoration that I can’t give it.

Thanks!

 

circa 1900 oak office/bankers chairs (the kind you’ve seen a ton of times, which sell for under $100)

if there are so many around.... wait until u find some in better condition....

 

Refinishing is a skill - it can be done without dismantling, but difficult and time consuming. There are products that partially dissolve a finish to improve rough and discolored areas. But it's very tricky to have the piece look right unless you've done a few projects (been down that road 30 years ago). As Komokwa mentioned - shouldn't be hard to find nice originals of such chairs - plus, a good old finish on oak is so nice, many refinished oak pieces look to new IMO.

 

I like a piece of furniture that has "scars" cause it means it looks it's age AND I'm not scared to use it as intended (respectful...but not scared ).

I use Old English (comes in light and dark and is essentially a stain) on a rag and buff any scratches or chips so they aren't glaring. You can then use a wax if needed. I use Howard Feed n Restore (which was recommended here of course ).

 

Thanks! This is all helpful information, and I appreciate it. I know some of the DIY videos on you tube can make something difficult look easy. I have a number of antique chairs that are in great condition that just need light cleaning and conditioning. I send out all reupholstery and re-caning work to the pros.

 

If the chairs are structurally sound and you want to give them a boost without a full teardown, try a light cleaning with Murphy Oil Soap or diluted vinegar first. Then use a product like Howard's Restor-A-Finish. It is great for reviving tired finishes without sanding. Follow up with a good furniture wax or Feed-N-Wax to condition the wood and bring back some luster. This won’t match a full restoration, but for minimal effort, it goes a long way. For basic wood finishing without heavy tools, this method strikes a nice balance between refresh and respect for the chair’s age.

 

It’s best to start with an actual pic of the piece you are considering to help us know what to recommend and how much is or isn’t needed. I generally agree that the less done the better, but that isn’t always the best answer, depending on what you’re starting with.

 

I too find the Old English works really well even on pieces that look a bit rough to start with. I’ve used some of the restorers but I can still smell it even after months have gone by, but that just could be my overly sensitive nose.

 

A Set Decorator taught me about Old English. It really does make a piece look so much better without the hassle of popping a whole can of stain, or doing a full refinish!