On 2022-10-05 1:41 p.m., scottg wrote:
> Well everybody already mentioned my tricks.
>  Waterless hand cleaner (with no grit in it) or Murphys to start.
> Then alcohol. Then paint thinner. Then steel wool with paint thinner.
> Depending on if its working. hahahah
>
> If you have to "cut" it a little to get the look you want, and its 
> flat, it can be polished back out. Pumice and water followed by 
> rottenstone and oil.
>  Good wax last of course.
>
>   There is only so far I am willing to go before the 
> shellac/varnish/lacquer brush gets loose.
>    yours scott
>
>
Hmmm. I'm reluctant to be disagreeing with Scott, but I wouldn't be 
jumping to alcohol so quick, in case it's a shellac finish. After 
Murphy's and lukewarm water, I'd move to varsol or similar petroleum 
product. Paint thinner or turps if you have it. Start with a soft cloth. 
For heavier grime, switch to a finer grade of burlap. Then steel wool as 
needed. If all that fails, try some alcohol in a spot where it won't be 
too obvious if it dissolves your finish.

Apparently if you're expert with a card scraper, you can remove a lot of 
grime, without a hook on the edge. I'm not that confident of my scraping 
skill.

FWIW

Don


-- 

Chuck the king - DS

It's a Humpty Dumpty world - Ry Cooder