Scraping Off The Crusty Old Finish | Refinishing A Mahogany Bookcase |Furniture Restoration & Repair 

Couldn’t agree more about scrapers: very handy to have a good collection for different purposes and surfaces - not just for removing finish, but also for a number of different household tasks. The carbide scrapers are worth it, but a simple blade often does the trick, too. Anything with a continuous, straight edge can be useful. Some people - professional woodworkers and restorers - use a piece of glass with a sharp, straight edge. And scrapers are the least wasteful tools: sandpaper clogs up and needs to be replaced (and sanding is dustier than scraping), and while chemical strippers obviously have their advantages, they need to be disposed of, while a scraper just goes back into the drawer.

Dashner: "This little speck of dust is out of place, I'll fix that quick." Seriously you do amazing work, nobody details like you, it's all "LET'S PAINT IT BEIGE!", the wood grain on this bookshelf is beautiful.

Who knew a spider could make refinishing easier?

I needed to relax, opened RU-vid, new Dashner video. Just what I needed. Thank you sir. Beautiful work.

"Just like life." 👌🏼👍🏼

This bookcase looks very familiar to me. I had a set of encyclopedias that came is that bookcase.

My grandmother did all her scraping with the edge of a piece of glass. She grew up in the depression and really knew how to reuse and repurpose. You can always find a free pane of glass or an old mirror. She would break off a piece big enough to hold and scrape using all sides until it was worn down, then just break off another piece.

Thanks for the reminder that utility blades work quite well as scrapers for removing finish. Economical, too!

Классная реставррация,все сделано прекрасно,очень аккуратно и скрупулезно,заделаны все царапины и сколы.Вы всегда делаете ремонт в нутри ваших реставрируемых вещей,а это придает им завершенный вид. Результат,как всегда великолепный.Вы супер.❤❤❤❤❤

We have one exactly like that sitting in our living room. Its original use was as a bookshelf for a set of encyclopedias along with a complimentary set of Books of the Year. From somewhere in the mid to late 60s. The A-Z encyclopedias fit exactly into the space provided by the top shelf and about 12 to 13 years worth of BoYs into the bottom shelf. Everything neatly faced to the front edge of the shelf thanks to those rails at the back.

It looks so much better. I love the wood grain.

This looks amazing. The wood grain is absolutely gorgeous.

Turned out beautiful! The wood grain is so pretty! Awesome job! 😊

Wow, that veneer is stunning. Glad you didn't use any other finishing product other than the shellac to alter its color. Looks fantastic.

What gorgeous grain. You have such a gift for turning nondescript pieces of furniture into classics!

I recently completed my first refurbishing, based on what I've learned from your videos. It was a thirty-year-old Stanley hand-me-down that I've had for most of the that time, originally for my very young son's room. We moved, he got a new dresser, and I used it in my dining area: linens in the drawers and plants and dishes displayed in the hutch. Ten years later I removed the hutch before moving again. Nine years later I want something else, so I decided to use it as my first project. I got a stripping tool and set of six double-sided blades that I've seen in some of your videos. The trouble was that the broad 'flat' blade was slightly curved at the very edges, so it would roll sometimes and I'd gouge the surface! So I had to use some filler a couple times. The dresser went back to my son (!) and he wanted it painted black, so it didn't show. I also used oxalic acid, just as a learning experience (as it wouldn't show under the paint), and repaired a water damaged section. Thanks for so much that I've learned from you! I'm looking for a new project. The thrift stores here in San Diego don't have such good deals... ☹

GREAT explanation on the scrapers, I started using them after watching a few of your videos. Thank you so much for your videos, that bookcase turned out awesome!

I really need that beautiful piece! Thanks for the video!

I've used the damp cloth and soldering iron trick on canoe gunwales I've installed for a customer. It feels like cheating almost. We use epoxy mixed with filler and cherry dust to fix mistakes, or repair old parts that are salvageable. When installing epoxy Kevlar skid plates we often wet our hand to rub them down smooth after the epoxy starts to harden. And if you buff wood with brown paper before you finish it, it looks amazing

I look forward to these transformations so good to see someone who creates and restores Thank You Sir

Nice project, nice and small-scale. And as always---well-explained. Thanks.

I agree with you about scrapers causing less damage than random orbital sanders. I am working on a dining table & although I try not to push down hard, replace my sanding pads often, and move the sander slowly I often get the squiggly lines. They show up when I put on stain. Ugg.

That was very enjoyable. And the bookcase came out really well - I liked the grain.

Really warm finish on a simple, satisfying little piece. Love your work 💖

Im always amazed at the quality of sound recording that you do. You have a lovely voice too, which makes your videos stand out from others on the platform

As I begin restoring furniture I find your instructional videos very helpful! Your tips on using a scraper, for example, were very helpful. Thanks so much for sharing!

Beautiful! Better than brand new. 👍🏻

Lovely as always. Thanks for sharing.

Such a beautiful pattern in the veneer. Lovely little bookcase that I would be proud to have in my home.

Beautiful job as always, bringing the warm and richness back to otherwise dull and lifeless wood.

I would call that a shocking transformation, I had no idea that beautiful grain would be under that scratched and dinged up surface. You have the eye!

I think I recognize that as a bookshelf for a set of encyclopedias. We had one growing up.

Absolutely lovely! You did it again! ❤

A real nice addition to a home. I have one that is double that size in my storage that I’m getting ready to bring to my studio. One can always use bookcases. I have a hunch mine is from the 70’s though. Carol from California

Simple, straightforward refinishing. So nice.

Pretty. Thanks for posting.

For the superglue and sand-dust trick, have you ever tried to cut in a little bit of baking soda? The baking soda adds a little bit of a light powdery look to superglue, and it might just match correctly after sanding compared to just straight glue+dust.

Really beautiful! I do love that natural look!

Have you considered rounding the edges on your large scraper? This works well on hand planes to preventing “digging in” while planing.

Lovely job👍

Another first class job Steven. They would look great in anyone's home.

5:00 wooow, droping life lessons. Nice

I love mahogany which is left to be the color of mahogany. Thanks.

Really nice piece! Thanks for explaining about the scrapers. That method seems to be good for those old brittle finishes.

Less is definitely more sometimes. Another great video 🙂🍺🍻

It looks great! You should consider getting a sticker with your name/company and date of restoration. This type of extra stuff goes a long way when selling.

I've seen quite a few of those bookcases. I think they came with encyclopedia sets. Great size!

Thank you for such an informative video. I’m going to refinish a Danish Rosewood nightstand with your helpful tips on scraping. The finish is destroyed but the wood looks great underneath. Thanks, Dash!

Your videos are like the greatest videos known to man my homie!!! The 🐐 of woodworking!!!!!!

"Life is life scraping an old cabinet" 😄😊

Sensational video.

I love that caramel brown color!

Simply beautiful💯💯💯

Great job!! Im working on a Danish coffee table right now.

I had NO idea you could use a soldering iron to remove light dints! I need to fix up a whole G Plan suite! Dints in the doors of my wardrobe

The ant crawling up the side scared the crap out of me! Lol😂😂😂

I like it that you are never afraid to go for new techniques that might or might not yeld the best result as the usual ones.

Who else waits for the "Thanks for watching" at the end?😂 Beautiful restoration as always 🤜🤛

A real beauty, and so straightforward a design!

Love this!!!

What a good refinish ,the color being so satisfying. Thank you for these details described. I am redoing a large dresser of mahagony ,at first thinking of painting or bleaching out the red or doing a paint wash ..... your bookcase however is so attractive

The scraping sound is what sets my teeth on edge. ---It's very soothing to me to hear the ambient background noises of Minneapolis. I didn't get to the ND Farmstead this year, but I'm cruising the Mississippi later this month, stopping a few days to see the Mall, & visit with a cousin who lives up there!---Lovely ending. Does that beauty have a designation yet?

very nice - looks like a book case for encyclopedias...

As a preface; I’m a woodworker by trade, and do this for a living. Regarding the scraper and sanding questions- there’s no right or wrong way to do this. There’s no standard. If the result is good then the methods were good. There’s thousands of ways to make a repair. Whatever works best for you is the best method.

Outstanding, beautiful job!❤😊

Nice work, as always 😃👍

Wow, it’s beautiful!

It looks so much better now. Always a pleasure Dash. Thanks a million.

I love this one! great job! 💜

It’s an Encyclopedia Britannica bookcase. We had one just like it when I was a kid.

Beautiful! Thanks for sharing

Gorgeous result! The timing of this video is perfect for me as I had recently decided to scrape off the finish from my kitchen table. I have never done it before so your explanation helps so much. Thank you!

A scraper question: Do you sharpen/hone your large scraper? Or does the carbide keep it's edge "indefinitely" for finish scraping?

Turned out lovely!

Hi! I’ve been watching for many years & love all your work - inspiring. I would love to see you refinish a church pew. What do you think? Possibly?

Absolutely beautiful 👏👏

Simple piece of furniture yet looks very desirable. So nice 👍🏼

3 hours in and you have 800 likes ~ 23% that’s incredibly high. I enjoy all your videos. Thanks

That's really pretty

Gorgeous

😊 a classic, straightforward piece. Nice work!!

You are the first guy I’ve seen doing restoring who’s used super glue.😂

I'm pretty sure that bookcase was sold in the 1950s to hold a set of Encyclopedia Brittanica. My parents purchased a set and I have it with the bookcase that looks exactly like this one.

Amazing how a simple piece can become such a beauty. I love the scraper! Thanks for elaborating on its features. Mine is thrifted. I need to grab the Husky brand. I spent a week in your neck of the woods. We did all the 'sota things. Coming from AZ, I was stunned at the amount of water you have there. So green and plush this time of year. I had the best time. I would love it if you took us thrifting with you. 😊

Would you consider making a video on how to sharpen a scraper?

Nice little bookcase for 15.00 dollars!

What a little cutie. Now you can be kind of a big deal with many leather-bound books and an apartment that smells of rich mahogany.

Ach! jaki piękny mebel, dzięki Tobie. Dziękuje

good job

I think the backboard could have used some refinishing to really put some oomf to the finished look, but overall a nice little refurbish, nice that its not a major overhaul and still made the finish look over twice the original price tag minimum.

Thanks

I had a smaller one of these shelves - I believe they were possibly made for Encyclopaedias in the day.

We have a similar piece. We think it was a freebe for buying a set of encyclopedia back in the day.

Excellent as usual. Thanks for sharing this with us! If you collected all the finish you scraped off, could you use isopropyl alcohol to sort of "reconstitute" it and use that as the restored finish?

Love your videos … curiosity about where these pieces end up going ?? Most in your home ? Gifts to friends & family? Sell ??

Mahogany is such a beautiful wood. Glad you used the clear finish for it. This little book case looks so nice once again. We didn't get to see how the filled in spot looked after the finish. Did it do okay with the first gel stain application, or did you have to add a little more after the shellac?

Wish i'd thought of a cabinet scraper instead of only wire wool for removing finish from my 1939 clock. 😭🤣

Real Magic! When yo say 'Steel-wool and Wax to finish it off', do you put the wax right on the Steelwool ? This Bookcase looks great !

Very nice, but you aways do great work!!! Happy holiday.

Yes! A New Vid!! ❤❤❤