Quote:
Originally Posted by CT-100
My decision now is to just get on with the other problems and not be concerned about the stain at the present time.
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Yah, I usually do the electronics first and worry about the cabinet later. Seeing the TV operational inspires me to tackle refinishing, which is less fun for me.
I believe the cabinet (like 95% of all old cabinets) was originally done with colored toning lacquer, not stain. That doesn't mean stain is necessarily a wrong choice, more of an FYI.
Many old finishes fade and change color over time, with exposure to sunlight. If you look at a protected area of the cabinet, like the inner front ledge that was protected by the top cover, you'll see the original color, which was pretty reddish. If you're just going to revive & touch up the existing finish on the main cabinet, rather than strip everything and start over, then you'll want to match the current color, of course.
Whatever you do, I'd avoid polyurethane, which is non-authentic and harder to reverse than lacquer if you try something and don't like the results. I'd also avoid sanding more than necessary. You don't want to sand all the way through the veneer.
Phil Nelson