A discussion of cabinet finish.

[ohohyodafarted]

I would like input from members about cabinet refinishing. I realize that in the real world of antiques, it is considered a bad thing to refinish an antique regardless of how bad the piece of junk looks.

I have restored 2 sets so far. Each set had what I considered to be enough deterioration of the finish (scratches, watermarks etc) to refinish the cabinettes. IN one case the doors had to be striped and restained and clearcoated. The top of one set had to be striped, sanded stained and the set clearcoated. I am very good at this and can mach a stain spot on so you cant tell a refinished side from a side that was not reworked. IN the final stages I clear coat the entire cabinette with an industrial clear coat costing $150 per gallon.

I will conceed that if the original finish looks like it was loved and cared for with few if any scratches, that keeping it original is the prefered route.

My personal feeling is that If I am going to recap the set and get it working like new electronically, then I want the cabinette to look just as though it just came out of the showroom. And if the original finish is not very good, then I want to refinish it.

So I would like to hear the opinions of fellow collectors on how they feel about cabinette refinishing.

So please give me your opinions. Would you rather have a set that has a beautiful refinished cabinette, or would you rather stand on originality and keep the original finish even if it looks like it was beaten up, unloved and abused?

And if you could please discuss the effect of refinishing on the value of the restored set. Is it more valuable with it's original beaten up and abused finish or does the refinishing enhance the value?

Thanks
Bob Galanter