Conservation of woodwork

[crankedup]

Having recently purchased my 1925 Vauxhall saloon I am in need of some advise. The cars interior is mostly original, except the seats have been re-leathered some years back. The woodwork is all sound but in some areas the varnish/finish has lifted away, heavy markings in other areas, some old water markings whilst some is fine and just needs a good furniture wax. How is the best way to bring the wood back to life without wholesale stripping and re-staining? Your thoughts and considerations appreciated.

[Doofus]

I've always worked on the basis that a touch up job won't last. I've only ever had it with dashboards, but I've always gone back to bare wood, sanded, and recarnished.

I would be concerned about colour/finish match and contaminants that have already got under the falky bits.

Edited by Doofus on Tuesday 2nd February 18:57

[chard]

As a temporary repair I used some colron wood stain. It soaked under the cracked lacquer so the damage was less noticeable. The only way to properly repair is to strip the old lacquer stain and re-lacquer.

[crankedup]

Thank you, I will have to think about just 'doing' the areas that have gone beyond it rather than wholesale re-finishing.

[AJAX50]

I'd be tempted to try to remove the stains rather than re-stain them. It depends what type of wood it is but some, eg oak,stain badly when in contact with iron and water. Try a few different solvents in non critical areas, I guess starting with water, a detergent and nail brush. Vinegar is a good stain remover (virtually all acetates are soluable) but try to get some uncoloured acetic acid rather than vinegar to avoid the colouring put in modern vinegar. Careful pressure washing is also very effective, worked well on my boat, but maybe your car is too delicate for this. Good luck.

[crankedup]

Thanks Ajax50, its the old age problem of 'whats patina and whats to be sorted'. Last thing I want to do is wreck 80 years of history. Caution is my watchword.