Isabelbr

Hi,

I have a light stained paneling issue. We recently bought a house with paneling in the den. The woodwork itself looks pretty, but wedon't like the finish. It looks like some sort of stained varnish someone put on the wood with a brush and the stain is light. We want to darken the wood, but do not want to strip. Would you know of any techniques that we could use to darken the wood over the old finish?


I have heard there is some sort of gel one can apply over it with a rag??? Would you know what that is?

Thank you much,

Isabel

Ron6519

Post some pictures of the paneling. Are you sure it's real wood and not a wallpaper design on a luan substrate?
If it's real wood, you can sand it a fine grit(150 or 220) and try the Minwax Poly shades. It's a combination stain and polyurethane. The more coats you put on the darker it gets.
Try to use it on some scrap wood before diving into the paneling. Application takes a bit of practice and you can see if you like the results.
Ron

Isabelbr

Thank you so much for your reply. Yes, it is real wood. It is an old home with really nice woodwork, but we suspect the paneling in the den was done in the 1960s or 70s. It immitates Tudor panelings, but has this really ugly yelowish stain.

I will try what you suggest on a piece of the builtins we are desmanteling. It is made of the same wood and finish. I will also try to go to the house this weekend and take a picture.

Thanks again,

Isabel

Ron6519

If you're sure it's real wood, there's no need for a photo.
Ron