We have three "factory" cherry tables with the "factory" finish. We also used to have two cats that would love to chase each other around the living room jumping from table to table. Well, the cats are gone, but they left behind scratches on the tables. I have always hated the factory finish, more like a paint than a finish. You can hardly see the grain.
I took one table and sanded down the top. My plan was to try and match the finish with the rest of the table. Part way through, my wife said she loved the way the table looked with the grain showing (shock, shock... that's the way I like it also), and wanted to know if I could do this to the whole table, then the other two tables.
Getting the orginal finish was a real pain. I tried acatone, achole, and Mineral spirits. Only the acatone would make the finish gummy.
Does anyone have any suggestions on removing the finish without a lot of sanding? There's a lot of detail to the legs and aprons, and it would take for ever to sand them.
Thanks.
Dave