10
Why does nobody talk about using a cheap hair dryer for heat checking?
Honestly, I was working on a 1950s dresser last week and the old finish was a total mystery. I didn't want to risk ruining it with the wrong stripper. Tbh, I grabbed my wife's old hair dryer, set it on low, and gently heated a small spot on the back. In about 30 seconds, the shellac started to get tacky and smell sweet, which told me exactly what I was dealing with. It saved me from buying a chemical test kit and possibly making a huge mess. Has anyone else used a simple heat source like this to figure out an old finish before?
3 comments