The condition of the original finish was so poor that the Oil-Thinner mixture was able to remove about 95% of the old finish. I should mention, that this is not a quick and easy procedure. Rather, many hours were spent in removing the old finish using a pad of "000" Synthetic Steel Wool and the thinner/oil mixture. I avoided any sanding so that I wouldn't do anything that might destroy the patina of the cherry. I only used the Synthetic Steel wool, the thinner/oil mixture, and a lot of elbo grease.
A few sections required even more more work, and on these I used alcohol to soften the stubborn places. After they were softened, I used the same the oil mixture to clean up and condition the wood.
After the surface was free of the old finish I applied three additional coats of the Oil-Thinner mixture, immediately wiping them dry. When the unit was dry, I applied two coats of Bartely's clear Gel Varnish, followed with a final coat of Howard's Feed 'N Wax to finish the project.
