Today, a bevy of products can aid in refinishing, refurbishing or adding a new look to tired, worn or unfinished woods. The first question to ask yourself is what do you want to do with your wood. Before you do anything else, determine whether your wood needs to be refinished or just restored. If the piece is an antique, it's always recommended that you do the least amount of work to it. If the old finish is at least partially intact, leave it.
Antique pieces lose their value easily.
There are excellent wood soaps available that can help give new life and added value to your antiques. There are literally hundreds of stripping products on the market today. Some work better on certain types of wood. When purchasing a stripping agent, read the label carefully. If you're stripping a chair or other type of furniture that has nooks, crannies and spindles, consider picking up a spray stripper for those areas.