Friend asked me to refinish a dough bowl that was given to her for a wedding gift about 50 years ago. It looks like somone tried to put shellac on the thing, and it has a white spot the size of a thumb nail where they tried to fill a divot. I am thinking that I should take paint remover and clean the thing up and then put some oil on it to preserve the natural look of the wood that looks like walnut. All suggestions are appreciated. Thanks in advance!

Old Woodie

I don't know if it'll work but I'd try some of that "safe" finish remover. I think it's citrus based. Just to be sure that no harmful chemicals get into the wood. I have been using a combination of mineral oil and bee's wax for food contact items.

 

If the filled divot is tight, I think I'd leave it alone.

Here's an article on cutting board finish that would be appropriate for a dough bowl, especially if used.   My mother's butter bowl (where we separated the butter from the buttermilk) is unfinished, but contains an arrangement of artificial flowers.   Still smells like butter 50 years later.

 

http://www.askhlm.com/Articles/ArticleViewPage/tabid/75/ArticleId/27/Cutting-Board-Finish.aspx

If it's shellac you can strip it with alcohol.  If you are concerned about  the methanol from the BORG  (and I would be) just get a cheap bottle of 100 proof grain alcohol from the boozery

 

If it's poly you can scrape it.  You can scrape it anyway. 

 

 

 

4 hours ago, lew said:

I don't know if it'll work but I'd try some of that "safe" finish remover. I think it's citrus based. Just to be sure that no harmful chemicals get into the wood. I have been using a combination of mineral oil and bee's wax for food contact items.

 

If the filled divot is tight, I think I'd leave it alone.

The "Citrus" strippers are generally NMP-based.   NMP evaporates very slowly. 

The real question to ask is how fast and completely does the stripper evaporate away?

Dough bowl, ok I'll bite, what is a dough bowl, and what is it used for? I'll take the hit for those who are shy about asking.

20 minutes ago, lew said:

Thanks Lew, and I am going to go one step further in my question, I am assuming it's used to mix and knead dough in?

53 minutes ago, John Morris said:

Dough bowl, ok I'll bite, what is a dough bowl, and what is it used for? I'll take the hit for those who are shy about asking.

Hoo, hoo, tee-hee. Oh wait, that is the dough boy!

20 hours ago, John Morris said:

Thanks Lew, and I am going to go one step further in my question, I am assuming it's used to mix and knead dough in?

Yes.