So I have this bedroom set that my grandfather built, which has been in my possession since childhood. They're now in my boyfriend's son's bedroom, but they're in desperate need of revamping. My mom won't let me use them as firewood, and I can't afford to buy new... so I'm left with refinishing.
The dressers are made of plywood that have an outer veneer. Some of the veneer is chipped in pretty big chunks in some spots (usually around the base)... the base of one of the dressers has some water damage. I stripped the dressers of the green paint and lacquer, and then I sanded them down... but the veneer is chipped along the edges, and in some spots there are shallow holes through the veneer down to the plywood (like in the middle on the top of one of the dressers). I don't know where to go from here.
My goal had been to strip these things and stain them chocolate brown... but I'd hate to put all this work in and be left with something that has very obvious chips and scratches.
I've heard that it's hard to replace the veneer unless you just want to re-do the edging. I'm wondering if I should endeavour to just remove all the veneer and paint the plywood, of if there's any hope to refinish it as is.
If pictures will help, I can take some and post them.
Refinishing old plywood dressers with veneer
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