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How to restore faded veneer due to sunlight?

Hi A'goners,

I'm looking for some helpful advice...

I've had these hifi speakers for some years now and sadly I've managed to spoil them by allowing them to sit in direct sunlight so the UV rays have seriously faded the wood veneer (one one side of each speaker).

The veneer wood has a varnish coating so that applying a cherry wood (Danish oil or similar) restorer doesn't make any difference. I could lightly sand the surface with a fine grade sandpaper beforehand but I think this could end up ruining them even more!

Here's a couple of old photos of my speakers before they were faded:-

http://img835.imageshack.us/img835/2261/homehifisetup.jpg
http://img153.imageshack.us/img153/4951/homehifisetup2.jpg

Thanks in advance,

Ross
rosscopico
4est
507 posts
 
Swap sides?
theo's avatar
theo
2,690 posts
 
I can't think of any solution except as Jab suggests. You may before you completely strip them get a wood finish scraper and remove the varnish and apply a Watco type finish. The real proble you have is first: veneer is thin and you won't get many chances 2 if your lucky. Second: you really don't have an are that you sample for color with the exception of the bottom if it has the same veneer.
Depending on how long you've had them 4est's advice may be the most practical solution and try a good waxing with BriWax or similar to preserve the wood from further drying and restore some gloss.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
The best thing to do is turn the speaker around to expose the other side to the sunlight. The wood will change color to match in a relatively short amount of time without spoiling the finish.
inna
7,296 posts
 
Leave them alone, man, leave them alone.
johnk's avatar
johnk
1,975 posts
 
Just move them as others said so the not faded areas are exposed to light. Cheery is very susceptible to sun shading or fading from UV light. We expose ours to it before shipping so they do not have as much issue. You can also use a UV protecting car wax or spray finish use over faded area while exposing unfaded to light till they match up a bit them cover full speaker with UV protecting spray etc.
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