Brunswick Cromwell refinishing

C

chhonos

Registered
Hey guys,
So I have a Brunswick Cromwell 9' pool table from the 90's and the rails have quite a few scratches on them. I was thinking that maybe I could refinish them with new lacquer. I spoke to a wood worker about the job and he said he won't do it unless I have the exact same lacquer that Brunswick used. Does anyone know what kind of lacquer they use on this model? Company name and number if possible...
Also, how much would refinishing the rails affect the overall value of the pool table?
Thanks
 
-tip

Hi, Chhonos.

First of all, are you certain the clear top coat is lacquer? No offense intended, but many people refer to any clear finish as lacquer or varnish. Not necessarily true, as there are a whole bunch of clear finishes in use these days. Lacquer is just one of many.

Hopefully, it is lacquer. If so, touch up and refinish are easy.

To test your finish to determine its type, dip a Q-tip in lacquer thinner (not paint thinner or mineral spirits). Rub the thinner on on the finish in an inconspicuous spot, eg. the backside of a leg or apron. If the clear finish softens and comes off in a minute or so, then your finish is lacquer. If it is unaffected, then it is probably conversion varnish or possibly polyurethane. Polyurethane is not real popular in production settings because it stays wet for hours. Lacquer and conversion varnish dry almost immediately, therefore, they are popular in the furniture industry.

If your finish is lacquer, it is probably the catalyzed type as opposed to the older nitrocellulose variety.

If the scratches on your table's lacquer top coat are not cut down into the color, then sanding and a couple of new coats are a snap. New coats of lacquer dissolve into the previous coats and create a great bond. Generally, it is sprayed, but there is at least one brand that can be applied by brush.

Lacquer and shellac are the most friendly finishes to recoats. All other types can be very problematic due to difficulty of adhesion between the original coat and recoats.

Regarding your question of the value of the proposed refinish......a good refinish will put the rails back in like new condition, versus the worn condition they are in at present. The potential sale value of a pristine Cromwell will be much better than that of a scratched and well worn looking table. But, in the end, the actual dollar amount is determined solely by how much someone would give you for it.

And lastly, regarding your woodworker's insistance on knowing the exact brand of lacquer, for the most part...lacquer is lacquer.

Hope this is useful to you.

Joe
 
so...

Ok so yes your right, it may not be lacquer (I just said that term to generalize because I don't know what the finnish is).
Here is what I know...
The finish of the legs and side of the pool table are a different finish. On the rails, there is a different finnish. And my woodworker said that it is a special substance that is extremely strong to prevent scratches. He said if you put a regular strong lacquer it will scratch much more easily than wtv they used on the rails. It looks to be much more shiny by comparison to lacquer. Almost it is a thick layer. What I did find out from someone who knows about pool tables...he said that he has seen several Cromwell Tables as he sold many of them a few years back...and he said that the finishes were all the same from the 90's era. They were all made in Brazil and were all manufactured the same way. So basically he said that if I could find out what kind of lacquer or substance was used on the rails of one Cromwell table...it should be the same.
So that is what I am asking. What EXACT product did Brunswick use to finish their Cromwell tables in the 90's??
 
Cromwell Refinish

It may be impossible to find out the exact product used in Brazil. Regardless, you should probably take one of the rails to a highly reputable antique furniture refinisher. Upon inspection, he will be able to give you a better appraisal than what you can get off the internet.

Joe
 
yes, I realize I may never find out exactly what they use.
But the guy I spoke to about them is an expert woodworker who worked with antiques in europe for 20 years, so I am pretty sure he knows what he is talking about.
However, the table was not manufactured THAT long ago. According to my research it has only been a few years since they stopped making the Cromwell (If thats even true)...since there is still reference to it on the Brunswick website.
I would have thought that someone on this forum would have some idea as to what products in general Brunswick would use to finish their rails? I assume it would be the same product for some of their other tables....
 
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