Restoring an old wardrobe?

[Paul Georgia]

I recently bought an old wardrobe with some really great carving on it. Unfortunately, it has some problems. First, the panels in the door have shrunk (the person who made it glued them in place) and there are gaps between the frame and the panels. The frame is joined with dowels. My first question is how do I get these joints apart without destroying the frame. Second, I might have to re-finish the whole cabinet to get new panels to match the rest of the cabinet. What's the best way to remove old finish. Thanks.

[Shawn Pixley]

To take apart the frame you might start with hot vinegar to loosen the glue. However, if you are going to replace the panels you might want to rabet the back of the frame. Remove the old panel. Then stop in a new panel from behind.

To strip the finish, first find out what finish is on the piece. Visit the finishing forum and look up the FAQ on finish identification. Then try a chemical stripper that is correct for the finish.