I have seen a couple posts on wood restoration. This is not a unicorn or non DIY project. Patience is the most expensive supply, that You don't have to buy! It is free you have to commit that's all!

I bought a 98 vanden plas with cracked epoxy over the wood trim.

Supplies needed........
:Klean strip or paint stripper and a butter knife. Leave stripper on for 2 hours minimum, cheaper than a real stripper!!! If there is residual, respray leave over night!

:Next step 220 sand paper clean remaining clear epoxy or whatever the factory used off.

:wood glue, clamps, bondo, acrylic paint raw umber, masking tape, self confidence!

Look at your wood if the veneer is cracked take a xacto knife pry up the edges squirt wood glue in there and clamp it! If veneer is beyond repair pull it off completely and use masking tape on the boarders of the void fill with bondo sand and go divinci on it with raw umber.

Now you stripped off what looks like bees wax. As an artist I know when oil paintings dry they crack, so yes oil based poly with its Amber tint would be great but some dummy like me 10-15 years later will cuss you. Polycrylic by minwax is water based and idiot proof!

As you put your first 4 coats on leave it to dry 1-2 hours between coats. I would explain fat over lean painting but this is just easier to follow the directions on the can! Now go buy a pack of 400 grit wet dry sand paper and add a little dish soap don't get aggressive just knock down your runs bubbles etc!

Now add another 4-5 coats and sand till no shiny spots aka low spots are on the trim. If your lazy at this point you can take 1500 grit paper and sand it again using water. Whoa not under the water guy, it's wood always wipe the excess off quickly!

Now you can use maguires or turtle wax swirl remover till you get carpel tunnel that means a lot of rubbing btw.. Then a good wax zymol etc carnauba your done! If you want deeper layers keep going after the 400 wet sand if you get bubbles in your poly don't stress wet sand and keep going!
Just be patient!

I Added gold leaf after my first 8 coats. Why? Because if bigger wasn't better they wouldn't make it! You drive a jag for #%¥+^ sakes :-)

I wanted my interior fixe,d and after getting quotes of 2k-3k I said "mom drowned all the stupid kids" no thanks. I've included pics for your viewing pleasure and please no English teachers comment on my punctuation or venaculars please! your opinion is worth what I paid for it. Anyone who has problems just ask and I'll help. I can do it for you for half what these online guys charge! I would love to see you do it for $80 cause that's what I spent doing it!

Apparently I will have to post one image at a time haven't figured out the tricks to post so I'll show you finished trim
First.

 

Pic one

 

Pic /2

 

This picnic table was a bondo baby that dark knot to the left is pink bondo with raw umber acrylic on it because acrylic paint is water based also don't mix oil and water btw

 

I made a jig out of a board and 3/8 dowels to hold tray tables for poly

 

I believe this is after 6 coats and 2 wet sandings before my tedious gold leaf and stencil don't try this at home gold leaf is above and beyond normal
DIY!

 

This is the seal coat on my gold leaf only 20 more coats to go to seal all that rapper gold grill in:-)

 

Not sure if that means wax or a lot of European jokes is polish and polish spelled the same oh well.., lol

 

Or pre polish got 5 more coats to go good luck peeps!

 

No before pics ?!

 

That's great that! Do you think you'd be able to reapply the grey stain on my Birdseye maple trim? The sun has faded it on the dash & doors but the switches are still grey, looks odd!

 

No unfortunately no before pics they were very cracked and the wood faded everywhere a crack was present.

 

I would say it wouldn't be impossible if I have the pieces you want it matched to.

 

I'll take some photos tomorrow of it to demonstrate how much it's faded. Thing is I'm UK based, I imagine the logistics might be challenging.

 

WOW...these look amazing

 

Yeah I am not a mass production shop. So turn around would be 2 weeks or so, and price would depend on scope of work. It wouldn't be outrageous though.

 

Thanks Winks

 

Sharp indeed.

 

Solid work and looks great!

 

Wow, $2-3000 to refinish them? My guy will do each panel for $150 and I only need my door wood done. I'll be happy to pay him that since I'm up to my neck with work. BTW, his time frame is roughly the same, he said a week to 2 depending on cure time and his other customers.