Well if you call $300 Canadian a success. Took it to a friend who is a fine finishing carpenter. He sanded it down to the finish, as he tryed chemicals but nothing would touch it. He totaled 10.5 hours all together and usually charges $40 per hour. We came to a discount price. It looks very nice but the finish is a lighter colour than original, so if I have to replace any of the pieces I'm screwed. My mistake, I should have got a estimation on the time that he would be putting into it, although he admitted that originally he did not think it would have taken so long. Really I should have attempted it myself. Good luck.