Not every project starts with flawless wood and gorgeous grain. This cedar chest was in dire need of some TLC. The first step, shown in this image, was to cover the chest in a non-toxic stripping agent in order to get the years of grime and clear coat off. Eww. Taking your time on this step is critical to the success of the project. It may take five or more rounds of agent and scraping to get the wood to where it needs to be but the final product will show your effort.