Moving again and I find myself touching up the finishes of our furniture pieces. Because they are old solid hardwoods, a bit of fine sandpaper and some furniture polish/oil touches up the nicks nicely. I think to myself that folks pay oodles for "distressed" pine from Ireland and elsewhere - whereas I have my own version! Think of that when acquiring furniture! Old solid wood pieces (out of oak, maple, pine, beech, walnut etc.) wear much better than modern veneers/laminates (which are very difficult to refinish) and are at about the same price or less!
Actually are much less-- at thrift stores and Salvation Army stores. Your job-- learn to spot the "real thing"-- and it is a learning thing-- you may need to talk to someone who has made furniture-- but some of the tips include-- dovetail joints-- dust bottoms between drawers and the next one down--drawer guides with tracks to run on-- weight-- there is no way a plastic finish plywood or pressed wood dresser will weigh like the real thing! good luck