Refinishing
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- This topic has 19 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 7 years, 11 months ago by dborn.
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2 March 2016 at 12:57 am #135193
From the pictures, it looks like you did a nice job. Congratulations.
Thanks Matt! This is my first attempt at refinishing furniture.
I’m very pleased on how the finish came out. My pictures don’t do the chest of drawers the justice it deserves. This piece, is not an antique, it is a re-production chest of drawers, made out of solid poplar and mahogany veneer. Besides the cosmetic damage, this is a sold piece of furniture. I’m glad I was save it from the trash and give it a new home.
Here’s what I had to do to refinish it. The veneer on all the drawers was coming up, and needed to be glued black down. Only a couple of drawer sides were coming apart and needed to be re-glued. The top had a piece of the veneer missing in the corner and I had to patch it.. Striped, sanded, re-stained and applied a French polish top coat..
As you stated, they are not “antiques”, but look like department store grade furniture from 1925 to 1945. Although not very valuable, this type of furniture was usually built well enough to hand on to the next generation. It is a whole sight better construction than what is made in volume today. No MDF or particle board to be found in it. To get the same quality today you would have to spring for high end makers or build it yourself. So in the end if you keep it, you have saved a fortune.
Usually what you find is what you found. The veneer is usually a bit damaged and the finish is darkened by furniture polish. Many of the early 20th century furniture polishes had linseed oil in them, and over time would darken from oxidation.
If in your travels, you do find some antiques, and want to restore them. Try not to use anything that will abrade the wood off or bleach it, ie sanding or using a caustic stripper. Most collectors value the patina the wood builds up over time and this is hard to reproduce once it is removed. Also, many old pieces will have a bad odor. That can be sealed into the case and drawers by applying a very thin/low cut shellac to the unfinished interior.
Nice work.
- This reply was modified 7 years, 12 months ago by M W.
3 May 2016 at 4:04 pm #136891I think you did a beautiful job on these piece’s and obviously you got a fantastic deal. I have my Grandparents Dining Room furniture along with a slant top curio desk and a pipe smokers cabinet. These were but in 1918 – 1924 and some piece’s need refinishing and perhabs re gluing. I have been wanting to try doing this but afraid i will mess it up.
Steve
@mikewinva Thanks for the information!! I’ve come to the conclusion this is made out of solid poplar.. The inside of the cabinet is browning, much like what poplar wood does if it sits in the sunlight. Currently, this chest of drawers sits nicely in our spare bedroom. I like just looking at it!!
@smassiesr I think the hardest part about refinishing furniture is getting the confidence to get started. Having the knowledge of how furniture is built will greatly assist in the process. Sometimes, the furniture doesn’t need to be stripped and Howard’s Restore-A-Finish and furniture wax will bring life back into it. I used the Restore-A-Finish to a midcentury modern desk that was originally my aunt’s and is now my son’s. -
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