Wood restoration can transform antique chairs into works of art.
Learning restore old, damaged wood is a valuable skill which can also be considered an art. It is useful for repairing antique tables and chairs or just extending the life of a hardwood floor. Restoration involves replacing broken pieces, adhering them with special wood epoxy, and polishing or staining wood to both protect it from future damage and restore its original shine and beauty. Wood restoration can also be a budget-saver as individuals can purchase old pieces of furniture at less cost than brand new wooden furniture and restore it for everyday use.
Before You Restore
The first thing to do when considering a wood restoration project is to research its value so that you can determine if it is worth your time to restore it. Inspect the table chair or other wood piece for labels or markings that may indicate its origin and maker. If you think the piece might be a valuable antique, consult a professional before restoring it yourself to ensure you don't damage it in the process and thereby negate its value.
Determine if the piece is an antique or just old by feeling underneath the surface for interior corners. If they're sharp, then the piece probably isn't that old. Remove a screw and inspect its thread, if the widths between the threads on the screw are uneven, it may indicate the piece is an antique, meaning that the screw was made before the days of mass-produced screws with perfectly even, machine-generated threading.
Cleaning
If you decide to go ahead with the restoration, remove the hardware and then clean the piece first with a sponge and vegetable-based oil soap. Dip the sponge in a bucket of warm water and gently use the soapy sponge to remove built-up grime and dirt. Sharpen a small wooden dowel rod about the width of a pencil and dip it in a warm soapy water solution to clean dirt off of hard-to-reach spots. If you encounter a lot of waxy build-up on a piece, use a light steel wool cloth to gently remove it.
Epoxy and Filler
After cleaning, you want to repair broken or chipped spots on the wood with epoxy and filler, if necessary. Epoxies are polymer resins that bond well to wood and are helpful for restoring strength and preventing rot in broken or splintered spots on the piece you are restoring. Choose a wood pulp-based epoxy so that after drying, it will bend well with the wood, preventing cracking or fractures down the road. Try to find a piece of matching wood and enlist the aid of a professional in carving the exact shape needed to repair a broken chair or table leg or arm.
If you notice deep holes or chunks missing from sections of the piece, fill it with modeling clay and paste wax before sealing it with epoxy. After the epoxy dries, you can sand down to the surface and finish it off with stain or paint.
Polishing and Staining
One restoration technique is refinishing or re-staining a piece to restore it to its original look and luster. Remove the existing stain first with chemical strippers and sand paper in varying grits (from rough to smooth) until you reach the original wood. Stripping a piece can be time consuming, so exercise patience, as frustration can easily lead to wood damage which leads to more repairs and more time. Choose a stain that fits the type of wood the piece is made from. Or, if you'd rather paint the piece, you can sand the wood down until it's completely smooth, choose a color of paint you like, thoroughly clean the piece again and then finish it with a coat of new paint.
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