Many beautiful antique doors and windows are orphaned from their original cabinetry, furniture or homes. This high-quality product from the Real Milk Paint Co. not only quickly strips wood furniture down to its original finish but also traps debris and lead for safer furniture restoration projects. First, well inspect the piece for any structural issues and pay special attention to the condition of the finish. But if its 100 years old and youve stripped it, its going to be very dark, Masaschi says.Walnut (Image 2) has a more lively grain than cherry or maple, Masaschi says, but its one of the few wood types that actually gets lighter over the years. The natural rich brown color limits the range of tones you can achieve with stain.With old mahogany (Image 3), theres no way around it its going to be very reddish, Masaschi says. If its been in the family a while, its worth finding out before you do some damage., To muddy the waters a bit, there are some more recent pieces by prominent makers for example, from the Art Deco, midcentury modern, and Arts and Crafts periods. If you feel comfortable with handling any ornate detailing on these pieces, theyre usually fine to refinish yourself. Still, you should be careful with really old pieces, mostly those made before 1850, because refinishing them yourself can hurt their value. There are some things you need to consider first before you decide to refinish. Likewise, pieces with hand carvings and unique moldings may be a little more work to repair and restore, but the finished results are typically worth it. If you wish to maintain a traditional look, consider the original finish of your furniture piece. If you must have the piece for your refinishing furniture project, consider using. Likewise, Shaker and Mission pieces often look good refinished with Pure Tung Oil or a paste wax like our Wood Wax. POISON- GET MEDICAL ATTENTION. "A successful design depends on contrasts and textures while being adventurous in combination," says Kay. If you need an expert to re-glue your piece for you, expect to pay based on how complicated the piece is. Will Restoration Impact the Value of My Antique? Be yourself! Here are some signs that your project may require extra steps or advanced techniques: Bottom line: If you aren't sure what you have, consult a competent professional for advice. Look for signs that the piece was made before 1950, maybe even 1960. There are some things you need to consider first before you decide to refinish. Find an Antique Restoration Expert Near You. Antique restoration is the work completed to bring an antique or heirloom as close to its original condition as possible, including structural repairs and finish restoration. Knowing the ins and outs of refinishing antique furniture can help you restore beautiful pieces you find at estate sales, tag sales and thrift shops to their former glory. Subscribe to the HGTV Inspiration newsletter to get our best tips and ideas delivered weekly. Refinishing supplies you need for most restoration projects include: When stripping away an existing finish with professional-grade removers, a well-ventilated area to work in is a must. Here are the characteristics of several common types of wood on older furniture pieces: Cherry (Image 1) is a very smooth wood with a mild grain that can be stained in a variety of colors. Contains natural wood oils that penetrate and condition wood, Perfect product for antique wooden furniture restoration. Paint! But wait, says woodworking expert Teri Masaschi, author of. Hand dovetails (top piece) are slightly irregular and the pins are thin and tapered. Heres a primer of what each term means. Giving new life to vintage and antique furniture brings me so much joy. This process may even weaken or remove glue used to hold the piece together. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. A post shared by KAREN (@sycamore_and_pine). DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY. Re-upholstering your chairs and other furniture is a great way to update your dcor at a fraction of the cost of furniture replacement. The Tung Oil its really great for highlighting character in reclaimed wood. If youre ready to bring your beloved piece back to life, reach out to your local Furniture Medic technician to talk about your restoration options. Hand-cut dovetails can date an older American piece to before 1890, although hobbyists and specialty makers still use them. KEEP OUT OF THE REACH OF CHILDREN. Its durable, easily maintained, and highly resistant to staining. We repair water damage, smoke damage, and vandalism to make the piece look like new. Once you apply the first coat, allow the surface to dry, then add a second coat when ready. We have rebuilt tops and sides, replaced missing drawers, and preserved the antique look of older furniture that our clients have brought to us. A large bedroom with a four poster bed and gray walls is a retreat in this East Hampton home. Instead go thrifting to find sturdily built furniture with character. Photo by: Scott E. Kriner Skip the furniture-store sticker shock. Different strippers remove different types of paints and finishes. Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails (bottom piece) were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. During use and until all vapors are gone: Keep area ventilated- Do not smoke- Extinguish all flames, pilot lights, and heaters- Turn off stoves, electric tools and appliances, and any other sources of ignition. Paint can hide a multitude of sins, including burns, missing veneer and water stains. However, light touch-up work can often be done in your home. To strip that off and refinish it, you almost have to use a spray gun. Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. To get an idea of what your piece will look like refinished, find a protected spot where the original wood is visible, such as the back of a solid-wood drawer front, underneath the top surface of a chest of drawers or the backside of a leaf in a drop-leaf table. Get repairs to furniture motor mechanisms, veneer furnishings, furniture joints and structural components and much more. But if you do, expect a honey brown color thats darker than new pine.Maple (Image 2) pieces made from the 1890s through the 1920s are often a beautiful figured birds eye or tiger maple and will have a strong yellow tone if you refinish. It lets me nourish the wood while highlighting all the character. WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. The professionals at Rahns Furniture are midwest german craftsmen and understand that your family history is priceless. Keep container closed when not in use. But by the time you hit the turn of the 20th century, makers were using paper labels, which then progressed into brass plaques tacked onto the insides of drawers or on the back of a piece. For example, simple yet elegant styles like William and Mary, Victorian, Revival and Federal dont need a quick coat of paint but rather gel stains or finishing glazes that enhance the original styling. They achieved this by angling a zebra rug on the dark oak floor, leaning a large painting on an antique chest, adding a French chair with an overstuffed cushion and choosing a sisal runner for the stairs. Theres no hard and fast rule, but hand dovetailing was really no longer done in factories after that date, Masaschi says. Put your hands on it, rock it back and forth, and test the drawers, if there are any, to see how much swaying is going on. One does not do all. So dont let, Common Terms & Types of Antique Restorations, First things first: For an item to be technically considered, describes a collectible item between 20 and 99 years old. First things first: For an item to be technically considered antique, it must be 100 years old or more. That's one of the ugly surprises you sometimes get after stripping. Look for original hardware and other details. If you decide on a piece made with plywood or laminate, you can usually make minor repairs with something like epoxy putty, though the results may not live up to your expectations or may be difficult to maintain. Particleboard means you probably have something made in the 1960s or later the era of cutting corners, as Masaschi says. Other factors go into determining if antiques are worth repairing and restoring as well. See whats possible, and then make it happen. ? Privacy Policy. When it comes to damage, antiques can see it all. Controlling exposure to lead or other hazardous substances requires the use of proper protective equipment such as a properly fitted respirator (NIOSH approved) and proper containment and cleanup. Learn how to tell if you have a diamond-in-the-rough or fodder for the trash pile. Mend rips and holes in leather sofas and recliners to restore their look and function. I spent a significant amount of time researching the best environmentally sound products and Real Milk Paint Co. was one of them. Vapors will accumulate readily and may ignite explosively. See how an old beat-up dresser was refinished with a combination of paint and stain to create a bold, one-of-a-kind design. Paints typically require just two coats, then sealing with your choice of wax or sealer. I use them so often. If you suspect the antique you have may have substantial value, consider seeking help from a professional appraiser before you put it at the front of your repairing and restoring project line. Repair dents, scratches, gouges and other everyday wear and tear to restore your wooden floors to their original beauty. Exposure to lead dust or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children or pregnant women. With that in mind, be sure to access any drawers or hidden spaces to ensure components havent incurred internal damage and been reglued. Antiques with the original brass hardware sometimes have more value than those that have had knobs and pulls replaced with contemporary choices, and cleaning away the patina isnt always the best option. We also offer products to prep and clean surfaces, protect your clothing and apply finish and color to your furniture piece. . Keep away from heat, sparks, and open flame. Antiques like this generally lose value if refinished with an invasive method, making conservation a better option than restoration. Zero VOC Wax This green and eco-conscious wax is made from a blend of walnut oil, beeswax, and carnauba wax. If the piece isn't sturdy, you'll probably have to take it apart and re-glue it using clamps, and not everyone has the skill for that or the workspace, for that matter. Painted antiques are sometimes notoriously hard to strip especially if youre at a beginner skill level and it has multiple layers in its existing finish. "It takes time to knock the piece apart and completely remove the old glue and start over," Masaschi says. When a caned seat is punctured, there's no need to kick it to the curb or pay the high cost to have it professionally recaned. Give your old, weathered outdoor furniture a smooth, like-new finish with our acacia wood refinishing tips. Make sure you're prepared for the level of involvement it will entail restoring the piece to its former glory. And what about. A few other details can help you date a piece: When deciding if your furniture piece is worth refinishing do what Masaschi calls "the rickety test." It applies to anything made within the last 20 years and may reference a different style of the past. Copyright 2022 Real Milk Paint. Once your piece is finished, we schedule its return based on a time that works with your schedule. But over time, acacia wood weathers to a dull, splotchy look with a rough texture. (Image 1) is a very smooth wood with a mild grain that can be stained in a variety of colors. Follow these simple steps on how to refinish wood furniture that include stripping, sanding and staining. Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal. Dark Tung Oil Real Milk Paints dark Tung oil is similar to our regular Tung oil, except that it has a natural and non-toxic, Wood Wax Products A wood wax finish is an excellent way to seal and protect your favorite wood products, and it can provide a shine and sheen that certain paint finishes lack. If a piece has no dovetails, it can still be a candidate for refinishing if its sturdy and well-designed, but its not likely to be an old piece with antique value. CAUTIONS: CONTAINS ACETONE, TOLUENE AND METHANOL. When you find a piece of wood furniture that needs a little love, it's really tempting to just fork over the cash and take it home as your next pet project. If you have a set with a separate mirror that hangs on the wall above the dresser, you can date that to the 1940s or later. Plain maple from the 1960s, which was often stained an orangey color, can be stripped and made more modern with a light brown stain.Oak (Image 3) is the staple wood of Victorian furniture. In case of respiratory difficulty, provide fresh air and call physician. If the piece is made from a solid wood like oak, it should be simple to bring it back to its original luster, and small dents in the wood grain shouldnt be difficult to fill with a top-notch product like Real Wood Filler by the Real Milk Paint Co. I also use the Clear Soft Wax on almost every painted piece. That's a pretty complicated finishing process. (Dont worry, you can cheat a bit on the character count!). High-quality paintbrushes work well for applying everything from finishing oils to milk paints, while a wrung-out sponge makes a great choice for finishing glazes and creams. The patina, or surface sheen, of an antique often makes a big difference when it comes to value. Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. Depending on the type of restoration your antique or heirloom piece needs, well likely remove the piece off-site to complete the work. 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Do you have a particularly favorite product of ours? "There's usually a reason for that." Once you finish with repairs, clean the entire piece with Tri-Sodium Phosphate, then allow it time to dry. This simple repair option will conceal the damage while making the chair functional again. Instructions for finishing antiques with various mediums typically follow the same format. Keep in mind that you may have to make some necessary repairs before you begin your furniture refinishing project. DELAYED EFFECTS FROM LONG TERM OVEREXPOSURE. To muddy the waters a bit, there are some more recent pieces by prominent makers for example, from the Art Deco, midcentury modern, and Arts and Crafts periods that command high prices and shouldnt be touched. We recommend seeking the advice of a certified appraiser for an evaluation if you have concerns about the impact of a restoration on your piece. This construction detail is your first key to the pieces age and quality of craftsmanship. It features deeply carved or applied filigree. Use only with adequate ventilation. If swallowed, call Poison Control Center, hospital emergency room, or physician immediately. Likewise, pieces with metal stains can be quickly restored with a thorough cleaning and application of our. All Rights Reserved. Look at the backside of your piece, including the insides and backs of drawers if applicable. Minwax Antique Furniture Refinisher is a low viscosity, amber colored blend of solvents and wood conditioners used to dissolve varnish, shellac, and/or lacquer on all types of wood surfaces without harming the wood. I like to apply the wax with a microfiber cloth and then buff it out with another clean one. "It's clear, you can see through it to whatever's underneath, and stripping old finish is really easy it typically comes right off with products you can buy at the hardware store.". Without the opinion of a certified appraiser, its difficult to know if an antique is authentic and what its estimated value may be. With that in mind, the steps to refinishing antique furniture are deciding on a finish, gathering supplies, stripping the old finish, making repairs and then completing the restoration project. What is a cheap and easy way to transform a piece of furniture that has great bones but a not-so-great surface? Early pieces that were handcrafted will sometimes bear an inscription from an individual furniture maker, a clue to its value that should be examined by a professional appraiser. If you refinish it, youll get that really beautiful old tiger oak grain thats golden in color.. Any piece on casters (wheels) is typically pre-1930s. So dont let scratches, broken legs or damaged finishes diminish your love for the piece. Depending on the type of finish youre looking for, you can choose from our: Pure Tung oil or Dark Tung oil Natural citrus solvent or half-and-half citrus solvent and Tung oil Hemp oil Chippy paste Finishing creams and glazes Pure Tung Oil Pure Tung oil has been trusted for thousands of years as a waterproofing agent and wood finish, and when it dries it forms a protective layer over top of the surface to which its been applied. What is your favorite project to do with our products? Mylands Wax This type of wax was first created over a century ago and was originally made specifically for furniture restorers. If you have any questions at all about the value of your piece, consult an expert before you get started. Metal stains from damp hardware typically come off easily with products like Oxalic Wood Bleach. By navigating the site, you consent to our use of cookies. Does the piece have its original hardware? Is that flea market find worth your time and effort? You'll either have to like it the way it is or spend a lot of time trying to stain it to make it look more uniform. 2022 Furniture Medic. Sometimes, these marks may be as simple as a note inside a wood drawer, though pieces from the 20th century usually have paper or brass labels or even stamps on the wood. It was a fun way to get creative and save money while furnishing my home. Where can people see your work or contact you? To learn more about what custom wood builders can do for you, weve interviewed Karen from Sycamore + Pine to find out what she enjoys most about creating items for customers and the products she uses to make those items look their very best. Revive worn-out cabinets with repairs, restore faded stain or add a fresh coat of paint for a new look and style. Old furniture is often made of quarter-sawn oak with bold flecking in it, Masaschi says. Contact Us Today for an ESTIMATE Inquire for details. When it comes to damage, antiques can see it all. In 1976, Rahns Furniture Refinishing started with the goal of helping to protect and restore their valued property. With removers like Soy-Gel, you can also cover the area with plastic wrap after saturation to keep the surface moist and let the remover do its work. The basic rule of thumb is, if the piece was made before 1850, you want to do some homework on whether it should be conserved rather than restored meaning to preserve and stabilize the piece as it is now, she says. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. Antique furniture and other heirlooms are essential evidence of your life story, and we will contribute the full weight of our experience and skill to any project that you bring to us. "Beware of things that are painted," Masaschi says. If you suspect theres something unusual or distinctively well-made about your piece, go with your gut and ask someone who knows. The basic rule of thumb is, if the piece was made before 1850, you want to do some homework on whether it should be conserved rather than restored meaning to preserve and stabilize the piece as it is now, she says. Mass-produced pieces from the turn of the 20th century onward will often bear a label from the manufacturer, such as Larkin Soap Co. or Cadillac Cabinet Company. This is a nice little piece of history but also tells you how common the piece is, which can help you determine whether you should refinish it yourself. All rights reserved |, Whether its the perfect estate sale score, a beloved family heirloom or a statement piece in your home, your antiques deserve the spotlight. You then wipe it away with a clean rag and let it cure for up to 30 days. Now that your piece is stripped and ready to go, make the necessary repairs. When you find a piece of old furniture you love, consider if its worth refinishing before you decide to purchase it or pick it up off the curb. As soon as you start to follow someone elses path, its no longer authentic. Im really enjoying the waxes and oils especially these days. It creates a big impact on any room, []. Kay and Hooff like to make first impressions in the foyer, and here they conveyed the owners' preference for relaxed elegance and unusual combinations. . It applies to anything made within the last 20 years and may reference a different style of the past. Fox Chapel Publishing. We are restoration and refinishing experts to call when you want to preserve your familys Heritage. "Re-gluing a chest of three drawers could easily cost $400 to $500.". There are thousands of ways to repurpose them decoratively, but this project shows how to make them functional again as doors to a cabinet. For more structural issues, like loose joints or broken parts, we will mend (including refabrication, if needed) and reassemble. During antique refinishing, the original surface finish is removed and replaced with a specialty varnish. Learn how to strip rust off a piece of outdoor metal furniture and repaint it for a brand new look. Each piece of furniture is so one of a kind and unique after I complete it. Hand dovetails are slightly irregular and the pins are thin and tapered. Do not transfer contents to other containers for storage. Whether you want to update solid wood furniture to suit your contemporary space, spiff up a mid-century modern console table to hold your flat-screen TV or breathe new life into an old Adirondack chair with a fresh coat of paint, furniture refinishing solutions from the Real Milk Paint Co. help you add shine, color and character to your restoration project. Its definitely a tie between the Soft Waxes and the Half & Half Tung Oil. If the piece is made from a solid wood like oak, it should be simple to bring it back to its original luster, and small dents in the wood grain shouldnt be difficult to fill with a top-notch product like, by the Real Milk Paint Co. Ebony Soft Wax, Clear Soft Wax, Half and Half Tung OilWood Wax. Now that you understand what to look for in furniture refinishing projects, learn more about how professionals approach the restoration project by reading our interview with Karen from Sycamore + Pine. Painting Mud and Plaster Walls of a Straw Bale House. It's usually very time-consuming to strip out the old finish from all the nooks and crannies, and refinishing it will also be very tricky. When you complete the stripping process, thoroughly clean the surface with a cleaner like Tri-Sodium Phosphate to remove all chemical residue and ready the piece for repairs. If you have a dresser with a mirror attached on a harp, your piece was made around the turn of the 20th century. Not only is it a great way to [], When you walk through the cleaning aisle at your local store and look at the cleaning products, you no doubt notice that the ingredients lists are miles long, featuring chemicals [], Quality high gloss furniture can last for generations, making it a wise investment. If youve used finishing oils, you typically reapply the medium over and over again, letting it soak into the surface until it starts pooling. If its been in the family a while, its worth finding out before you do some damage.. When a piece has been neglected for decades, its tough to tell what it will look like once its refinished. Then in the 1950s and 1960s, they were using spray-on stencils. Keep in mind that sometimes suites of furniture had only one piece marked, so if your piece got separated from its mates, you may have nothing to go by. Painted antiques are sometimes notoriously hard to strip especially if youre at a beginner skill level and it has multiple layers in its existing finish. A more budget-friendly option to pricey teak, acacia wood outdoor furniture is easy to find and easy to love thanks to the wood's rich honey-hued finish when new. If you suspect theres something unusual or distinctively well-made about your piece, go with your gut and ask someone who knows. Over the years, we have restored pieces with all manner of wear and damage. *Minwaxs #1 claim above is based on Epicor's Industry Data Analytics and third-party survey results for interior wood stains for the 12 month period ending 12/21. Solid cast-brass or wooden pulls mean the piece is likely old; using a collectibles reference guide, you can identify their style and hence their age range. If theyre really old, it could be just a pencil signature on the inside of a drawer, Masaschi says. Tag @minwaxusaon Instagram to have your project featured. While there are special considerations to take when repairing and restoring antiques, common pieces usually benefit from the basics. Likewise, pieces with metal stains can be quickly restored with a thorough cleaning and application of our Oxalic Acid Wood Bleach. Oval brushes specifically designed for waxes work well with those mediums, and paste wax also applies easily with a soft cloth. Likewise, Shaker and Mission pieces often look good refinished with Pure Tung Oil or a paste wax like our Wood Wax. Wash hands after using. Fill small dents with a good wood filler, and smooth laminate or plywood surfaces by first sanding, wiping away the dust with a clean rag, then adding a coat of epoxy putty. This site uses cookies. We Specialize in the following for Furniture: No job is too difficult for Rahns Furniture. It has slats or spindles set close together. Rahn's Furniture Restoration. Stripping an antique piece involves applying a chemical solvent that removes the finish of the piece and brings it back to bare wood. It creates a permanent wax finish, meaning it wont melt or be wiped away by cleaning products. Antique repairs include fixing scratches, gouges, water stains, broken legs, loose hinges, sticky drawers and more. An antique finish restoration protects the patina developed over time while enhancing it, and includes a careful cleaning to remove stuck-on grime and grease. Some things to look for before you decide on refinishing furniture include: In the case of some antiques, you may not want to refinish the furniture at all due to the value of the piece. When you complete the stripping process, thoroughly clean the surface with a cleaner like. Minwax Antique Oil Finish is an oil-based protective finish that gives wood a soft, hand-rubbed lustre. Other factors to consider when deciding if solid wood furniture is worth refinishing is its overall quality and current state. Older furnishings may have irregular cuts in these joints due to the handmade nature of the construction, but more modern pieces usually have uniform cuts as they were generally built in factories. Get complete upholstery replacement with high-quality upholstery fabric. Website Design & SEO Integration by Lead to Conversion, Sycamore + Pine Maker Feature: Refinishing Antique Furniture, When you find a piece of old furniture you love, consider if its worth refinishing before you decide to purchase it or pick it up off the curb.
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