Millions of Thread Miles...and counting

How many million yards of thread did this little box hold through the years? It's fun to speculate. This little cherry wood box has been around for a while, probably since the 1870's or so....my guess. It walked in the door needing some TLC. It got it.

Pic taken after a little cleaning had been done

Whenever we're working with an item like this the challenge is one of not doing too much. The question: Do we want to support it's antique integrity--look like an antique and be an antique when it's finished--or does the customer want to drag it (kicking and screaming) into the contemporary age. I use that terminology because the tools and finishes and sensibilities of the 21st century are not the tools and finishes of the 18th century.

The choice was on the side of antique integrity with this little guy. So the effort of my apprenticing son, Nathan, was one characterized by cleaning, repairing existing structural pieces, re-gluing, and refreshing surfaces. No hard sanding was done on the box's existing surfaces.

Nathan then French Polished the box. It's simple...and time consuming, a technique that really cannot be used commercially today; it's just too time-demanding. In the 1700's French Polishing became a finish technique of choice, for its general beauty--rich feel, relative durability, visual depth and color. It looks really good---don't you agree; it always feels good to look so good.

It's going to go home with a new zest for life--a marvelous, mature J&P Coats 1870's Thread Box...and strutting its stuff in the 21st century!

Nice job Nate!

And that's Wood Talkin for  today....listening is always good!

What's In the Shop this Week?

Those wonderful Old Gentlemen (above)....getting closer to going home. The bases have been pulled apart, cleaned and re-glued (60 joints!). The backs are in preparation for the same effort.

An old school desk. It has been re-glued and sanded throughout. Final finish application is in process. Hurray!

A marvelous little turn-of-the-century thread box...also nearing completion. The front will be stained, then the finish surface will be prepped and completed. 
That's Wood Talkin for today....keep listening.

Broken Bones?

Well, it may look painful, but these guys are taking it all in stride. Yes, we're talking about the refurbishing effort--a re-freshening after many years of wear and tear. Somewhere in the not too distant past these chairs received some kind of similar attention, but not to the joints. There's creeky, and then there is C-R-EEEEEE-K-Y! These are the latter...with the emphasis.

The chairs' unique wire braces have significantly complicate the effort to disassemble and handle each chair's parts and pieces. Even when the top of the chair is removed from the bottom of the chair, great care must be exercised to not crimp the wires that dangle. Also, the way the wire was long ago threaded and turned through the seats and backs makes a re-threading effort impossible. Consequently, the integrity of that effort must be preserved and my effort must work meticulously around it.

At this point in the process two chairs have been disassembled. Their joins have been cleaned and prepared for the re-gluing and clamping efforts. The third guy stands patiently in line...waiting.

That['s Wood Talkin for today....but be listening....until tomorrow.

Dick

Three Stand-Up Old Gentlemen

Wow, this is a lot of fun. Meet these three fine old gentlemen--Centurions all! I'm not going to tell you where my customers found them.   Amazing.                                           
                                      

All their joints are loose. They'll be be opened, cleaned, and re-glued. Of course, if you and I could claim 130 or so years successfully bracing ourselves against time's elements, we'd need to be cleaned up and re-glued, too. Yes, there will be something of a "trick" as I carefully work with, through, and around their wire bracing. I'll keep you updated on that challenge.

Then, the plan is to sensitively rejuvenate their finish. That effort will incorporate era-sensitive techniques that, hopefully, will do great justice to them and support their integrity as Centurions--bonifide antiques. (Aren't you jealous now?) And it's been fun listening. Since their not alone--they're together--they're carrying on a conversation with one another. Cool huh. It's so nice to have friends!

OK...That's Wood Talkin for today....and in the interests of three fine old Gentlemen...please keep listening.