The more things change... They stay the same

If you remember those Thomasville pieces from a previous post? These are some more pieces from the same customer and the same suit off bedroom furniture. Of course the coffee table doesn't qualify as a bedroom piece.

The goal here is to match the original finish . It's a beautiful oak English Chestnut toned finish with distressed features. The very similar patterned inlay coffee table was damaged during the water cleanup and salvage process. Bummer.

That's Wood Talkin for today. Keep listening.

AARGH! They're lookin me!!

Fish eyes. In the refinishing process they occur in the approach to final finish's application. The wet surface finish is repelled by impurities (like silicone or oils imbedded in the wood). The new wet finish bunches up in little circular drops with hollow centers--kinda like the hole in the center of a doughnut. Once you see em...it's too late. Like little eyes, "They look up at you" from the surface of the piece.
Where do the impurities come from? Spills that penetrate the grain and most commonly bad ingredients in polishing products. Ugh.
What do ya do with em? Sometimes you can lightly sand and buff them toward a negligable influence. More often, however, you've got to start all over again. BUMMER.
So...yup, you guessed it. I had to strip (the top) and start over again....a slow-down imposed by Fish Eyes. And so what's next? Curing...distressing the tops... sealing...and final finish X 2. Whew, lots of work.
That's Wood Talkin for today. Have  great weekend...and keep listening.

Here we go again. Restained tops...the curing  re-starts.

Thomasville

Here are two pieces, bedside tables that were purchased by my customer in the early 1970's. Recently they were "potential" casualties when the home was insulted by a water event.

Potential? Had these two been of different quality they would probably be less than salvageable. But these guys, constructed of solid oak throughout--no presswood core material here anywhere--are in great shape for partial refinishing. And with some peripheral touch-up the overall effort will make them as handsome as they were new.

We'll also be giving some effort to re-do their tops, too. So these guys are going to return home looking,...well..., really "spiffy."

And that's Wood Talkin for today.

Wow...look at her now!

Here is the final look at this wonderful and ageless wash stand. She has been refurbished in a way that a professional from her era would have done it...and with the same tools, processes and finishes--beautiful! So, no, the finish we see here is not poly, or lacquer or anything in-between. Enjoy some sensibilities of the very late 18th and early 19th centurie......in red oak.

That's Wood Talkin for today. Keep listening....wood talks!

"Cleanliness is next to Godliness..."

Here's a fun and not to infrequent item to the Wood Talkin shop. Yup, it's a Wash Stand. These were common and often multiple in before-there-was-indoor-plumbing homes across the United States. This one was fabricated in a North Carolina shop (see the tag below). For sure, it looks a bit shabby...right now.

As with many genuine antique items that come through the door for "refinishing," there is an appropriate and necessary tension to be discussed. It defines some options, that is, (1) between stripping the cabinet to bare wood and refinishing it in 21st century contemporary finishes (like our present lacquers or polyurethanes), or, 2) utilizing refurbishing and maintenance-type methods contemporary to the piece's "birth" period. Retaining appropriate period-techniques and methods helps these Centurian-type pieces retain their very well-earned integrity and monetary value.  

Stripping and completely updating a piece can make it "fit" the decorum of today's furniture and "feel", but it may destroy some or all of its value as an antique. So, some careful and sensitive discussion around this possible dilemma is appropriate. We want everyone to get what they want: complete, personal satisfaction!

Cabinet's top surface: lots of scratches and two deep stains

The top of this turn-of-the-18th century oak wash stand and under cabinet displayed some angry stains. In some places the finish was completely destroyed--lost. But its "harp," sides, and front displayed old (perhaps crazed and dirty), but generally salvageable finish surfaces. 

Looking across the bottom of the cabinet's floor...big warp!

So, the goal of this effort was to re-do the top using period-contempory techniques, then clean and similarly refresh the cabinet's surfaces throughout. Some structural work inside the cabinet was also needed. For example, the cabinet's only drawer moved very hesitantly; and its frame was painfully fragile. The cabinet's floor was warperd, axially, nearly 30 degrees from what should have been ''flat."

Looking inside of the cabinet's drawer frame: dark walnut "overstain"

A partial back-of-cabinet sticker: manufacture's name, model, and North Carolina location!

 

As you can see, the original finisher used a dark, walnut, stain on this piece...observe it on some internal areas as "over-stain." 

OK. That's Wood Talkin for today...fun huh! Are you listening?

Centurians Signatures

Before

After

Those dignified "Centurian Gentlemen" went home more than ten days ago already. But their presence here is still sending good vibes through the shop. Come to think of it, and as a general rule, lives lived well tend to do that. They leave a warm feeling in the hearts of people privileged enough through the years to be around them.

Comparing the "before" and "after" pic, what is most noticeable is probably the slight difference in color. The cleaning process lightened them a bit--something the customer needed so they would be a better match to an antique dining room table they would join and share. Yes, most of the scrapes and scratches from years of use--and abuse--are appropriately noticeable, but the majority of the rough edges are gone. Of course it's just part of their Centurion Signature! When we work with old guys like these. making them look like young pups is an insult. And their feel to the touch is warm and smooth; they're each wearing six coats tongue oil. What you can not see or feel is the chairs new stability--their knees don't buckle anymore! They were all "rockers,"  and now they are genteel...sturdy. (Wow, don't you wish we could all insure ourselves against the "wobbles and woes" that come with time, wear, and tear!?).

Well, that's it...Wood Talkin for today. Keep listening

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!