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. I like to apply the wax with a microfiber cloth and then buff it out with another clean one. "Beware of things that are painted," Masaschi says. 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. Knowing no one else will have the same exact piece is so exciting to me. Hand dovetails (top piece) are slightly irregular and the pins are thin and tapered. 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. 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. 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 so, what would be one tip/trick to offer to others that you have found produced great results? Trust Furniture Medics antique restoration and repair technicians to treat your antiques with the care they deserve. Hand-cut dovetails can date an older American piece to before 1890, although hobbyists and specialty makers still use them. 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. 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. If you had to give one tip to those looking to follow in your footsteps what would it be? Contains natural wood oils that penetrate and condition wood, Perfect product for antique wooden furniture restoration. Still, you should be careful with really old pieces, mostly those made before 1850, because refinishing them yourself can hurt their value. This can be done to the whole piece or to smaller, damaged areas. Generally, mass-produced pieces up until the 1950s and 1960s (when particleboard and cheaper, flimsier construction techniques became popular) are great candidates for refinishing. If you had to give a 140 character summary of who you are and what you do, what would that be? Having the ability to express my style on an existing piece of furniture is beyond exciting. 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. 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. If swallowed, call Poison Control Center, hospital emergency room, or physician immediately. What is a cheap and easy way to transform a piece of furniture that has great bones but a not-so-great surface? Antique repairs include fixing scratches, gouges. Here's what you need to know. "I always tell my students, be prepared to walk away," Masaschi says. That's a pretty complicated finishing process.
If youre lucky, a piece will have a marking on it indicating its origin. Over the years, we have restored pieces with all manner of wear and damage.
For details and controls, see our updated Privacy Policy. 2022 Warner Bros. Throughout our 30+ years in business, we have explored new ways to refinish and restore furniture that is compatible with the natural environment Read More, Rahns Furniture Refinishing 13729 Carmenita Road Santa Fe Springs, CA 90670, Phone: 562-921-4922 Toll Free: 866-921-4922 Fax: 562-921-4664, Store Hours: Mon Thru 7:30 am 5:00 pm Fri 7:30 am 3:00 pm. to eliminate the old finish. Skip the furniture-store sticker shock. Paint! Copyright 2022 Real Milk Paint. FIRST AID: In case of eye contact, flush thoroughly with large amounts of water for 15 minutes and get medical attention. 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.
But wait, says woodworking expert Teri Masaschi, author of. WARNING: This product contains chemicals known to the State of California to cause cancer and birth defects or other reproductive harm. Learn how to strip rust off a piece of outdoor metal furniture and repaint it for a brand new look. When a piece has been neglected for decades, its tough to tell what it will look like once its refinished. That's one of the ugly surprises you sometimes get after stripping. Does the piece have its original hardware? Removal of old paint by sanding, scraping or other means may generate dust or fumes that contain lead. Solid wood or plywood backing. 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. 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. Is that flea market find worth your time and effort? When it comes to damage, antiques can see it all. Mend rips and holes in leather sofas and recliners to restore their look and function. . To avoid overexposure, open windows and doors or use other means to ensure fresh air entry during application and drying. that command high prices and shouldnt be touched. 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 Real Wood Filler by the Real Milk Paint Co. If you experience eye watering, headaches, or dizziness, increase fresh air, or wear respiratory protection (NIOSH approved) or leave the area. It lets me nourish the wood while highlighting all the character. Vapors will accumulate readily and may ignite explosively.
And just because a piece has potential, don't feel obligated to bite off more than you can chew. 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. The Tung Oil its really great for highlighting character in reclaimed wood. It has a timeless yet sleek and modern appeal. Repair dents, scratches, gouges and other everyday wear and tear to restore your wooden floors to their original beauty. You can go reddish red or brownish red, but youll never get anything else out of it., Most old pine (Image 1) pieces were painted right away, so its rare that youll come across one youll want to strip and refinish. Will Restoration Impact the Value of My Antique? Likewise, pieces with metal stains can be quickly restored with a thorough cleaning and application of our. 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. Generally, even mass-produced furniture from before 1960 is sturdier and better made than today's cheap furniture your find doesn't have to have antique value to be a great vintage piece that will give you years of service. Get complete upholstery replacement with high-quality upholstery fabric.
When it comes to damage, antiques can see it all. Block-cut mortise-and-tenon joinery also indicates age and quality due to the strength added to the piece in question. Im really enjoying the waxes and oils especially these days. 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. Avoid contact with eyes and skin. 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. What is your favorite project to do with our products? This small pause to check things out could very well make a huge difference in the value of your antique, so researching beforehand makes sense in the long run. "Buy the piece for what it is rather than what you think you can make it you can get lost in the fantasy about what it used to be.". 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. All rights reserved. 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. Higher-quality antiques made from wood like oak, cherry and walnut typically have the structural integrity to handle furniture refinishing, so pieces made prior to 1950 usually work best for furniture restoration projects. You simply prepare your medium, then apply a first coat with a tool that suits its consistency. Subscribe to the HGTV Inspiration newsletter to get our best tips and ideas delivered weekly. See whats possible, and then make it happen. 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. This process may even weaken or remove glue used to hold the piece together.
It creates a big impact on any room, []. How to Tell If Wood Furniture Is Worth Refinishing, 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. Make sure that you like the look of the grain and that you understand what color youll come out with in the end old wood often finishes much darker than newly milled wood. Hand dovetails are slightly irregular and the pins are thin and tapered. 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. Discovery, Inc. or its subsidiaries and affiliates. If its been in the family a while, its worth finding out before you do some damage.. "Re-gluing a chest of three drawers could easily cost $400 to $500.". What style is it? If you feel comfortable with handling any ornate detailing on these pieces, theyre usually fine to refinish yourself. Exposure to lead dust or fumes may cause brain damage or other adverse health effects, especially in children or pregnant women. Each piece of furniture is so one of a kind and unique after I complete it. How to Refinish Acacia Wood Outdoor Furniture, Two Millennials, One Antique Show: See the 5 Trends We've Spotted So Far, Shop Til You Drop: 10 Nashville Hot Spots, How to Paint a Block Pattern on a Midcentury-Mod Credenza, Upcycle Reclaimed Doors Into a Custom Storage Cabinet, Weve Never Slept Better Thanks to This Stylish, Chunky Knit Weighted Blanket, 12 Trendy Barbiecore Decor Finds That Every Doll Needs, If This Pottery Barn + Julia Berolzheimer Collab Isn't Peak Coastal Grandmother Style, I Don't Know What Is, The Best Places to Buy Dorm Furniture Online, 14 Dining Room Rugs for Every Style, Size and Budget, Americana Decor Buys to Celebrate the Fourth of July, Leanne Ford's New Collections for Crate & Barrel Are Full of Modern, Anything-But-Boring Neutrals, and We Want It All, Where to Find the Best Throw Pillows for Your Style and Budget, 38 Coastal Decor Finds for Every Room in Your House, 60 Floor Lamps for Every Style and Budget, 13 Best Floating Shelves for Every Room in the House, Asian American and Pacific Islander-Owned Home Brands We Love, Hispanic and Latino-Owned Home Brands We Love, 22 Best Tapered Candles, Candle Holders and Trimmers, 30 Anthropologie Sale Finds We're Loving Right Now, The Prettiest Easter Decor Under $50 to Leave Out Through Spring, 30 Women-Owned and Founded Home Brands We Love, 15 Fresh Spring Decor Picks for Every Room in Your House, The Best Places to Buy Stylish, Affordable Rugs Online, Our Favorite Peel-and-Stick Wallpaper to Beautify Your Entire Home, 24 Buys From Grandin Road to Bring a Fresh, New Vibe to Your Home, 29 Black-Owned Home & Lifestyle Brands We Love, 12 Cozy + Neutral Decor Finds to Shop for Winter, 24 Must-Have Disney Christmas Tree Ornaments, The Great Giveback With Melissa McCarthy and Jenna Perusich, HGTV Ultimate House Hunt + $10K Sweepstakes, Give a Tired Outdoor Wood Chair a Tropical Update. Even all-natural products that melt multiple layers of gel stains, paints, shellacs and varnishes typically emit quite a bit of odor, making them potentially hazardous to work with in closed spaces. It applies to anything made within the last 20 years and may reference a different style of the past.
to remove all chemical residue and ready the piece for repairs. If you must have the piece for your refinishing furniture project, consider using Soy-Gel Professional Paint Remover to eliminate the old finish. Find an Antique Restoration Expert Near You. Paints typically require just two coats, then sealing with your choice of wax or sealer. 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 post shared by KAREN (@sycamore_and_pine). Look at the backside of your piece, including the insides and backs of drawers if applicable. Privacy Policy. 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. ? 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. Contact Us Today for an ESTIMATE Inquire for details. Look for signs that the piece was made before 1950, maybe even 1960. With that in mind, be sure to access any drawers or hidden spaces to ensure components havent incurred internal damage and been reglued. If you have any questions at all about the value of your piece, consult an expert before you get started. Dovetail joints are strong and require skill to produce, so theyre generally a sign of a well-made piece.
So dont let scratches, broken legs or damaged finishes diminish your love for the piece. 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. Contains solvents which can cause permanent brain and nervous system damage. 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. First things first: For an item to be technically considered antique, it must be 100 years old or more. 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. 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. Wider, uniform machine-cut dovetails were common in factory-made pieces from 1890 until the modern era. "It takes time to knock the piece apart and completely remove the old glue and start over," Masaschi says. 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. If you arent enjoying your work, stop and think about if youre truly creating from your heart.
that enhance the original styling. For example, a chair with ornate sides or slats may need a delicate touch on the ornamental parts, but multiple coats of polyurethane on the arms so they'll be durable. DO NOT TAKE INTERNALLY. If you have a dresser with a mirror attached on a harp, your piece was made around the turn of the 20th century. 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.
We Specialize in the following for Furniture: No job is too difficult for Rahns Furniture. Keep away from heat, sparks, and open flame. With a little TLC from Furniture Medic, heirlooms and antiques can shine again. Sanding your floors yourself can save you a lot of moneyif you do it the right way. Old furniture is often made of quarter-sawn oak with bold flecking in it, Masaschi says.
During antique refinishing, the original surface finish is removed and replaced with a specialty varnish. 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. Other factors go into determining if antiques are worth repairing and restoring as well. 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. While there are special considerations to take when repairing and restoring antiques, common pieces usually benefit from the basics. 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. Ebony Soft Wax, Clear Soft Wax, Half and Half Tung OilWood Wax. 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 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. Once you apply the first coat, allow the surface to dry, then add a second coat when ready. Modern furnishings are more likely to have particleboard or plywood elements, so be sure to look the old furniture over a bit before you decide on restoration. 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." 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. 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. "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. Depending on the type of restoration your antique or heirloom piece needs, well likely remove the piece off-site to complete the work. Drawers made with dovetail joinery usually indicate an antique is of high quality. And what about. Get repairs to furniture motor mechanisms, veneer furnishings, furniture joints and structural components and much more.
Intentional misuse by deliberately concentrating and inhaling the contents can be harmful or fatal. When it comes to broken antique furniture, rely on skilled technicians to fix your beloved piece to use for years to come. Instead go thrifting to find sturdily built furniture with character. "You're far better off buying something that has old dirty varnish on it that just needs to be stripped," she says. Be yourself! The gentle finishing wax is created from a blend of beeswax, carnauba wax, and shellac wax, and it creates a lasting and lustrous shine. Tag @minwaxusaon Instagram to have your project featured. 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. 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.
If you suspect theres something unusual or distinctively well-made about your piece, go with your gut and ask someone who knows. Follow these simple steps on how to refinish wood furniture that include stripping, sanding and staining. I use them so often. Giving new life to vintage and antique furniture brings me so much joy. By navigating the site, you consent to our use of cookies. But if its 100 years old and youve stripped it, its going to be very dark, Masaschi says. Keep in mind that you may have to make some necessary repairs before you begin your furniture refinishing project. No matter if a furniture piece needs lots of work or just minor repairs, we can help with finishing oils like our Pure Tung Oil that showcase the beauty of wood grain, paste waxes like our Soft Wax that restore the shine to dull surfaces and 56 colors of Real Milk Paint suitable for almost any furniture restoration project. 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. This also means you need to work quickly and wear protective gear, coating the surface area with gloved hands and a clean rag saturated with the product. From thorough cleaning to structural repair and almost everything in between antique restoration work can take on many different forms.
At Rahns Furniture Refinishing, we recognize that in achieving our business mission, we must work as environmental stewards and demonstrate environmental leadership in the furniture industry. In 1976, Rahns Furniture Refinishing started with the goal of helping to protect and restore their valued property. Antique repairs include fixing scratches, gouges, water stains, broken legs, loose hinges, sticky drawers and more. If you wish to maintain a traditional look, consider the original finish of your furniture piece. Rahn's Furniture Restoration. But wait, says woodworking expert Teri Masaschi, author of Foolproof Wood Finishing. POISON- GET MEDICAL ATTENTION. 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. 2022 Furniture Medic. 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. I started painting furniture as a hobby while being a stay at home mom to my boys. 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. Furniture Medic technicians have the expertise to repair and restore your favorite pieces of furniture from everyday functional items to heirloom antiques and everything in between. Heres a primer of what each term means. Likewise, pieces with metal stains can be quickly restored with a thorough cleaning and application of our Oxalic Acid Wood Bleach. Do you have a particularly favorite product of ours? Paint can hide a multitude of sins, including burns, missing veneer and water stains. And what about retro? 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. Wood Finishing Oils, Creams, Glazes, and Pastes Whether youre looking for the perfect protective finish to your latest painting project, are trying to preserve the integrity of an older work, or want to add a special touch to a treasured piece of furniture, Real Milk Paint wood finishes are an excellent choice. Once you finish with repairs, clean the entire piece with Tri-Sodium Phosphate, then allow it time to dry. All Rights Reserved. For more structural issues, like loose joints or broken parts, we will mend (including refabrication, if needed) and reassemble. CAUTIONS: CONTAINS ACETONE, TOLUENE AND METHANOL. Instructions for finishing antiques with various mediums typically follow the same format. 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. But over time, acacia wood weathers to a dull, splotchy look with a rough texture. From fixing water rings on wooden tabletops to repairing water-logged furniture, trust an expert to get your prized antique in top condition. 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. I spent a significant amount of time researching the best environmentally sound products and Real Milk Paint Co. was one of them. It features deeply carved or applied filigree. For more information, call the National Lead Information Center at 1-800-424-LEAD (in US) or contact your local health authority. When you complete the stripping process, thoroughly clean the surface with a cleaner like. We also offer products to prep and clean surfaces, protect your clothing and apply finish and color to your furniture piece. Use only with adequate ventilation. 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. In case of respiratory difficulty, provide fresh air and call physician. First, well inspect the piece for any structural issues and pay special attention to the condition of the finish. 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.
(Dont worry, you can cheat a bit on the character count!). Re-upholstering your chairs and other furniture is a great way to update your dcor at a fraction of the cost of furniture replacement. If you refinish it, youll get that really beautiful old tiger oak grain thats golden in color.. Likewise, Shaker and Mission pieces often look good refinished with Pure Tung Oil or a paste wax like our Wood Wax. Fox Chapel Publishing.