Avoiding Furniture Damage

Refinishing and restoring furniture reveals that most defects, blemishes and damage can be corrected or at least minimized. Doing so while still protecting and preserving the initial integrity and antique or vintage quality of a piece requires much thought, skill and understanding of what, exactly, a piece is. It is interesting, too, to find how much damage is often done to furniture by either neglect or willingly. The vintage piece I am currently working on is a prime example of both types of damage often found by furniture restorers.

Initially, most apparent was the damage visible to the dresser's top and the improper installation of drawer hardware. The top damage seems to be the result of perfumes and other liquids having an alcohol base spilling and leaking onto the wood surface. Besides damaging the varnish / shellac finish, there is some stain damage to the underlying wood. This is likely the result of some of the spilled products having had a tint added to their ingredients or of having sat in one place on the dresser for an extended time. Other discovered damage included holes drilled into the drawer fronts to accommodate the mismatched hardware, duct tape used to secure loose drawer bottoms and some nails used to strengthen drawer joints. All of this damage was very unnecessary.

Here are some simple tips in order to avoid some of these very common problems on your own furniture:

Always use a make-up tray to store your perfumes, lotions, after-shaves, etc. These can be very simple trays or more elaborate, decorative trays with glass, mirrored or stone bottoms. Whatever the material, the bottoms of the tray should be non-porous.

Never place a hot or cold cup or glass on furniture. Always use coasters or pads.

Tighten drawer pulls and handles properly. Loose hardware can damage the furniture finish when it moves from side to side.

If a drawer is loose do not nail it. Instead, use the correct type of glue: carpenters glue or hide glue. Never use “crazy glue” or duct tape on your furniture.

Use a quality furniture polish or wax sparingly on your furniture. Avoid using products with silicone. They do make the wood look shiny but they also choke it. Mostly, dusting is sufficient with only periodic, once or twice per year, polishing or waxing.

If you have any questions about what to do with a particular piece call me or stop by. Remember to look for the Redeux Rocking Chair sign out front. When it's up...I'm in. Stop and say hello!

Now, back to the Redeux Spa to continue restoring my newest treasure!

Getting off the rocker

Have you ever come to the realization that too large an amount of time has passed while you were distracted from what you were supposed to be doing? Exactly that happened while moving the furniture to the Redeux “winter quarters”.

Had I known how much stuff had been accumulated in the workroom and how long it would take to get rid of or organize, I would have started in August rather than December! It wasn’t a complete loss, however. A photo album of the kids when they were little (how did that get there?) and a few other interesting tidbits were found, making the effort all worthwhile. In addition, an older Oreck air filter was found and put into use again. The “Redeux workroom” has never been better.

During these past few weeks I also managed to take a class on wood finishes with a master wood worker/restorer from Vermont. Several interesting tips, methods and insights, as well as being introduced to some great materials – waxes, stains and various sandpapers, made the time spent very worthwhile.

Now, back to work. I need it.

Working with the furniture has always been a pleasure. But, it has become more. Each piece I touch brings thoughts of the many folks that built it and then used it over the many decades. When it leaves Redeux, each piece begins a new life. And I wonder, where it will be and who will be using it 20, 40 or 100 years from now.

Redeux started as a hobby. Each of you has made it a gift.

Since getting back to work a nice little oak chest has been given the “Redeux treatment”. A new set of period-correct hardware pulls were also installed. There is some checking and board shrinkage on the top that adds character. See the photo.

Just in is a dresser that appears to be 80-100 years old. It has legs with wheels and a small top crown. The current hardware is not original and does not match. After re-working it, this piece will be given proper hardware. It may be made of cherry, but, only after some work will I be able to tell. It’s very nice, with graceful, simple lines.

Several of you on the list have asked when you can come around and take a look at some pieces. The idea of putting the tag sale sign in front of the garage doors did not work well. So, give me a call to arrange a time. Or, if passing by, look for the red sign with a rocking chair hanging in front of the garage. Then, I’m inside working away. Come around to the back or ring the front doorbell. Again, this is only for you folks that have been by before and are on the list.

I look forward to seeing you and... tea is always on!

Bill