| Author | Message | ||
     Us2innj |
Can someone recommend a furniture refinisher to repair some minor water stains on some antique coffee tables we own? The stains are not very deep, but need professional attention. Thank you | ||
| Jem |
I highly recommend Furniture Medic. Check the website and give him a call. | ||
| Ffof |
Jon on Valley street is excellent and reasonable. His number is 762-5232. | ||
| Imacgrandma |
Too bad you're not in our SO-Maplewood Adult School furniture refinishing class over in Cedar Grove. I'm taking it for a second time, it's so good. I notice that one of the companys recommended sands furniture and uses strippers. Both are no-no's. Sanding scars furniture and strippers are not environmentally sound, in addition to being very labor intensive (you can't let it sit). I found out how to get rid of water marks from some old book I found at the Maplewood library. It also told me what to do when a friend spilled nail polish remover on my dresser. Why don't you start at the library, if you have the time. Remember that once you "touch up" an antique, it's an antique no longer. | ||
| Kap |
Not true, Imacgrandma!! Sanding is an integral step for any refinishing job. The real consideration is how the sanding is done. A good sanding job leaves not marks. Also there are enviornmentally safe strippers which while not as "hot" as methylene chloride (the active ingredient in most commercial strippers) are just as effective. As far as minor (or major) surface repairs that do not require refinishing, there may be a need to use some sort of abrasive in one or more of the many steps to effect a repair. This is standard operating precedure. Also, as a restorer, one of my favorite activities is to go antique stores, museums and other places and find the repairs and touch-ups in antique furniture. Believe it or not, all but the most pampered antique furniture has been repaired to some degree or another, either structurally or cosmetically or both . Many professionally done touch-ups will be nearly invisible to the untrained eye. Ffof: Jon and Cino are GREAT upholsterers. However, for all but the simplest touch-ups, they subcontract the restoration work to others, including me. | ||
| Imacgrandma |
Kap - to each his own. I prefer the knife and don't sand (except for smoothing the shellac and varnish). I do believe a true antique is one that is as it was made, with no fixin'. I'm just about to cane two chairs after hundreds of hours (I think) getting them ready. But it is fun! | ||
| Njjoseph |
Imac -- no fixin'? What did you do for hundreds of hours, and don't you consider recaning to be fixing? Do you think those museum-quality pieces had no repairs and refinishing? | ||
| Alidah |
Antiques lose most of their value when they are stripped and refinished. Buyers look for patina. That's what they love about antiques. I say keep those water stains or use some organic home method if you must. My beautiful dining room table has water rings, paper clips marks, fading on one leaf--all of the marks of its previous owners--and that's what makes it special! | ||
| Cfa |
If it were me, I'd get the tables fixed. I personally buy antiques for their quality and beauty, rather than for their value. I don't buy them as an investment. | ||
| Njjoseph |
Alidah -- just for curiosity, do you put a table cloth over your dining room table when entertaining, i.e. a formal dinner? | ||
| Ffof |
You can get rid of water marks by rubbing a walnut right into the mark. Very natural and very cheap! | ||
| Imacgrandma |
Njjoseph, When I refinish an "antique" it is no longer an antique. Yes, recaning is fixing. I did not say I was fixing antiques. I would never do anything to, e.g. my mahogany Victorian sofa or Hepplewhite tilt-top table. I would enjoy seeing some of your work and you are welcome to see (and comment on) mine. Let me know if you are interested. Alidah, I agree with you completely and hope you do move to Maplewood. | ||
| Imacgrandma |
Alidah - Ooops! Excuse me, you already do live in Maplewood. Brain lapse on my part. Did you decide on a volunteer job? | ||
| Njjoseph |
Imac -- I don't do refinishing work, so unfortunately, I can't show you mine. However, I'm interested in the course you're taking, but couldn't fit it in this semester, but hopefully next time around. Maybe we'll run into each other then! | ||
| Alidah |
Njoseph: yes, I put on two tablecloths, but I do need to get a table pad eventually. I don't want to burn it with a hot dish. Imacgrandma: Thank you for your help and your interest. When I sit down and really think about it, I do volunteer work for my kids school, my church and another organization. I'm starting to think I have unreasonable expectations of myself and that I should let it go until my kids are in school full time. |
