Thread: What type of old pine is this?

Hi Rozza

Looks to be either Hoop pine or Kauri pine - I always have a hard time telling the difference between the two.

In terms of age, I would put it at late Victorian/ Edwardian so anywhere 1890 ish to 1910 ish.

I am not an expert however if I saw that an auction or shop - I would tell myself that's what it was

Thanks Chief , appreciate your knowledge, whatever the pine is I love it!

No problem at all.

I should have added, if I had seen that at an auction I would have bought it as well! I have a heap of pine furniture from that era. I love the colour that it shows when it's finished with shellac.

Post some pictures of yours when its done

I got it for $100 at a local tendering rooms and I'm not sure if I will shellac and wax or just clear wax it??? ( Briwax . clear)

I love the pale colour and don't want to yellow it too much. Will it darken on its own anyway in a few years?

Will send photos when done ,

cheers!

* Next project is an ancient kitchen dresser base, heavy as lead with an inch thick layer of paint

Nice pickup for $100. I'm 4 years into a restore (should really get back to it) of a kitchen hutch that has a very similar look to the raw timber. I've always worked on the assumption mine is hoop pine but have no idea if I was told that or it just a guess that I'm sticking to (and I'm no expert).

Sometimes you have to take your time with stuff but if I leave things unfinished here for too long it starts to grow mould or go black !( my maple and oak stuff ) .
I guess the only way to know the difference between Kauri and Hoop is to see them side to side.
I read somewhere that Kauri has a shimmery effect that looks like " a school of Whitebait ". so there you go!

Cya R

Nice,..unfortunately our local Tender centre closed down almost a year ago - picked up some great things there.

You can get white shellac if you dont want it too yellow - I like the shellac as it gives the timber some depth. Your piece of furniture so your choice of course and I am sure that whatever you do will be an improvement!

Look forward to seeing the finished piece

Originally Posted by rozza

Hey there, I am in the process of restoring an old chest of drawers and am wondering if the timber is Kauri pine?

Also an idea of age would be good.

It's missing two drawers. Darn it!

Thanks I hope pics send?

Nice looking chest you have there, it definitely looks like kauri to me, though perhaps hoop at a pinch. The grain/colour of timber, even in its raw state reminds me very much of the kauri pine duchess I previously restored. I have added one pic of the duchess and 2 of a kauri dresser top I am restoring. I tried to add another pic of the duchess, but it seems to be proving impossible to do so. Damn the changes to the forum, this adding picture process is so harder to achieve now.

Anyway for $100 I reckon you have got yourself a very decent purchase and it will look superb once finished, far better than in that horrid green colour. Well done.

Thanks ,

I have ordered some clear wax online ( not much choice here and couldn't find white shellac which I would like to try ) and will finish her off soon ready to house all my winter woolies for the summer in the spare room, with a rusty, old candelabra on top!

Very nice duchess and dresser you have , what finish did you use?

cheerio

U beaut supply the white shellac,. White Shellac

Ok, thanks Chief, it's expensive stuff ! Not cheap light flakes.

True, but good stuff costs good money and good timber needs a good finish

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That's true , it deserves to be done properly after so long!
i received the wax today and put 2 coats on.
It has stayed quite pale which is great! And i actually really like the scratches ,gouges, bruises, bleaching and stains left showing.
A few lifetimes of wear and tear i suppose, i didn't want to do much sanding.
Each knob is a slightly different colour and the veneered edge is a mishmash of timbers in places but I don't want renewed wood even though I can see that it would really glow!
The pics show the finished drawers, and before and after waxing on drawers.
I'm happy with the result,
and thanks for all your help.
....now I have to move it up a flight of stairs!
Doh.

After staring at cloudy whitish effect on pine from paint i decided to pull off the wax and give the drawers a bit of a light sand and have a much better result. phew! R