Thread: Advice needed for some new projects

Thanks Lawry, your compliments are appreciated. I agree, for I am really happy with how well the table has come up, especially if you go back and look at how sad it was. I look forward to seeing this in the hallway at the country property in due course, as it should look perfect there.

Re the missing bit of timber, if you go back to the previous page and look at the second lot of photos I posted (in the first picture), on the side of the table top near where it meets the back board, that is the section of vaneer which is missing. The table came like this. As I mentioned if I can come up with a solution to fill this section in, it won't be a problem to tidy up the colour/polish of this.

I do know what you mean re the look and feel of a nicely restored piece, having said that I was out at an antique shop here in Richmond yesterday and they had some really superb/original pieces dating back to the 1830s and 40s, well loved, well used, and well polished over the years. In terms of appearance and feel these truely were amazing. Now how can I find some spare $$ to be able to obtain a really nice early colonial piece, (chest of drawers, table or whatever). Hmn sell some stuff I think. I do have quite a lot of antique furniture afterall, and downsizing in quantity but upgrading in quality is most enticing.

Beautiful result on the hall table HC, that really has come up well.

I like your idea of restoring a classic old colonial piece, with an accompanying WIP of course. That would be a great thread for us forumites to follow

Peter

Yeah thanks for that , I too am pretty pleased with the final result. Don't worry, I have quite a few more projects that need restoring, from pretty straight forward paint stripping and re-polishing to full blown re-construction projects. Oh and then there is the country house, but that is kind of a very large piece of furniture !!! and involves a little more than just woody restoration skills.

I kind of have this feeling now that the thread has cracked the 10,000 views mark that it has kind of become my own blog. I just hope that Neil doesn't mind or any others that I am using this as such.

It seems to be easier to continue with the one thread on restoration projects I am working on then starting new threads for each project. If anyone has a problem with me doing this, don't hesitate to say so.

Bugger! Dave, you've beaten my record...I thought my old thread on the desk was monumental......6509 views and 115 posts over 8 pages in less than 2 months!! Well, I guess that means there are folks out thee appreciating the read and the info..I know I do specially with your work mate!!

Heh heh Lawry I do know what you mean re your desk thread. I too thought that one was a superb effort !! , one difference perhaps here, being this thread is now over a year old, and has covered a number of projects, yours in a way is even more impressive

I am glad people seem to be enjoying what I have been talking of and the pictures etc, plus other people's comments, such as your own, who have posted on this thread. It is good to have an interactive forum on our hobby/interests.

Thanks also for the kind words, I am just an amature antiques restorer with some basic skills and experience. I do know there are others out there far more experienced than me.

ok, so as mentioned previously I think it might be time to tackle the cedar ("coffee table") box, as it is crying out for some love and attention. I will take some beforehand photos tonight and post tomorrow to show what is needed to be done to restore this one, as it does need some work !

So time for the next project. First off, I rescued the box from around the corner of the couch in my lounge room and took all the books, magaines off it that have been sitting on top of it for the past few years. I took a number of photos to show its current condition. The box was bought, as yet again another project of Gordon Brown (Collectors) quite a number of years ago.

First off the lid was flipped due to it having previously been painted and the difficulties obviously in getting all of the paint which had soaked into the grain off. The lid is also split in quite a number of places. To hold it all together it has some pieces of wood that have been nailed to the bottom (originally the top). The top (preciously underside is actually in much cleaner condition, and had some polishing previously done to it.

It also has some lovely old hinges. The box also has a lock which would have secured the lid. However, as it is, the lid is loose and doesn't sit too well, on account of having been flipped. The sides are in mostly good (nicely worn) condition with no evidence of paint, ditto the ends of the box. On one end is an original handle but on the other a mismatched (repro) handle which is slightly smaller.

The bottom as I previously mentioned had hard wood tongue and groove floor boards nailed to the box, and these will have to go as they are nothing special. There is a small missing section (triangle shape) on the bottom of one of the sides of the box which will need to be replaced. Also there is evidence the box (unpolished area) originally had a plinth, which is now missing. Most likely this too would have been in cedar, so that will be interesting to see what I can come up with to replace this.

The whole box will need to be shellac polished but that can wait until it is all completely sorted out. The dovetail joints were completely loose for 3 sides of the box which made it easy to strip down to components. However one set of dovetails which joins a side to an end was in perfect condition (tight/firm) and so I have decided not to try to upset this joint. I will need to clean out each of the dovetails so that I have a good working surface when the time comes to glue it all back together and I will certainly be trying out hide glue for this project.

I am not sure at this stage what to use for the bottom of the box and will have to check my timber supplies, at least though I know I have a piece of cedar to replace the small missing section. So where to start. I think first off I will work on the ends and sides and get them all cleaned up ready for re-construction. The base won't be a problem fitting, and neither will a plinth once I find some suitable sized cedar to make this up from. The lid, however, is going to be the difficult part of this project to sort out. I am almost of the view that if I had a suitable sized piece of cedar, I could be tempted to simply replace the top. Will just have to see how this all works out.

So time for some photos to explain what I am referring to above in my description. Any comments, advice etc will be most welcomed.

The next series of photos will show the box deconstructed, hopefully you will get the idea of the various issues I will need to deal with in restoring this piece. . But as ever, I am sure it will come up

I managed to get a bit of a start on the box over the weekend, but coming down with the flu seems to have sapped my energy today (given I was too sick to go to work). I figured I might as well start off with an easy part of the project by working on one of the ends of the box, not the one attached to a side piece.

First off was cleaning out the dirt, residual old glue in between each of the dovetails to ensure that when I put it back together and can glue it, means that the glue will take hold. Thankfully all the dovetails were in excellent condition. I found the construction technique quite interesting as per the dovetails, but then again I have never tried making dovetails. It is kind of hard to describe, and maybe the photos I have taken will show what I mean.

Once this was sorted out at each end, and the handle removed, it was time to sand back the end using 240 and 400 grade papers, and thereafter apply shellac, first off by brushing on and thereafter padding it on. Now traditionally the inside or undersides of much if not most antiques is never finished, but it is my box and given I want the inside to be as clean as possible and useful I figured I might as well tidy it up on the inside so, I treated the inside to the same treatment as to the outside. The only real difference though is that the outside will have more shine as the level of shellac coating on the outside is far greater. I managed to finish coating this part of the box. The outside having had up to 9 coats so far.

I will probably need to given the outside at least one more coat but will leave this until after the box has been put back together and glued. The reason being is that in glueing the parts back together is that some glue is likely to be squeezed out. Even though I will wipe away any excess it could possibly damage the shellac finish.

Next off the long side piece needs the same treatment, and thereafter I will have to try the two joined side section.

If I am well enough to go to work tomorrow I will post some pictures. Otherwise perhaps Wednesday. Stay tuned.

Originally Posted by Horsecroft88

Now traditionally the inside or undersides of much if not most antiques is never finished, but it is my box and given I want the inside to be as clean as possible and useful I figured I might as well tidy it up on the inside so, I treated the inside to the same treatment as to the outside. The only real difference though is that the outside will have more shine as the level of shellac coating on the outside is far greater. I managed to finish coating this part of the box. The outside having had up to 9 coats so far.
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Just a bit of perfectionistic tendency here Dave???
Get well quick mate so we can see progress (says me who is doing no restoring at the moment!!) Lawry

Yup 'fraid so Lawry I have been known for this on occasions.

Damn flu sure has taken its hold on me today, it feels like my nose/head is very much like how it is outside....raining cats and dogs !! No progress today as seem to have run out of sandpaper and metho, have no idea how this could occur. Oh well, even if you don't have any projects on the go at the moment, I hope you are enjoying mine. I am actually looking forward to how the box comes up as it is one that has been bugging me for quite some time given its sad condition, as it lurked in the corner of the lounge room covered in stuff. But hopefully soonish its time will come to shine. Photos will be posted once I can.

Looks like a good challenge HC. Is that top made from a single board?

That it will be and even some woodwork construction repairs this time, so will be good to challenge my skills with this. The lid was originally one piece of cedar but over the years has essentially split in half, with a small thin wedge section in the middle. Both sides also have major splitting.

The problem I have will be whether or not I can repair the top, and if so which side to use as the top. The alternative being to make up a new top but finding a decent piece of cedar which could serve as a lid for the box might be a little hard. I certainly don't currently have anything this big to do the job. The current lid dimensions are 93 x 47x15cm.

If anyone reading this might know of any cedar suitable to replace the top then please PM me as I would be interested, it sure would make life easier. Otherwise I will simply have to persevere with the current lid and repair as well as possible.

Ah good, I can get onto the forum today, I tried yesterday but for some reason, the forum wouldn't open up. Oh that is sad, no offers of cedar to help me out, oh well I have put it out there in case anyone might be able to. It would be going to a good use.

Ok, time to try to post some more pictures of the work being done. First up the end plate for the box, cleaned up and coated with shellac. Unfortunately the final photo I took of the outside with many coats of shellac didn't work (blurred and too bright). I will have to take some more this weekend, especially as I get onto the first of the sides of the box.

The first 3 photos show the outside and the last pic, is the inside "clean up" and coated with shellac.

I must admit no further progress todate beyond my last post on the box's restoration. Kind of have been busy with many other things.

But I have managed to repair two small cedar hall tables I have. Both needed their tops re-polished (hardly restoration work) due to scratches by cats. Grrr the bain of antique owners, as much as I love my cats to bits I just wish they would keep their claws in or better still not jump up on my furniture. And that happens even with covers over the tables.

Anyway all is good now. No photos as I hadn't thought they really warranted being posted. Will get back onto the box shortly.