Thread: Hello from a Camden Gal

Originally Posted by frannydp

Hi all,

Im a 32 yr old female that is trying to 'beautify' a 16 piece Van Treight Suite to its former glory. (buffet and hutch, dining table, 8 chairs, lamp tables, hall table, coffee table and cabinets)

The suite is for personal use only, and i have aquired it from a very very old, very very wealthy woman who spent a small fortune on this set back when it was new and it has been handed down to me. I, unfortunately am not very very wealthy, but am a little experienced in timber work and have my father to help with the restore and am very enthusiastic.

If anyone has any idea how i could possibly improve the look of the 'yellowed' (what i believe is) synthetic enamel over a painted antique white finish, please PM me

the suite is in otherwise 'as new' condition

Ive made a thread in one of the posts but the basic story is: the furniture is yellowed, worse in some parts than others, still white inside the cupboards, didnt come off with:
bleach, borax, vinegar, bicarb, cream cleanser, wheel cleaner, engine degreaser (got desperate there....)

thanks for looking

Fran

Welcome to the sawpit Frannie. If all the stuff you've tried to date hasn't made the yellowing disappear, I'd hazard a guess that there has been a chemical change in the original paint - probably due to UV light. If I was doing it I'd remove all the old yellowed paint down to the "Antique White" which could be an undercoat sealer or even a limewash. I googled Van Treight and the furniture that came up was made of English Oak and rattan. If yours is english oak I'd be awfully tempted to go back to the timber (I can hear the groans already - patina patina) particularly as you intend to keep it for your own use and not the antique markets. I've seen some beautiful antique english oak furniture in my time and in the right place it can look great.
Just my two bob's worth.
Cheers
Sheddie in the Shed Again....
PS: I just found this on ePay. Maybe you bought it there but in the description it describes the "yellowing" as typical for its age! So maybe you should just clean it up and let it be!
S
LOL..just noticed the seller was you....

Originally Posted by frannydp

The suite is for personal use only, and it has been handed down to me.

I, unfortunately am not very very wealthy, but am a little experienced in timber work and have my father to help with the restore and am very enthusiastic.
Fran

Can't be the same person Shed. This lady wants it for personal use. Makes you wonder doesn't it? Sounds like a dealers ad to me. on ebay

Hi thanks for that,. yes is is me on ebay. my husband doesnt want me to keep it because he doesnt like the 'yellow' hence my desperate attempts in the last few days to try to find a solution! i must admit im in love with this furniture,...pity hubby doesnt have the same passion for old stuff that i do..
ive had offers on the furniture but havent sold as im holding out for a solution so i can keep for myself!

I had already considered the removal of the coating, hubby says sandblast it..but im not sure that wouldnt damage. the mother-in-law says paint straight over it, my dad says a light sand and a recoat, i say send it to a restorer, and the comments go on and on...it was the main point of discussion at xmas.....

thanks for the suggestions,,,pls feel free to add more...theres only 3 days to go before the auction ends and i want to tell hubby to go jump if i can find a way to make these babies shine again

and i'd not considered it would be english oak. is there anyway to check this?? i have an english tudor house, so the oak wouldnt be too bad here because its in my formal lounge, but i do prefer the antique white.

i am just considering hanging on to it until i can afford to send the whole lot to a restorer...and no, i didnt buy on ebay..... but thanks for the kind words of support anyhow

Not able to help on the clean up. But interesting to find out what happens.

I have helped my wife restore a number of items and restored a pair of sash windows for my house. A large job. The first thing I wish to say is that original wood finish is my preference and if you intend to go that way get good advice first, before you do anything. I would strip it myself. Do not use any form of abrasive paint removal. Patina is all important. Research research. Paint stripper is the best way in my opinion. It is a lot of work. Maybe try a small unit first to see what is involved.

Dean

Yes i expect it will be a lot of work. i am prepared for the fact it may take me a few years, but i dont really know what is the 'right' advice because everyone i speak to says something different. I am prepared for the hard work, im not prepared to put the hard work in only to find out i've done it wrong...

thats why i came to this forum hoping i'll get some answers

Might need to post a question on the finishing forum.

What would this most likely be finished?
How old would this be?
How to get rid of the yellow?

Some thing like that, may be just one question and see where the discussion takes it. You might get a reference back to a specific book and find out where this was made. The more inform you have the better you are in knowing what course of action to take.