refinished - child's wardrobe

**s_m** · 15th January 2004, 09:20 AM

Here are the pics of my restored child's wardrobe

. For scale, the blue thing to the right of the wardrobe is a TWO drawer metal filing cabinet.

The piece was made to my Grandma's design in 1942 when my mother was a toddler, and painted with white gloss enamel when new. After being used by my mother's and my generation (and given a few extra coats of paint), I ended up with the piece and decided to investigate what was under the paint - look at this lovely timber!

The handles at present are cord threaded through lengths of PVC tube as the piece had bakelite handles that are no longer a standard size, and some had been broken over the years. In the long run, I plan to cast some from polyester resin.

I also began this project so long ago (1997) that I cannot remember where the hinges from the door are (and they aren't standard size either). Perhaps when I am no longer pregnant my brain will re-engage and I will find them?

For those following my "split" thread on the Finishing board, the split is in the right hand side of the wardrobe.

Steph

**s_m** · 15th January 2004, 09:21 AM

Another perspective (and at this scale you can't even see the split in the middle of the right hand side piece)...

**Pablo** · 19th January 2004, 11:10 AM

Fantastic job!!

How did you get rid of all the paint from in the grain?

My wife is currently battling with white paint in jarrah grain on an 80 year old cupboard. Paint strippers, sanding and swearing don't seem to get enough out to risk coating it.

What's the secret?

Cheers (and congratulations)

Paul

**ozwinner** · 19th January 2004, 04:07 PM

Hi Steph
I remember the thread about " what is the timber", looking at it now it looks a lot like Kauri Pine.
Cheers, Allan

**Justin** · 19th January 2004, 06:24 PM

Nice job Steph, the finish looks lovely and even - is it an oil finish ?

It sounds like the nesting instinct has kicked in and made you finish the job after 7 years

Cheers,

Justin.

**s_m** · 19th January 2004, 09:18 PM

Nothing like an immovable nine month deadline to cure me (even temporarily) of my procrastinating tendencies! Thanks Allan for your opinion on the timber.

I originally stripped the paint with Polystrippa then steel wool and metho. That wasn't enough, so I tried hand sanding which is just silly (hard work and I was using cheap garnet paper so got some deep scratches in it). Bought myself a random orbital sander and working with Al oxide papers (the white ones that don't clog) started with 80 grit and made sure all the paint was gone (test by wetting with metho) before smoothing off the surface progressively with 120/180/250/400. Had to take off a bit - the door front is three ply and there isn't much of the 3rd ply left!

To finish gave it a quick hand sand (dry) with 600 wet and dry before one coat of Danish Oil (rubbed in with 600 wet and dry) and then two of Feast Watson Carnauba Wax (natural).

Steph

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