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I have a few pieces of antique furniture that I am going to work on. They are in good general condition but they are very dark and the grain is nearly obscured. I tried some Propriety Rustins surface...

I am familiar with this Irish cabinetmaker, over here the pieces usually seem to go for large amounts when they pop up, this is a side table by him.

AN IRISH MAHOGANY SIDE TABLE (christies.com)

Considering the size of my last electricity bill, I might leave the the lights off take your advice !

Just a follow up, I attached a few images of the details of this piece. As I say I don't believe it's hobbyist made but the ball and claw foot isn't as well carved / proportioned on this 1910/1920...

Thank you for the recommendation, I had heard good things about this wax. But I still have over 2kg of nice beeswax to find a use for :)

Yes indeed, and usually over a shellac polished surface.

Wow, that is a simple gem of a piece, even the fold out supports are beautifully shaped. Thank you for the link !

A few years ago I started a little folder on the laptop of all the lovely antiques...

I honestly think in this case it was a professional made the piece, the actual cabinetmaking in general is of high quality, dovetailing and drawer construction and the carvings are too good IMHO to...

You seem to be spot on regarding my own Pembroke table as it has oak for the sides and is indeed stained a red oxide:)

It's funny as the '' newest '' antique I have is probably from 1910 to 1920...

Hi folks,

I have a Regency Mahogany Pembroke Table probably 1810 to 1830ish...

I have noticed on this one and also others I have seen at auctions that the side aprons that contain the fold out...

Hi Neil and thanks for your kind tips..

For antique furniture I thought a wax and preferably not too high a shine is the way to go in most cases, I haven't had any problems with marking etc so...

Would this apply to Polish Reviver also, I use pure turpentine in my polish reviver mix probably a 3rd is turpentine. Would white spirits do the job in a reviver ?

I have to say I have used a...

I have found this is the only way to get work done, I am as guilty of the next man for making things more complicated than necessary -:)

I'm honestly not sure, it's just I have always bought ready made waxes and of course one has to usually choose a colour / tint. I am thinking of making my own and was wondering how they are tinted. I...

I have applied the wax with 0000 wire wool but I haven't buffed with it, I used a cloth.....I will try that and see

Some great info, thanks. I have a few books that go in depth about the finishes of old but there are so many ingredients and difficult to obtain stuff that I will just stick to what I have on hand...

thanks for the link. I am wondering what I can use to tint the polish, I have pigment earth powders and spirit powders, maybe someone may advise on their suitability.

Hi Folks,

I am running low on waxes and am about to buy a few tins in various shades, but before I do...

Does anyone know how to make your own wax. I have always bought the ready made stuff...

I am really surprised at the resilience of this finish, I have used mineral spirits ( white spirits ), metho, polish reviver, acetone all applied quite vigorously with 0000 wire wool and it makes...

As much as I hate to have to strip it I think it's the best option as there is some nice mahogany hidden underneath.

I think the piece must be quite a bit earlier than the auctioneer suggested....

Hey folks,

I recently bought a Georgian bureau bookcase circa 1800 for a restoration project. I knew upon initial viewing the finish on the side of the piece looked a bit shiny and plasticky. This...

I couldn't wait till tomorrow :B ....the white marks were not going away with heat applied. I decided to use white oil on it's own to start the revive and then used a mix of linseed oil turpentine...

Thank you for your kind advice, I tried a small area with meths on a cotton bud and it does pretty much cut through to the bare wood and leaves a residue on the bud, looks like wax and grime not much...

.......As I didn't get any advice I will just have to dive in :). I think the reviver can't do any real harm so here goes...

I have this Georgian Mahogany tripod flip top occasional table, it hasn't been polished for a long time. The top is obviously in need of some attention but I am hoping the experienced finishers /...

When I first started out I had a lucky break with a job lot of good quality old tools in a local boot sale, they did require however a lot of refurbishing.

Although it seemed that I was spending...

True, and sometimes you just have to find a way to make it work...

That's a good idea....and it would be fun going from a screaming router to the tranquility of the pole lathe !

Thanks Rob. When inserting the wedges is it best to take out a little of the original material to allow easier fitting ?

I don't have any turning facilities as yet, I am going to be using a...

I have always wanted a nice pair of diminutive Georgian kettle stands but can't find them in the small sizes or at a price I can afford. So I'm going to make them....

I have a few nice pieces of...

Nice tip !

I've actually stumbled across this accidently.......in a way

I was attempting to hammer veneer a piece of awkward veneer and had to give up after a few attempts , I put the piece...

Ian, Although I haven't used this technique as yet, it certainly makes a lot of sense for intricate pattern build ups and is one I hope to use in the future if I need to.

I have found hammer...

Thanks fellas, some good and useful points there. For me even if the actual result was only small but the "feel" of working the plane is nicer it would make me work better....

I'm getting real...

Thanks D.W, when I cut the the billets to rough size I was pretty much going to rip to length straight from where you you see the pencil lines ( I hope this will yield a good alignment with the pith )

Great info there, thanks. I wish I had intimate access to examine original period furniture and the way it was built, surely that's the best way to determine working methods of the past.

So it's...

Thanks for the input fellas, I will be cutting the prospective billets and storing them for a project for next Winters dark evenings, just for interest I'm going to check them every couple of weeks...

Ian, I have only used the Baileys with the original Stanley blades, I have spent ( too much probably ) time really tuning them, my 3 and 4 are decent smoothers, the #3 excellent on reversing /...

I have to be honest and admit that although I'd love to use period thickness veneers exclusively, I also use the not very period thinner stuff ! I have though used 2mm thick veneer with hammer...

Ah yes, I can see that you are getting a nice collection of fine crumbs there although your plane has a lovely patina which has probably smoothed the wood over time. My Buck London plane has had...

That's very very similar to my toothing plane opening. When you use your plane do the crumbs clear in to the plane without a problem ? Regarding usage, it will be used mainly in veneering work to...

Exactly, it's as if they are sticking to the teeth and not flowing through.....

Yes, my first instinct was the mouth opening but I hesitated to alter it as this vintage plane has had very little use but as it's going to be used regularly I think I have no choice. Would I be...

Thanks Ian, I have noticed on my wooden beech user planes that some have the grain oriented almost straight across and others have a more angled grain pattern similar to rift sawn so it's difficult...

Not sure where to post this one.....

I am hoping to build some planes and have some beech which I'm hoping may be suitable, it's slightly over 3" thick stock and 10" wide. I'm thinking that the...

thanks for the replies.....

Yes, when I use the plane it produces fine crumbs, but they build up in the mouth after only a few passes, saying that it still cuts, unlike a normal plane that once...

Hoping some of you guys who use toothing planes in their work may know the reason for the problem I am experiencing...I have a like toothing plane, looks like it has never seen any use. The problem I...