furniture projects

I have always enjoyed furniture restoration both actively and as a spectator and am writing this post whilst waiting for the varnish stripper to do it's magic.
I would love to see any of your projects, before and after pics or battered old 20th Century pieces that you think might benefit from a little TLC, we could also share tips and vids to inspire those who are yet to build up the courage to start that daunting resto' job.

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Here's one I did earlier using a single 1950's curtain that was no good for it's original purpose but ideal for re-upholstering

this is my current project, I have removed the worn out old webbing, sanded it down and coated with varnish stripper, I used a cheap B&Q stripper which takes 2 coats and an hours drying time per coat so I might be going back to Nitromors in future

and yes the workmate is also mid century

I do a lot of it Dan, mainly teak, danish/ercol/gplan/ etc.
What do you need to know?
Looks good so far!

glad to hear it DD because the stripper has proven to be a real nightmare!
I manages to scrape most of it off with metal scrapers  but the rest was like toffee so I tried water and a scrubbing brush which left an uneven colour and still lots of toffee
I then had a go with wire wool but only had medium grade that has scratched the wood and still left toffee.
I was so pissed off I took the jet washer to it but the toffee still remains

I just read on t'internet about someone who did the same to a lovely walnut banister

Dan I have a broken pallet knife blade that I have shave sharpened the flat end on both sided and use as a scraper. Its only 20mm across but does the job without much affect of the piece. Rubber gloves wire wool and white spirits is the normal way. My friend just started keeping bees and gave me a half pound of beeswax.

Impressed with the chair. Get those arms smooth. .. best bit

I tend not to use varnish removers, such nasty carcinogenic stuff, unless the
varnish (like modern polyeurethane) is really like concrete.

I just use a stanley knife blade, though it can be time consuming.
Careful with wire wool, it can dig out the grain especially on ercol.

Don't use glasspaper (sandpaper was last made in something lie 1650) - it leaves tiny bits of glass in the surface and is too much. I often do x2 coats of NITRO MORS.

the stain has been removed in places so I guess I will need to stain it before re varnishing or polishing?

Just the cheap Wilko stuff for me,
A heat gun will soften it, though don't use on veneers (Gplan)

dantheman wrote:the stain has been removed in places so I guess I will need to stain it before re varnishing or polishing?

If it's teak no. Just sand it all and then light teak oil (wilko)

Ahh, No I prefer the natural colour of the timber. Often the stain you see is just discoloured varnish, often black on Victorian. There are a many finishes;

Beeswax only
Shellac then beeswax (french polish)
oil as dd say on teak
you can also mix beeswax with oil

If you stain then remember it may wear off again, leaving white patches, ie over time it will look worse - where all of the above will look better over time. Patina.

Fabric....

why not take time and find some orignal 60's!

funky!

https://www.google.co.uk/search?q=stig+lindberg+fabric+chair&source=lnms&tbm=isch&sa=X&ved=0ahUKEwikpa3w9I7WAhUMAcAKHZUrAA8Q_AUICygC&biw=1745&bih=898

I have a store of vintage fabric

Hows it going.....any change?

I spoke to an expert last weekend who advised me how to remove all the varnish and stain then I will re-varnish but first I need to buy some fine sandpaper

Don't go mad, you can strip away all it's character and age, do you want it looking brand new?

trouble is it all went tits up in the stripping so now I have to get back to bare wood

I've got a 1964 Yngve Ekström Swedese Lamino chair that leaks an orange powder which used to be foam padding that I intend to restore but it scares me a bit, I need to sculpt foam and there is a lot of glueing involved. Outside my comfort zone but documenting things often helps me get on with them so maybe will get on with it soon and post pics here. I've managed to find the original fabric so far but not bought it. Watched a few videos of them being made and restored.

Ah, just noticed this is an old thread. Sorry.

You have reminded me to finish of that chair project