Back in the day, when we were poor as mud, I used to buy or scavenge old furniture and refinish it. We still have a couple of nice pieces from our days of poverty here in the house.

Today we had some furniture delivered. Barbara and I bought his and her desks for our new upstairs offices (the rooms my father-in law-occupied when he was living with us). Barbara got a 4 piece set and I got a stand alone desk in a style and pattern that matches Barbara's set. The idea here is that someday, when we downsize, we will have one office and all the new pieces will go well together in one room.

Anyhow, for now I plan to use the new desk with an old library table that will serve well as a computer table. They both appear to be walnut, but the new desk made the old table look shabby. So I took the table apart and brought it out to the backyard and refinished the top today. It was great to get back to the corrosive chemicals and smelly stains and finishes.

Sadly, at my current hourly rate this is the most expensive amatuer refinishing job in history. But in a way, it was really like therapy. It was great to forget about all the complex problems in my law practice and just strip and refinish a table top.

So do any of you engage in furniture restoration?

 

I do some refinishing but I generally use a shellac finish on my pieces so it is easy to strip and and add a few coats.

 

We've got a few pieces in the house that Rick has refinished. He did a good job on those pieces. We have a maple table in one room and a mahogahany table in another.

I think if he had more time, and we had a bigger house, I'd find more old stuff for him to re-do. I like old furniture.

 

I like old furniture too. The wood is solid and not compressed crap. And the methods of joining and construction are far superior. I don't thinkI could afford to buy new furniture made of solid wood.

 

That stuff is made from bugs you know.

 

Made from bugs? I don't know, but I do know that most refinishing stuff really stinks. In addition to refinishing a few pieces, Rick has also done the finish on a few pieces of furniture my brother in law has built for us, a hutch, a desk, a laundry hamper to match my bedroom set and recently a very nice entertainment center.

As Rick has a green thumb, my brother in law has a "furniture thumb." As a hobby, he has built many pieces of furniture. He has family members with the same talent.

Here's a pic of the antique table Rick refinished and the entertainment center.

 

Years ago When I was first starting out....I needed furnishings and I wanted nice stuff, didnt want the new stuff I could afford that was cheap crap that would fall apart. I hit the junk stores I got several nice pieces that needed to be refinished. Made sure they were solid and didnt need structural repairs .....they all were not of the same style but I refinished them in the same finish so they would look good together put the same type knobs etc.....even got different style chairs and covered the seats with the same fabric. Looked very nice.

I still have most of it couldnt see the need to get rid of it for new, with the refinish it was as good as new.

I love to redo furniture. I love to paint (walls) murals, stenciling. Very theraputic, relaxing for me.

 

Vicky,

Post some pics of the old furniture if you get a chance!

 

Check it out.

http://antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/shellac.htm

 

I learn something new every day around here.

Rick has always used polyurethane. No bugs allowed on my furniture.