Refinishing Tips
Stripping and Finishing Prices
Reflections Again |
|
|
|
|
Below are techniques I use when refinishing furniture. If you have questions or comments please e-mail. You may have a better idea or feel my information is incorrect.
Index1.Filling small gouges and cracks
2.Removing water spots or rings from furniture
3.Removing finishing nails
1.Filling small gouges and cracks - 03/26/99
When filling small cracks and gouges on raw wood I use one of the commercial wood fillers (Fix Wood Patch, Famowood Wood Filler-available at local hardware stores). Instead of using it directly from the can I thin it with acetone. I put the thinned filler into a plastic syringe (available in hobby stores, hardware stores, or Constantine's Woodworkers Catalog 800-223-8087) and squeeze it into the spot I'm filling (slightly over filling). This works well because I can avoid getting the filler into the surrounding grain. Next, I sprinkle the filled area with talcum powder and pat the filler into the crack or gouge with my finger. This serves to pack the filler into the damaged area without the filler sticking to my finger. I let the filler dry, blow off the talcum and hand sand (backed with a sanding block) with 180 grit paper. Sand the filler level to the surrounding surface. The trick is to sand gently. It will take a few moments longer, but it will avoid tearing out the filler. It's best to let the filler dry over night before sanding to allow for any shrinkage of the filler.
2.Removing water spots or rings from furniture - 04/09/99
Water rings and spots are caused by moisture trapped in the finish when wet objects are left on the furniture. They appear as white cloudy areas. There are several ways to approach the problem:
- A substance with oil in it, furniture polish for example, can be left on the spot overnight. Wipe off the oil in the morning. With luck, the spot will be gone.
- Alcohol can be used to remove the spot. Dampen a soft rag lightly with alcohol and wipe the area gently. Be careful. Alcohol can damage some finishes, especially shellac. Use a small amount of alcohol and proceed cautiously.
- Mild abrasion can remove the water damage. Use rottenstone and/or pumice with a rubbing oil (available at finer hardware stores or Constantine's Woodworkers Catalog 800-223-8087). Proceed with care. You don't want to rub through the finish. #0000 steel wool (available at hardware stores) will also work, but it is more abrasive. Rubbing out the water mark may alter the sheen of the finish. If this happens, you will have to rub out the entire surface to get an even sheen.
- Another solution is to coat the entire surface with the proper solvent. This will work with shellac or lacquer. If the finish is shellac use alcohol. Use lacquer thinner on lacquer finishes. You will need spray equipment for this method. Spray the entire surface with the proper solvent and the allow to dry. The solvent will dissolve the finish and allow the moisture to escape. When it dries, hopefully the damage will be gone.
-
If none of these things work, you may have to strip and refinish the furniture.
There are several things involved which can determine the result of your repair: type of finish, condition of the finish, age of the finish, thickness of the finish, depth of the water spot, and your experience and patience. Also, although the damage appears white and cloudy, it might not be water damage.
3.Removing finishing nails - 04/26/99
Sometimes when working on furniture I come across a finishing nail that is sunk down into the wood. I need to get the nail out and there's nothing to get a hold of to pry it out. The solution is to drill a slot around the nail. Take a piece of steel tubing about two inches long that will just fit around the nail. File teeth in one end of the tubing. Put the tubing in a drill and drill around the nail. Use a pair of wire snips to reach down and get a hold of the nail. Using a piece of wood to work against pry the head of the nail high enough so you can get to it with a hammer claw or similar prying device. After removing the nail you will end up with a larger hole which you can fill with putty or a wood dowel.
Basic info:
Reflections Again
1260-H Yard Ct
San Jose, CA 95133
408-971-8389
mirrors@321.net
www.mirror
resilvering.com
Hours:
10-6 Mon - Sat
(Call for appointment)
Other Links:
Join a Professional Refinishing E-mail List