New Photos!

Please check out my new photos of a major restoration I undertook back in the early summer. It was an unbelievable task that I a was very pleased with. Also that it didn't get the better of me, though it was close a couple of times!

I'm about to catch up and maybe have a little break. Boy, am I tired! But I don't mind at all, the shop has been very busy all year and for that I am actually very grateful. I've had many interesting pieces come in this year and have definitely had to brush up on some neglected skills! Many new photos coming soon but for now a little ancient ditty for those who have recently asked me about how often to wax their furniture.  Take a tip from the old English craftsmen:

Wax once a day for a week,
Once a week for a month,
Once a month for a year,
And once a year for life.

The Sooner the Better...

Just a few thoughts on the timing of furniture repairs. As I stated in my last post, I have had many chairs come into the shop since the first of the year. And, I must say unusually, that every one was brought to me before any major damage occurred. It is paramount that you contact a qualified repair technician as soon as you notice any loosening of joints, rungs, spindles and so forth. This is for the benefit of the owner as well as the technician since the repair or tightening or loose joints and so forth is much easier, and much less expensive, than major structural repairs like split tenons, broken dowels or pins and cracked legs will be. Not to mention the very real danger you could be in if a neglected chair collapses under you or worse yet an elderly person. This is not a commercial. More like a friendly encouragement (reminder?) to take care of your furniture and it will take care of you.

Old World Vs. New World

As I am sitting here waiting for glue to dry (I do that a lot!), I was just thinking about how this business is, in many ways, completely out of step with the modern world. To one extent or another, we all have become accustomed to instant gratification. Flip a switch, the lights or heat come on. Turn a key and your car (or truck) starts. Not to mention the wonders of the internet, cell phones, ipads, pods, tablets and so on. People are used to getting what they want, when they want it. In other words, NOW! The antique furniture repair/restoration business however is a completely different process. Due to the nature of furniture, wood, strippers, thinners, glue, stains, lacquers and so on, it can by necessity be an extended process. When you try hard to restore a piece to it's original glory (or something close to it!) you must take your time and do the job correctly. Years back, when I was learning the business I was always in a rush. I didn't want to wait for the stripper to work, or the glue or stain to dry or... you get the picture. Over time, however, I learned to slow down and today in my work, I try to allow 12-24 hours between steps to ensure the last step is completely dry and I'm ready to proceed. I hate having to go back and re-do the thing I just did! Fortunately, nearly all persons understand that it can be a slow process and in my 18 years in this business I have had very few customers who simply did not understand why the old Morris chair they found under a tractor in a barn couldn't be finished in three days. Thanks for reading and I'll see ya next time!