Professional furniture hobbyists and restorers have one thing in common. They know how to give a new life to old furniture. With this, you can save something from a landfill and breathe a new life to it. The former owner would only see a dirty surface and furniture with broken legs. But as a furniture restorer, you can see a new possibility.
Furniture restoration involves work that will bring the furniture to its original condition as much as possible. The work involves more than just a facelift. As such, here are tips that you can try on how to make your old furniture new again.
Devote Some Time in your Project
You found an old table at your backyard and all it needs is some tender loving care. You are now imagining how it will look good in your living room. Found this to be the best orbital sander for such work and you can try it.
However, we must remember that even if it is just a small project, it can quickly become a time-consuming activity. This depends on your restoration skills and the hours you are willing to devote to the work. The harder the job is, the longer it will take to complete. As such, be sure to have enough time in your schedule. You can also give up some weekends so you can finish the job.
Remember that deep carving can take many hours before it will be finished. Spindles and slats are not easy to do. If you will have to remove rust, it will take many days of work. This is a project that you have to keep in mind before deciding whether or not you haul that table inside your home.
Prepare the Furniture
You must learn how to disassemble the furniture that you have gently. If it has solid joints and screws, that’s fine. Don’t maul them just to get them apart. The fastenings in the furniture must be undone. Clean out the old glue and the old painting. Remove the parts left separated until you complete the refinishing. Found this to be the best orbital sander for such work and you can try it.
Do Some Research
You can also do some research to know the value of your piece before restoring it. Check the marks or labels that might indicate its origin. If you think that it’s worth some money, you can consult a professional before starting any restoration work. Take pictures or tags for documentation purposes. When you remove a collectible antique’s finish, you can lessen or void its value. As such, don’t start sanding or stripping the furniture until you know exactly what you have.
If you don’t have any idea about furniture, then you don’t have to worry about it. It is easy to look for some signs of age. Try to feel underneath the furniture for dull interior corners. Unscrew a screw and check at the threads. If there is an inconsistent width, then the piece might already be old. Remove the furniture and check if it has dovetail joints. If you have found any of this, then the furniture is old yet well made. Hire a professional antique appraiser for you to know the real value of the piece.
