Inspect before Restoration
The best place to start
is a thorough inspection of the piece to be restored. Determine where
the worst build up is. Check inside corners, carvings, around hardware
and molding, or any other obstacles that might stop a dust cloth in it's
tracks and leave whatever was being pushed by the cloth.
Remove Hardware
The first
thing after the inspection is to apply some furniture restoration
cleaner in an inconspicuous place to be sure that it's compatible with
the finish. Always follow the label directions on the cleaner container.
The furniture
restoration job is easier if you can remove the hardware. Generally when
you remove the hardware from older furniture there is a little ridge on
the finish at the base of the hardware. This ridge is a buildup of wax,
polish and dust and is quite often crusty and defies dissolving so it
would be a good idea to have a plastic putty knife handy to do a little
scraping to remove the ridge. If you try rubbing the ridge off with
steel wool and cleaner you may rub through the surrounding finish before
the ridge is rubbed down. A table knife isn't a good idea either, you
could damage the finish.
Restore A Small Area At A
Time
It's always a good idea to work in a small area at
a time, about 10 inches in diameter, then go over the whole connected
surface and blend the smaller areas together. When I say connected
surface that means a whole area, like a complete top, or a complete half
of a table that opens for a leaf, or one side of a piece, or one shelf,
any surface that continues uninterrupted by an edge, a molding or
anything else that contains the surface.
Next, using a small paint brush, apply cleaner to any place that might
have an extra buildup, like inside corners, carvings or anything else of
that nature, so that the cleaner can have extra time to start dissolving
the excess buildup. Follow the label directions and cautions on the
container of cleaner for your furniture restoration project and clean
the larger expanse of flat area. Daub more cleaner on the badly built up
areas while you're cleaning the flat area. Periodically test an area of
excess build up using a toothbrush on carving or similar areas and a
dowel sharpened in a pencil sharpener for inside corners and deep
crevices.
Make A Second Restoration
Trip
After you're sure that
the furniture is completely clean, go over it again to be definitely
sure, especially if you know that spray polish has been used on the
furniture. Removing the silicone that has come from spray polish is one
of the most difficult parts of the finish portion of furniture
restoration.
Inspect Your Furniture
Restoration
After the cleaning is all done give the piece a
good buffing with a soft cloth.
If the finish is all there, not worn off in places, and has a nice
appearance your furniture restoration is complete. Best not to use any
spray polishes, because you'll just start the buildup process again and
sprays can do it quickly and are the most difficult to completely
remove. If the finish is all there, but looks a little dull there are
several wax and polishing products that can give it a more lively
appearance. Many of those products can be used on everyday finishes too.
Wax And Polish
Before you wax or polish go over your furniture
with a slightly damp cloth to remove dust and fingerprints, then buff
with a clean, dry, soft cloth, then use the wax or polish very
sparingly. It doesn't take much wax or polish to give a good appearance
and too much can make the finish look worse in a short time, cause
quicker build up and a much shorter time until furniture restoration is
necessary again |
