How To Give New Life To Old Wooden Furniture

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I've said it before and I'll say it again: Old wood is beautiful in itself and I don't think most furniture should be stained. If you feel otherwise, use restraint so that the final effect wilI be natural. Apply coloring lightly, wait a few minutes, and rub it down with a rag. Don't ever try to get a deep stain in one coat, or the result will look like bad paint. Let the finished job dry a day before you varnish it.

Pros go over furniture with a vacuum cleaner and "tack rag" immediately before varnishing . . . but you can get the same effect by rubbing and dusting a surface carefully with a cloth. Then swab on the finish with a lintless rag. Make haste slowly, work the coating in well (it's going to be its own sealer) and be sure that no excess is left on corners and edges. Let the piece dry thoroughly, dust it again, and apply another layer (less varnish will be needed this time). Repeat the whole process as often as you want . . . but keep those coats light!

When you've applied enough thicknesses of varnish to suit you (remember, you want the surface to resemble wood, not glass), rub the dried top layer lightly with No. 0000 steel wool to cut the gloss. The result will be a beautiful low-sheen protective coating, very hard and waterproof, which looks and feels like an expensive oil finish.

Reassemble the piece if necessary, with only enough glue to do the job (excess white glue can be wiped off with a damp rag). Then, if you want a high sheen like that of some old furniture in museums, apply a light coat of paste wax and rub it down.

SALES

Don't be in a hurry to sell an article, or you may get less than it's worth. Unless the item is small, advertise it by itself or only with similar pieces. Show it in your living room or other attractive setting . . . not in the workshop, unless a clean display area is available. And if the piece is really prime, consider having it appraised and then selling it by sealed bids.

Actually it's hard to lose money on good wood, nicely finished, any way you handle the transaction. The demand for any quality wooden item is currently good and constantly getting better. You should be able to do quite well for yourself by rescuing junk store Cinderellas and revealing their true beauty.

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