| hear it all the time, the tone of semi disappointed do | | | | see the fantastic catalogues and well lit showrooms it |
| it yourselfers after they spend countless hours on | | | | may be hard to imagine that even though there are |
| their refinishing project "it doesn't look like we hoped | | | | many layers of finish, sealer, glaze, cow tails, |
| it would. Like so many other times in life, when good | | | | spattering, brush-graining and finally several coats of |
| folks find themselves disappointed. It really isn't their | | | | topcoat hand rubbed to a deep rich glow, it is still |
| fault at all, all they did was read the brochure, and | | | | quite thin. That is what gives the furniture that really |
| then the theater of the mind took over. I hear them | | | | refined classic look. When you compare the two |
| say, "we followed the instructions to the letter, so | | | | different methods you begin to see that there is no |
| why does it not look at all like we were hoping?" | | | | comparison at all. On one hand the single step stain |
| Here is why, Restoration by the very definition of | | | | followed by multiple coats of oil-cured polyurethane |
| the word, requires that the restorer understand from | | | | you end up with a monochromatic, thick, plastic finish, |
| what condition the original finish has fallen. To put it | | | | the one up side to all the mill thickness is that these |
| another way, if you don't know what it was, how | | | | oil-cured poly finishes are pretty durable. |
| can you know what it should be? So it's another | | | | However, if you are looking to achieve a finish that |
| situation of not even knowing what questions to ask | | | | has real depth and character, one that people look |
| because the idea of there being some other way | | | | at, and just get lost in, that will require a lot more, a |
| isn't even there. | | | | whole lot more. At a minimum, A base dye of the |
| It is true that some furniture is finished with a really | | | | required intensity, followed by a wash coat of sealer, |
| simple process, perhaps a coat of stain and then | | | | hand rubbed then glazed, followed by another wash, |
| three or four coats of polyurethane, and for home | | | | rubbed again, then add the light distressing and rag |
| woodworking projects and other simply functional | | | | work, wash coat and rub once again, followed by |
| stuff that will do, but if you have a nice medium, or | | | | gun shading and highlighting. All that by hand free |
| high-line piece and you expect it to look as | | | | form to match a specified sample before the first |
| spectacular as it did when it first came to your home | | | | application of topcoat is applied. That process is not |
| using a simple one or two step treatment, you may | | | | one that comes off the shelf. It is derived from a |
| not know it now, but soon you will, it's not going to | | | | lifetime of touching the wood, looking at how the |
| look anything like you are expecting. Where the harsh | | | | light dives into the wood and knowing what comes |
| reality and the hoped for dream collide, that is where | | | | next, it is the difference between a pop tart and a |
| disappointment lives. | | | | fine French pastry. Refinishing furniture can be a really |
| What you were hoping for was something a little | | | | exciting and fulfilling thing to do when all goes well |
| more. For example, the finish that one would expect | | | | and the results are what you were expecting, but |
| to find on furniture from a company like Baker, | | | | when it does not it can be a bad way to spend your |
| Henredon ,Drexell or Gramco, is really, really | | | | vacation time. So next time you are thinking about |
| sophisticated. It is done by Master finishers with | | | | taking on a refinishing project do your homework |
| decades of experience. Even the apprentices in an | | | | before you begin, ask for professional advice. If all |
| environment like this possess knowledge of the ways | | | | the lights are green, go. If not, and you still want to |
| of the "force". Artistic finishes like this sometimes | | | | go for it, maybe you should consider an |
| require as many as twenty or more steps to achieve | | | | apprenticeship in our restoration shop, who knows in |
| the depth and richness that people have come to | | | | four or five years you too may be a member of this |
| expect from top drawer brands like these. When you | | | | quirky band of brothers known as Wood finishers. |