Furniture and Furnishings - refinishing antique oak dresser
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arae
03-21-02, 01:09 PM
I am refinishing an antique oak dresser. I stripped the yellow paint from it and sanded it and am ready for the next step. I have 3 problems.
First - the drawers don't all fit where they used to - something made them expand - possibly the humidity or the stripping material. Should I sand them to make them fit again?
Second - the handles are little wood knobs and I would like something a little more creative than that. I thought about metal or crackle glass knobs. Where would you suggest I look? Or how would I make some?
Third - I don't really like the color of the oak. My dad wants me to finish it with Tung Oil. I was thinking of staining it with a color called Provincial. Should I stain an antique? Is Tung Oil going to preserve the wood well?
Thanks for your help and suggestions
First - the drawers don't all fit where they used to - something made them expand - possibly the humidity or the stripping material. Should I sand them to make them fit again?
Second - the handles are little wood knobs and I would like something a little more creative than that. I thought about metal or crackle glass knobs. Where would you suggest I look? Or how would I make some?
Third - I don't really like the color of the oak. My dad wants me to finish it with Tung Oil. I was thinking of staining it with a color called Provincial. Should I stain an antique? Is Tung Oil going to preserve the wood well?
Thanks for your help and suggestions
George
03-21-02, 05:40 PM
If you used a waterbase stripper it is possible this changed the size of the drawers - but not likely.
It's probably just the humidity in the area it's in. For right now, I wouldn't do anything. Give it a chance to acclimate to its surroundings.
Many local home centers have an extensive selection of pulls and knobs. Or you can check out these sites, order their catalog(s). Van Dykes in particular has an excellent selection of period hardware.
http://www.rockler.com
http://www.vandykes.com
Tung oil is adequate - but just barely. It is, however, almost fool proof in application. One suggestion though; whatever finish you choose, do the entire piece, inside and out, including the drawers. This will seal the wood and protect it from changes via humidity.
As you've already stripped the piece, the quesiton of whether or not to stain is purely esthetic - at this point it will have little or no effect on the value of the piece as an antique.
It's probably just the humidity in the area it's in. For right now, I wouldn't do anything. Give it a chance to acclimate to its surroundings.
Many local home centers have an extensive selection of pulls and knobs. Or you can check out these sites, order their catalog(s). Van Dykes in particular has an excellent selection of period hardware.
http://www.rockler.com
http://www.vandykes.com
Tung oil is adequate - but just barely. It is, however, almost fool proof in application. One suggestion though; whatever finish you choose, do the entire piece, inside and out, including the drawers. This will seal the wood and protect it from changes via humidity.
As you've already stripped the piece, the quesiton of whether or not to stain is purely esthetic - at this point it will have little or no effect on the value of the piece as an antique.