Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - old victorian woodwork
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susanonly
07-07-02, 07:15 PM
i would like to restore the wood on the windows and woodwork
in my old voctorian home. the wood seems dry from the old fashion heating system to a point it is beginning to splinter.
i would like to protect and inhance this beautiful old wood but i am unsure what to use and how to go about it. any suggetion and/or ideas would be most welcomed.
thanks
susan
in my old voctorian home. the wood seems dry from the old fashion heating system to a point it is beginning to splinter.
i would like to protect and inhance this beautiful old wood but i am unsure what to use and how to go about it. any suggetion and/or ideas would be most welcomed.
thanks
susan
George
07-08-02, 06:56 PM
Susan:
Any damaged areas need to be repaired before going further. Everything should be mechanically sound before any finish work.
Assuming from your post the wood work is unfinished or the existing finish has worn off (most if not completely), I'd suggest a spot test; coat an area with one layer of clear shellac - available at many hardware stores, paint stores and home centers. This should retore the color and beauty of the wood and provide a protective finish.
Don't worry about dry - wood in trim, furniture, etc., is dead - it's supposed to be dry. The look of 'moisture' comes from the finish - not any moisture inherent in the wood itself.
Any damaged areas need to be repaired before going further. Everything should be mechanically sound before any finish work.
Assuming from your post the wood work is unfinished or the existing finish has worn off (most if not completely), I'd suggest a spot test; coat an area with one layer of clear shellac - available at many hardware stores, paint stores and home centers. This should retore the color and beauty of the wood and provide a protective finish.
Don't worry about dry - wood in trim, furniture, etc., is dead - it's supposed to be dry. The look of 'moisture' comes from the finish - not any moisture inherent in the wood itself.
susanonly
07-08-02, 07:07 PM
hi George
thanks so much for the advice. you sugested shellac ...this would be better than say a varnish or polyurethane???
and you are right to guess the old finish has worn off. so with the shellac i could just paint this on over what ever is on the wood....which is nothing to very light in most areas???
again thanks so much for responding
susan
thanks so much for the advice. you sugested shellac ...this would be better than say a varnish or polyurethane???
and you are right to guess the old finish has worn off. so with the shellac i could just paint this on over what ever is on the wood....which is nothing to very light in most areas???
again thanks so much for responding
susan