
Easy Do It Yourself Steps to Repair your Antique Furniture at Home.
- 1. Scrub with soapy water. Cleaning should always be the first phase of any furniture renewal project. Experts often recommend using liquid Ivory dish ...
- 2. Fill damaged spots with epoxy.
- 3. Scrape old paint.
- 4: Apply gel stain.
- 5. Fill small cracks.
How do I appraise my antique furniture?
- List everything you know about your antique furniture. This may include the manufacturer, the patent number, the materials used, and other information. ...
- Assess the furniture's condition. ...
- Look up your furniture using several different tools. ...
- If in doubt, have your furniture appraised by a certified professional. ...
How do you restore antique furniture?
How to restore wood furniture: clean, repair and refinish
- Prepare for stripping back. Stripping furniture is messy, but key to wood restoration, so work outside if possible. ...
- Allow layers to dissolve. For a good result when refinishing wood, leave the stripper on for between five and 30 minutes until the finish – a mix of old ...
- Neutralise the chemical stripper. ...
How to tell if your furniture is antique?
Unique Chair Styles
- Corner Chair. These armchairs typically have square seats that are situated diagonally, such that the chair can be smoothly tucked into a corner.
- Chaise Longue. Chaise longue literally means "long chair" in French, and it's exactly what it sounds like. ...
- Savonarola. The Savonarola has the silhouette of a wavy X. ...
- Curule. ...
How to restore an antique without refinishing.?
- Using an old toothbrush, scrub the Howard’s Pine-Ola Copper and Brass Polish into the handle or knob. (Or anything brass or copper)
- I like to scrub all of the pieces and then wiping off the polish the buff it until it shines.
- Clean with soap and water and dry thoroughly.

How do you restore antique furniture?
The correct method is to rub boiled linseed oil into the wood using a clean lint free cloth. Rub in oil very vigorously until the wood looks replenished and won't soak up any more linseed oil. With your cloth rub off the excess oil and leave the piece of antique furniture to dry over night.
How do you fix veneer on antique furniture?
0:233:45Repairing Buckled Veneer - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipWork hide glue under it everywhere I can and then just clamp it down and then we'll see how well itMoreWork hide glue under it everywhere I can and then just clamp it down and then we'll see how well it worked when I take the clamp off the veneer as it heats up is just becoming very very flexible.
What is the best glue for antique furniture repair?
Hide glue is the all-natural choice for wood furniture repair. Basically boiled animal collagen, hide glue comes in two forms: liquid and solid crystals melted in a hot water bath and applied with a brush.
Is it worth it to restore antique furniture?
Refinishing valuable American masterpieces can diminish the value, or painting over or removing hand-painted techniques can reduce the integrity of an antique. However, in general, cleaning and restoring old furniture can add value and help bring it back to life.
How can I tell if my furniture is laminate or veneer?
1:354:46How to tell the difference between laminate and veneer ... - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipSo first and foremost the wood grain it's a pattern. So that's usually a good sign that it is aMoreSo first and foremost the wood grain it's a pattern. So that's usually a good sign that it is a laminate. But do you see how it kind of chips back here. And you can't really see the wood grain.
How do you fix peeling veneer on furniture?
0:422:02How to Fix Peeling Veneer on Furniture - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipFor a piece of furniture that will be painted this is a very easy problem to solve we can patch theMoreFor a piece of furniture that will be painted this is a very easy problem to solve we can patch the missing veneer with bondo all-purpose putty.
Was glue used on antique furniture?
1:003:22Tommy's Tips: What Glue Should I Use? - Thomas Johnson Antique ...YouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI use hide glue primarily. On period antiques. It's fun to use I like using it.MoreI use hide glue primarily. On period antiques. It's fun to use I like using it.
Is Gorilla Glue good for furniture?
Gorilla is a relative newcomer to the glue game, but it has developed a reliable wood glue that surpasses many others in adhesive strength. The water-based PVA formula has a slightly thick consistency that makes it easy to control and spread, and it bonds very well to hardwoods, softwoods, and wood composites.
Is epoxy better than wood glue?
Epoxy has the advantage of being waterproof and does a good job filling gaps in wood. Most other wood glues will not hold well if there is a gap between the pieces of wood that you are gluing together. Some epoxy formulas take a while to cure, others will cure in as little as five minutes.
How do you restore old furniture without stripping?
0:041:19How to restore furniture without chemical stripping - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipAnd that might solve your problem entirely if not there are products designed to do that. If youMoreAnd that might solve your problem entirely if not there are products designed to do that. If you discover you have any chipped or missing veneer you can apply epoxy putty to the damaged. Areas.
Do restored antiques lose value?
Much of the value of antiques comes from their age. The patina, or surface wear or oxidation, of a piece is evidence of its age and history, so in most cases, it is prized by collectors. If you destroy the patina during the restoration process, you can dramatically decrease the value of the item.
When can you not refinish antique furniture?
If it's a cheap mass-manufactured piece made of particleboard or MDF with a foil or laminate finish, don't bother refinishing, as it won't be worth your time, and even paint won't adhere well to the smooth, plastic-like surface (and is akin to putting lipstick on a pig).
What to do if you find markings on antique furniture?
If such markings are found on your antique furniture, it would be best to first research your piece’s maker and style so that any restoration you perform maintains the integrity of the piece.
Why is my antique furniture bleaching?
One of the most common issues that plagues antique furniture is wood bleaching, which is caused by prolonged exposure to light over time. As the color leaches from the surface, your antique furniture will assume an uneven tone.
What is antique furniture made of?
Material: most antique furniture will feature woods like mahogany, oak, or pine with rich texture and patina. Joinders: rather than glue or screws, antique furniture is most often held together using the time-testing techniques of mortise-and-tenon or dovetail construction. Marks/Stamps/Labels: popular makers of furniture would often mark their ...
Can antique hinges be repaired?
Sometimes antique hinges are damaged beyond repair or knobs are missing, which can require you to search for (near) exact replicas; in other instances, original hardware may have been removed entirely by a misguided previous owner, meaning you might need to find a completely new set with which to work.
What to do if furniture is missing?
If a part of the furniture is missing then it is always best to consult a professional to have it patched. Only craftsmanship and keen attention to detail will result in a satisfying repair.
How to get paint off furniture without damaging finish?
Easily scrape away old paint from your furniture without damaging the finish by using a delicate paint scrubber. A razor blade works well as a home-made paint scrubber or you can buy one in your local DiY store.
Can wax filler stick be used on furniture?
You can use wax filler sticks to repair tiny cracks or small holes in your furniture. They're very easy to use and if you take the time to build-up your layers carefully and match the colours accurately the resulting repair can be almost impossible to spot.
How to Use KwikWood
Repairing furniture is a breeze with the right products! KwikWood dries quickly into a hard type of wood filler. Plus it shapes easily, like clay! Making it one of the best types of wood filler around! Here’s how to use KwikWood.
How to Repair Rattan Furniture
Rattan and cane furniture are all the rage! If you’re lucky you can find some rattan furniture at a thrift store to makeover, but it might need some repair. So, here’s how to repair rattan furniture!
Repairing Veneer with Wood Filler
You can easily fix your furniture with damaged or chipped veneer, yes YOU can! Here’s how easy repairing veneer with wood filler can be!
The Insanely Easy Way to Remove Veneer
This insanely easy way to remove veneer from wood will have you done with your project before you know it! Not only is it easy, but you probably already have all of the tools you need!
How to Repair (and Stain) Chipped Veneer Furniture
Here’s how to repair chipped veneer furniture, and, as a BONUS, how to stain the repair (instead of painting it!)
How to Fix a Chipped Wood Corner
It’s easier than you think to a broken corner on your old furniture. Whether your dog chewed it, the movers broke it, or someone was playing too hard, here’s how to fix a chipped wood corner.
How to Repair Bubbled Veneer
Old veneer furniture is notorious for having damaged veneer. This dresser top had water damage, resulting in lifting veneer. If you have this problem, here’s how to repair bubbled veneer!
How to strip an antique piece?
Stripping an antique piece involves applying a chemical solvent that removes the finish of the piece and brings it back to bare wood. This process may even weaken or remove glue used to hold the piece together.
What is the purpose of antique finish restoration?
An antique finish restoration protects the patina developed over time while enhancing it, and includes a careful cleaning to remove stuck-on grime and grease.
How old do you have to be to be considered antique?
First things first: For an item to be technically considered antique, it must be 100 years old or more. Vintage describes a collectible item between 20 and 99 years old. And what about retro? It applies to anything made within the last 20 years and may reference a different style of the past.
What is refinishing a piece of furniture?
Refinishing the piece means taking off the old finish and creating a new one. It's physically demanding, so be prepared to use some elbow grease for this messy and cumbersome job. For a do-it-yourselfer, it's best to use a combination of chemical strippers and sanding.
How long does it take to refinish a carving?
Deep carvings can take many hours to strip and refinish. Slats and spindles are not easy to redo.
Do you have to put on more than one coat of wipe on stain?
These make finishing furniture easy because they're easy to apply, quick to dry and don't show drips or brushstrokes. However, they're thinner than brush-on stains, so you may have to put on more than one coat.
Can you see how it looks sitting in your living room?
You can already see how it'll look sitting in your living room. However, it's important to remember that a small side project can quickly turn into a time-consuming chore, depending on your restoration skills and how many free hours you have to devote to the work.
Can you take apart furniture and re-glue?
If your piece of furniture is overly ri ckety, it may need more than tight er screws; it may need to be completely taken apart and re-glued. But know what you're getting into. Taking apart furniture is time-consuming, and using clamps to re-glue the pieces requires a fair amount of know-how and skill.
