Fine Woodworking Refinishing

hear it all the time, the tone of semi disappointed do it yourselfers after they spend countless hours on their refinishing project “it doesn’t look like we hoped it would.
Like so many other times in life, when good folks find themselves disappointed.
It really isn’t their fault at all, all they did was read the brochure, and then the theater of the mind took over. I hear them say, “we followed the instructions to the letter, so why does it not look at all like we were hoping?”

Here is why, Restoration by the very definition of the word, requires that the restorer understand from what condition the original finish has fallen. To put it another way, if you don’t know what it was, how can you know what it should be?
So it’s another situation of not even knowing what questions to ask because the idea of there being some other way isn’t even there.

It is true that some furniture is finished with a really simple process, perhaps a coat of stain and then three or four coats of polyurethane, and for home woodworking projects and other simply functional stuff that will do, but if you have a nice medium, or high-line piece and you expect it to look as spectacular as it did when it first came to your home using a simple one or two step treatment, you may not know it now, but soon you will, it’s not going to look anything like you are expecting. Where the harsh reality and the hoped for dream collide, that is where disappointment lives.

What you were hoping for was something a little more. For example, the finish that one would expect to find on furniture from a company like Baker, Henredon ,Drexell or Gramco, is really, really sophisticated. It is done by Master finishers with decades of experience. Even the apprentices in an environment like this possess knowledge of the ways of the “force”. Artistic finishes like this sometimes require as many as twenty or more steps to achieve the depth and richness that people have come to expect from top drawer brands like these. When you see the fantastic catalogues and well lit showrooms it may be hard to imagine that even though there are many layers of finish, sealer, glaze, cow tails, spattering, brush-graining and finally several coats of topcoat hand rubbed to a deep rich glow, it is still quite thin. That is what gives the furniture that really refined classic look. When you compare the two different methods you begin to see that there is no comparison at all.
On one hand the single step stain followed by multiple coats of oil-cured polyurethane you end up with a monochromatic, thick, plastic finish, the one up side to all the mill thickness is that these oil-cured poly finishes are pretty durable.

However, if you are looking to achieve a finish that has real depth and character, one that people look at, and just get lost in, that will require a lot more, a whole lot more. At a minimum, A base dye of the required intensity, followed by a wash coat of sealer, hand rubbed then glazed, followed by another wash, rubbed again, then add the light distressing and rag work, wash coat and rub once again, followed by gun shading and highlighting. All that by hand free form to match a specified sample before the first application of topcoat is applied. That process is not one that comes off the shelf. It is derived from a lifetime of touching the wood, looking at how the light dives into the wood and knowing what comes next, it is the difference between a pop tart and a fine French pastry.
Refinishing furniture can be a really exciting and fulfilling thing to do when all goes well and the results are what you were expecting, but when it does not it can be a bad way to spend your vacation time. So next time you are thinking about taking on a refinishing project do your homework before you begin, ask for professional advice. If all the lights are green, go. If not, and you still want to go for it, maybe you should consider an apprenticeship in our restoration shop, who knows in four or five years you too may be a member of this quirky band of brothers known as Wood finishers.

About the Author:

John VerHines is a seasoned restorer and the president of Gramco. With over 40 years of experience in the craft of furniture restoration.

To learn more
visit
http://www.GramcoFurnitureRestoration.com

Copyright Gramco furniture restoration LLC.

Article Source: ArticlesBase.com – The Truth About Do It Yourself Furniture Refinishing

Conventional paints, especially for motor vehicles tinting interests, proved more dangerous because it contains many ingredients that are always environmentally destructive. For this reason, the technologies in this field continue to be developed for the creation of environmentally friendly products with no less quality with conventional paint.

Recently, the development of technologies that related with paint very fast. In fact, the latest technology appears, paint with waterborne technology potion. This product contains more elements of water including for the dilution purposes instead of toxic compounds such as paint thinner in it that are cause the damage to environment.

Waterborne technology can be described as a simple process; water can replace liquid paint thinner, started for the benefit of mixing, painting, and evaporation. This is very beneficial because the substance contained in a thinner is a form of environmental damaging compounds.

However, it does not mean waterborne did not use paint thinner in the entire production process. Only the concentration and a lot of reduced the amount if it compared with the use of paint thinner in conventional products.

With this, the combination of paint that containing water with a high solid system are the mixture of several chemical compounds that contained in the paint can reduce the amount of toxic solvents which is used. The new system is very environmentally friendly also including the coating process, coat base, and also coat.

Paint that contains more water must be heated in a temperature between 5 to 30 degrees Celsius. Even for a better result required the heating process until the temperature 20 degrees Celsius. The process is slightly more complicated than the use of conventional paint.

Recently, this system has been developing a method of painting with oven, and able to eliminated some obstacles. For example: to mixing paint in the oven must be carefully before painting. Moreover, it can also be used infrared method, so that the paint which is diluted with water definitely can be dry with ease.

This product formulated to be friendly with water. Therefore, pigment-binding process is one of one example that can be performing easily. Easy, this process can be imagined as mixing paint for the purposes of drawing water. But the end of result was almost exactly the same as oil paint, which more powerful and easily to coat the shiny metal. Because it is easily soluble in water, the other chemical solvent needed in the process of painting as a whole can be very small, about 10 percent compared to the use of conventional paint.

On the basis of painting process with conventional products, toxic solvents required must be 85 percent. But, by using this new type of paint, the other chemical solvents compounds only required ten percent.

The advantage of using waterborne is not only reducing the environmental problem in the process of refinishing, but also to balance ecological and economic systems. This new material more secure to be used every day, and also can greatly reduce the investment of new equipment, because using less material than conventional paint.

Automotive manufacturer Audi in Germany has also made research to refine these findings. The development includes the process of water dissolving directly mixed in the circulation at a special container when sprayed. This is also included the using of the latest ultra filter system.

The Process; the water from the paint collected in 250,000-liter tank before cleaning the pollutants and other toxic chemicals. After that the water is recycled into the painting circuit. In other words, to fills the water circuit, also require the water. It means that the whole process of painting is not only guaranteed of environmentally friendly, but also very economical, because the water can be recycled.

The process was able to reduce more than 70 percent of the energy for the purposes of tinting on the entire of the cars body in the series of production car in the factory. That means, will save at least 2900 tons of oil for heating purposes in the process of painting in the factory of Audi per year.

If discussing about this new paint technology, of course must be linked with the motor vehicle painting process in the factory. The Result is the progress of the environmental protection and the efforts to suppress the production cost can be obtained by using waterborne. Meanwhile, for the business or the painting services, the level of information about efficiency still not yet obtained.

My name is Rangga Cipta Diputra from Indonesia. Recently I am so worry about this planet (Earth) due to global warming. There are so many articles explain about Waterborne, but I hope my article’s useful for everyone.

Refinishing Wood Furniture : Filling in Wood Furniture Grain

4 New Beautiful Cabinet Maple Wood Samples for Woodworking & Craft Projects $20.00

2 WOODWORKING BOOKS “COMPLETE WOODWORKER” & “PRACTICAL WOODWORKER” BERNARD JONES $2.99

Basswood Lumber, Thick 6/4-, Super Wide Board, Top Quality Carving Wood, Clear $9.00

Cherry Lumber, Long, Thick, Curly, Rift/Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Beautiful $9.75

Hard Maple Lumber, Square Stock Board, Turning Wood, Clear, Top Quality $8.25

Hard Maple Lumber, Thick 6/4+, Premium Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained $9.00

Hard Maple Lumber, Thick 6/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Excellent Quality $9.50

Poplar Lumber, Tulip, Thick 8/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Top Quality $8.50

Red Oak Lumber, Flat Sawed Board, Straight Grained, Excellent Quality, Beautiful $9.25

Red Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Super Good One, Light Red Color, Flakes $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Thick 6/4-, Quarter/Rift Sawed Board, Clear, Super Good One $8.00

White Oak Lumber, Thick 8/4 Board, Quarter Sawed, Flakes, Super Good One $6.75

Shelf Board, Maple, Solid Wood Construction, Unfinished $4.75

Woodworking & Furniture Building CD – 3 books of plans $6.99

20, FLEUR DE LIS, DRAWER PULLS, METAL, NEW ORLEANS,WOOD WORKING, CABINETRY,NEW $24.98

Craftsman Building/Woodworking Plans 125 Blueprints-New $0.99

Medallion Birch Embossed Wood Applique Woodworking $5.99

Hard Maple Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Rays End to End, Straight Even Grained $9.75

Hard Maple Lumber, Crotch Wood Flare Section, Curly, Figured, Premium Quality $9.00

Mahogany Lumber, Thick 6/4-, Rift Sawed Board, Premium, Old Stock $20.50

Red Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Clear, Beautiful, Top Quality $6.25

Red Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Clear, Beautiful, Top Quality $9.75

Walnut Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Rays, Clear, Straight Grained, Top Quality $7.25

White Oak Lumber, Instant Antique Board, Thick 5/4+, Quarter Sawed, Flakes $7.00

Lot of 20 WOODWORKING type MAGAZINES from 1990’s $4.99

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Clear, Super Good One $8.00

White Oak Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Quarter/Rift Sawed Board, Rays, Top Quality $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Clear, Beautiful $7.50

White Oak Lumber, Instant Antique Board, Quarter/Rift Sawed, Beautiful $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Tiger Striped/Curly Board, Quarter Sawed, Super-Super Good One $19.50

200 BRASS PLATED FINISHING WASHERS #6 Cup Washers $6.95

Red Oak Lumber, Thick 7/4-, Quarter/Rift Sawed Board, Clear, Rays, Appalachian $6.50

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Clear, Burr White Oak $8.00

1907 Rustic Outdoor Furniture Carpentry Book on CD $8.97

Woodworking/Hobby/Garage Workbench Plans $2.50

25 x 1 1/2″ WOODEN KNOBS | BULK LOT CABINET DRAWER HARDWARE PULLS HANDLES CRAFT $12.95

300 WOODEN 1 1/2″ KNOBS LOT | CABINET HARDWARE PULLS | BULK FURNITURE SUPPLIES $38.95

Vintage Woodworking, furniture, home improvement manual one lot of 4 magazines $4.99

Hard Maple Lumber, Clear, 2 Flat Sawed Boards, Straight Grained, Clear $9.50

Hard Maple Lumber, Thick 6/4, Flat Sawed Board, Straight Grained, Super Good One $9.75

Hickory Lumber, Thick 6/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained, Premium $9.00

Mahogany Lumber, Thin, Scroll Wood, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Super Good One $7.50

Dowel Rod, 9/4 Ash, Golden Oak Finish Straight Grained $9.99

Red Pine Lumber, Thick 8/4-, Wide, Flat Sawed Board, Straight Grained, Beautiful $9.00

Walnut Lumber, Square Stock Board, Turning Wood, Clear, Straight Grained $9.00

Walnut Lumber, Thick 8/4+, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained, Excellent $6.75

Walnut Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Crotch Wood Section, Flare, Curly, Figured, Wide $20.50

White Oak Lumber, Tiger Striped Board, Curly, Quarter Sawed, Flakes $7.50

White Oak Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained $7.00

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Straight Grained, Light Curl $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Straight Even Grained, Super $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Straight Even Grained, Super $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Long, Quarter/Rift Sawed Board, Loaded with Flakes, Premium $9.75

Red Oak Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Quarter Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained, Flakes $8.75

Antique Reclaimed Barnwood $5.00

Cherry Lumber, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained, Top Quality $6.00

Walnut Lumber, Thick 8/4-, Crotch Wood Section Flare, Figured, Rich Medium Color $6.25

5000 Bostitch Staples 5/8G 5/16 Crown 18ga Woodworking $9.99

5000 Bostitch Staples 3/4G 5/16 Crown Woodworking $10.99

10,000 Staples 5/16″Crown 5/8″ Leg Woodworking Hardware $12.99

Cedar Board Lumber Wood $1.30

Walnut Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Rays, Clear, Rich Color, Top Quality $6.00

Basswood Lumber, Thick 15/4 Carving Wood, Turning wood, Clear, Excellent Quality $9.50

Cherry Lumber, Thick 11/4-, Square Stock, Turning Wood, Clear, Super Good One $9.75

Cherry Lumber, Thick 12/4+, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Even Grained $9.75

Cherry Lumber, Thick 12/4, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Even Grained, Super $11.75

Cherry Lumber, Thick 8/4-, Super Wide Board, Curly, Flat Sawed, Super-Super $12.25

Hard Maple Lumber, 5/4-, Flat Sawed Board, 100% White Wood, Super-Super Good One $9.75

Hard Maple Lumber, 8/4-, Wide Flat Sawed Board, White Wood, Super-Super Good One $9.75

Walnut Lumber, Thick 7/4-, Super Wide, Flat Sawed Board, Top Quality, Beautiful $15.50

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Loaded with Large Flakes, Beautiful $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes, Light Curl, Swamp White Oak $11.75

White Oak Lumber, Long, Premium Tiger Striped Board, Curly, Absolutely Beautiful $15.75

VINTAGE Practical Projects Things to Make Woodworking Delta Milwaukee Book 2 $9.99

WOODWORKING PROJECTS—-Sunset Books, 96 pages from 1981 $1.99

6 Woodsmith Magazines #31-36 1984 Complete Year Notes From The Shop Woodworking $9.95

347 WOODWORKING PATTERNS from 1991, 160 pages $1.99

25 ESSENTIAL PROJECTS for YOUR WORKSHOP, from Popular Woodworking,128 pages2000 $1.99

Architecture carpentry woodworking house floor plans CD $9.99

Craftsman Building/Woodworking Plans 125 Blueprints-New $1.49

White Oak Lumber, Instant Antique, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Clear $7.25

White Oak Lumber, Swamp White Oak, Rift/Flat Sawed, Straight Grained, Beautiful $7.25

Poplar Lumber, Tulip, Square Stock Board, Turning Wood, Clear, Premium $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Excellent Quality $6.00

Craftsman Building/Woodworking Plans 125 Blueprints-New $0.99

Hard Maple Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Rays End to End, Top Quality, Excellent $9.75

Hard Maple Lumber, Long, Rift Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Even Grained, Premium $8.75

Hickory Lumber, Flat Sawed board, Straight Grained, Medium Textured, Beautiful $7.50

Hickory Lumber, Quarter Sawed Board, Rays End to End, Super Good One $9.50

Red Oak Lumber, Long, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Super Good One $12.75

Red Oak Lumber, Super Wide Board, Instant Antique, Flat Sawed, Beautiful $9.75

White Oak Lumber, Thick 7/4 Board, Rift Sawed, Clear $4.73

Walnut Lumber, Flat Sawed Board, Beautiful Medium Walnut Color Heartwood $6.75

Walnut Lumber, Curly, Thick 6/4+, Flat Sawed Board, Clear, Absolutely Beautiful $7.25

Walnut Lumber, Thick 8/4-, Quarter Sawed Board, Clear, Straight Grained, Premium $9.00

White Oak Lumber, Long, Rift Sawed Board, Straight Even Grained, Super Good One $9.50

White Oak Lumber, Tiger Striped/Curly, Quarter Sawed Board, Flaked & Curly $11.75

Red Oak Lumber, Thick 5/4+, Quarter Sawed Board, Flakes End to End, Super $9.00

Hickory Lumber, Thick 5/4-, Flat Sawed Board, Wide, Beautiful, Top Quality $9.50

Walnut Lumber, Thick 9/4, Clear Rift/Flat Sawed Board, Excellent Color & Texture $6.50