Alternate Approaches to Rejuvinate an Old Well Worn Chair
I have this well worn chair with delightful carving, multiple layers of lacquer finish; crackled in some spots, worn and chipped in others, with two minor structural issues that are repairable or can be made secure.
I am curious what some of you would do to this chair from a finishing standpoint if you had it. I don’t know anything about this chair other than it has been in my family for a while so I have some affinity for it.
I think if it was less Old Brown Furniture in nature my kids might actually want it. Over the years I thought about different approaches but could never envision the outcome being satisfactory.
I’ve considered a basic cleaning with DNA and milk paint overcoat, stressed milk paint with multiple layers, or crackled milk paint. Briefly thought about spray paint which would look, probably just bad. To just a cleanup and a few new coats of lacquer to build on it’s past history.
Any other thoughts or ideas. If it was your chair what would you do? Colored lacquer, shellac, strip completely, etc.
comments are appreciated!
Replies
If it were mine I'd do the repairs, clean it, and wipe it down using a rag soaked in something like Watco Tung Oil Finish. Since you like it, keep it the way you've always known it. Tell the kids they can paint it if they want to take it, or even that you'll paint it for them, but don't change it if you'll be keeping it (unless you want to). Don't use anything with a wax content if you might paint it later.
I think your right, go with the look of multiple layers of old finish. I gave it a wash with mild soap and water, sanded out a few splinters, separated, cleaned up and glued the leg tenons with OBG and tomorrow will make one more repair.
Then I'm thinking of layering multiple layers of garnet shellac which I think will help tone down the bare wood spots without resorting to stain. Then maybe that's it. It will still look like an old brown chair but perhaps cleaner with a little more flair.
Who knows maybe some glaze in those layers finished with wipe on poly. Really bring out the depth of the flaws!
Other thoughts?
I would definitely fix it. All the options you suggested are fine for the finish/refinish. Really up to you and what you want to do. Based on lots of conversations with lots of folk, generally speaking, your kids won’t want your stuff. You might want to talk to them about it more generally. I am about a decade away from that talk with my daughter. There are lots of things I could easily get rid of if she doesn’t want it. I am sure there will be a few things but likely not much. I plan to get rid of the stuff I no longer want and she isn’t interested in having.
After repairs and minimal sanding to just remove the potential for splinters, I started with a wipe down of Old Masters Provincial Brown to tone everything, shellac seal, then garnet shellac. When I went to rub out the shellac the areas of crazing and chip out of old finish left bright spots so I followed up with a couple coats of wipe on satin poly which helped soften the surface features. So I kept all the warts and wear on the chair just added another layer of history.
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Nice.