I’m in the beginning stages of restoring a few (new to me) antique pieces — I do have years of both art & design and woodworking experience under my belt, though my desire is to increase my knowledge and skillset in true restoration and preservation (“vs. simply refinishing”). These are some of the oldest items I’ve ever worked on and I am restoring them for my own home.
Chest of Drawers & Gentlemans Chest (Walnut)
Details:
• Assuming 1900-1920’s (Arts & Crafts/Shaker Style)
• Manufactured by “Gately & Fitzgerald” in Pennsylvania (marked on back, research tells me they went out of business in 1924). Sears like store that sold inexpensive goods.
• Solid Walnut with Walnut Veneer on the drawer faces and top
Restoration:
• No structural damage to repair
• Cosmetic damage is minimal: chip in the veneer on the top back corner of GC. Small enough thatI intend to fill with wax in lieu of a veneer patch.
• Dark brown stain + thin coat of glossy poly — I would assume was applied (sloppily) within the last 40 years. I’ve begun the process of stripping the CoD with success, I used Oxalic acid to remove what I could of the residual pigment.
• “Ovals” did not seem original, I’ve already removed one to find pristine walnut underneath. I would like to keep them off.
Questions*
(Feel Free to answer any of them! Any advice is more than welcome!)
1. Is there a natural oil finish/wax that would be appropriate for these pieces? I would never use any poly, and I don’t presume a shellac would be an appropriate for a walnut? (If one is avoiding a ‘yellow’ tint). I will repair all surface gouges/chips with wax.
2. It seems the residual staining that remains post oxalic acid and sanding is mostly in line with the heartwood grain, is that typical? Perhaps I should do another coat of oxalic before proceeding.
3. How granular one would typically go in attempting to remove remnants of the (non original) stain on the interior drawers etc?
4. Is there an appropriate lining to use for the interior drawers?
5. I’m having a hard time finding brushed brass wheels that are the correct size for the existing caster socket sleeves – resources?
Replies
That does not look like walnut at all. There would be no reason to put a dark stain on walnut, because walnut is a dark brown wood. To me the chest is not a candidate for the expense and effort of restoration, but if you like it, just put a nice finish on it and enjoy it.
As I understand it, walnut lightens as it ages, This is 100 years old. I do believe this is walnut, either way this is a practice restoration for personal use anyhow, so worth the expense and time for me. Photos of rear and interior.
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