| Protecting Antiques |
From "Ask DIY"
episode ADI-504 |
|
|
|
advertisement
|
Antiques and woodworking expert Bruce Johnson offers suggestions on protecting fragile antiques and heirlooms. Q: Which is better: lemon oil or paste wax? A: Though confusion over this issue is quite common, lemon oil and paste wax are two distinct products with very different uses. - Lemon oil is a thin-bodied oil that is used strictly for dusting.
- The proper way to use lemon oil is to apply it first to a cloth (figure A), not directly onto the furniture piece you'll to which you'll be applying it.
- Use the rag with lemon oil applied to lightly rub over the surface of the furniture to pick up dust (figure B).
- Lemon oil does leave a nice shine on wood furniture, but the shine won't last very long. After a few weeks, the oil will evaporate, and the shiny appearance will turn dull once again.
- Use lemon oil for routine cleaning and light conditioning of furniture, but don't expect it to have great protective or preservative properties.
- Paste wax has a thick, paste consistency (figure C) and, unlike lemon oil, is a true finish. It will leave a hard residue on the wood to which it is applied, and will help protect the wood.
- When paste wax is applied and buffed properly, it will leave behind a shine that will last for several months.
- As a general rule, you can use lemon oil on a weekly basis for general dusting and shining. In most instances, paste wax only needs to be applied about once a year.
Q: My pottery has scratched my antique table. How can I protect my furniture from this? A: Scratches from pottery on wood surfaces are a common occurrence. Though most pottery surfaces are glazed and smooth, the bottom is typically unglazed and has a rough, abrasive texture (figure D). Pieces of dirt and grit beneath the bottom can also contribute scratches to the wood surface. The solution is very simple: - To protect your valuable antique finishes from scratching, use felt feet on the bottoms of your pottery pieces.
- These pads are inexpensive, come in a variety of sizes, and are available at home centers. Simply peel off the paper backing, and apply the felt feet around the edges of the bottom (figure E).
- Once the pottery piece is placed upright, the feet will scarcely be visible, and the rough clay surface will be held above the wood surface, and the scratches will be prevented.
Q: I found some old letters written by my grandfather. What is the best way to preserve them? A: Paper tends to deteriorate and become increasingly fragile as it ages. Exposure to air, and oils left behind in fingerprints, accelerate the deterioration. - If you have old letters, photos or documents that you treasure (figure F), consider placing them in archival quality plastic sleeves. In this way, the papers can still be seen or read, but they won't actually be touched when they are used.
- These sleeves not only protect the documents from deterioration and accidental damage, they can offer a means of organizing and additional protection by placing them in ring-binders (figure G). In that way, documents can be categorized, sorted, labeled, stored and safely used.
RESOURCES :
The Weekend Refinisher:
How to Make the Most of Your Furniture-A Step-by-Step Guide
Author: Bruce E. Johnson
Publisher: Ballantine Books
ISBN: 034535866X
The Wood Finisher: How to Finish Everything, From Decks to Floors to Doors
Author: Bruce Johnson
ISBN: 0345372972
Ballantine Books
Fine Woodworking
A magazine devoted to high-quality craftsmanship in woodworking.
The Taunton Press Inc.
Website: www.taunton.com
How to Recognize and Refinish Antiques for Pleasure
Model: 0762701145
Author: Jacquelyn Peake
Furniture Repair & Refinishing
Model: 1580110061
Author: Brian D. Hingley
The Complete Illustrated Guide to Woodworking
Author: Lonnie Bird, Andy Rae and Gary Rogowski
Publisher: Taunton
ISBN: 1561586021
The Complete Woodworker's Companion
Author: Roger Holmes
Publisher: Watson-Guptill
ISBN: 0823008665
Popular Woodworking
F & W Publications, Inc.
Website: www.popularwoodworking.com
| 
)
)
)
)
)
)
)
