DIY Network

Chair Spruce-Ups, Part One From "DIY Crafts" episode DIC-240

advertisement

Worn furniture can find new life by simply tightening any loose areas and distressing to intensify the item's shabby chic appearance.

Tightening a Loose Chair

Carl Mueller, the host of DIY Tools and Techniques, shows how easily a squeaky or loose chair can be remedied.

Materials:

Wood glue
Toothpick
Screwdriver

1. First, wiggle the chair to find loose areas.

2. Then examine the chair's assembly by turning it over and looking at all joints, screws, dovetailing and pegs.

3. Tighten any loose screws.

4. If the hole is stripped and the screw can't be tightened, remove the screw, put a dab of wood glue into the hole, stick in a toothpick and break it off at the surface of the wood.

5. Next, begin tightening the screw. The inserted toothpick will provide "bite," which will allow the screw to be tightened.

6. If a screw is missing, remove a screw and get another one the same size. It is also possible to use a screw that is slightly longer or thicker to provide better bite in an old hole.

Distressing a Painted Chair

Once the chair is repaired, the whole look can be changed. Use any worn areas to your advantage and add to them, distressing and refinishing to give a rustic heirloom appearance.

Materials:

Chair
File
Carpenter's razor
Hammer
Steel brushes
80- , 120- and 220-grit sandpaper (rough to fine)
Steel wool
Briwax
Natural-bristle paintbrush
Rags

Any or all of these techniques can be combined to create a distressed look.

• Start with the most brutal damage possible: filing a groove on one side.

• Pull the carpenter's razor against an arm or back to remove paint down to the bare wood. As an alternate method, remove paint with rough sandpaper in the areas where the chair would have gotten the most use.

• Use a hammer to dent the seat.

After distressing, prepare chair for refinishing.

1. First, use the fine and finer grades of sandpaper to smooth all edges.

2. Brush on stain wax to make crevices darker. To achieve a vintage appearance, use a wire brush to get the stain into the grain and any nicked or scratched areas.

3. Finally, use steel wool to buff and remove any excess wax and stain from raised areas.

RESOURCES :
Recipes for Surfaces, Volume 2
Model: 0684801795
Author: Mindy Drucker, Nancy Rosen
June 1995
Interstellar Publishing Company
La Mesa, CA 91943
Phone: 619-292-8191
Fax: 619-292-0373
Email: interstlr@aol.com

Making Rustic Originals : Turning Furniture Finds into Folk Art
Model: 0881791555
Author: Abby Ruoff

From Flea Market to Fabulous
Model: 1581800924
Author: Kerry Trout

The Furniture Doctor
Model: 0385266707
Author: George Grotz

Flea Market Decorating: Creating Style with Vintage Finds
Model: 0696208822
Author: Better Homes and Gardens
Meredith Books February 2000

GUESTS :
Carl Mueller
5542 W. Pico Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90019
Phone: 323-954-8444
Website: piecemaker.com
Piecemaker affiliation