Non-Antique Furniture
Restored to Perfection

There are now ways of "going back to bare wood" without chemical stripper. There are also ways of removing a fraction of a millimetre of the wood, without using scratching sandpaper, so as to reveal the clean new wood below. It is then a matter of refinishing the furniture with the same processes and materials as when it was first produced.

Yes, there is. A fundamental change to place about 100 years ago. Let me explain.

It was the Ford Motor Company who first developed and perfected the spray application of Cellulose Paint, so when Henry Ford's Model T entered production in 1908 it was the first spray painted production car in the world.

During the 1910 to 1920 period, Furniture Manufacturers discontinued traditional French polishing with shellac in favour or more versatile and durable, spray applied Cellulose Lacquers. But because these lacquers could then be "worked" by hand with a rubber in a "French Polishing manner" to look visually identical, the general public were largely unaware of this transition.

Being always fond of a good analogy, to expect and Antique Restorer, trained in brush and hand applied shellac French Polishing, to cope with today's spray allied lacquers, without re-training and investing in spray shop equipment, is akin to asking a Painter & Decorator to re-paint your car, for instance! A mistake to be avoided.

If you’re not sure about the finish of your furniture from the 1910 to 1920 period, I can help. Precise dating of a piece is not always easy, and it takes an expert eye to tell cellulose from shellac.

For the planet, most certainly.

For good quality, brand named, collectable, desirable furniture - once transformed into one of the finest examples of its kind in existance today, most certainly.

For table tops that can be make "As New" and be virtually maintenance free for a generation or two, certainly.

For sentimental or inherited furniture, that may be nothing special in itself, you must be the judge of that. Often a piece can be dramatically transformed whilst still preserving those special memories. And it is rare that an estimate for such a project is turned down I find.

For cheaply made, imported furniture that's destined to fall to bits within a generation, probably not.

In my experience, with a quality piece of furniture, this will at best result in a third rate DIY job that will devalue the piece, and at worst write off the piece. The middle ground here being a trip to a restorer after you've messed with it and a bill much higher than had you just left it alone.

It’s no reflection on you, but a YouTube tutorial from a self-taught beardy American will never be a substitute for professional materials (not available to the public) a fully equipped workshop/sprayshop, the best tools and equipment money can buy, knowledge of the manufacturer's "recipes", years of training, and a lifetime's experience.

So before you go down that road, I would recommend a free appraisal at the very least.

As an expert, you can let me be the judge. I can successfully tackle challenging restorations with fantastic results, but I’ll be honest if I don’t think it’s the right approach or investment for your specific item.

I have no interest in doing work that I would not be proud to attach my label to, or in doing anything that is not in my cusomer's best interests.

If you would like to save a bit of money and bring pieces in and collect again then by all means do, by prior arrangement of course. But 9 times out of 10 I collect and deliver, with either a 1-man or 2-man service as agreed with you.

This provides the opportunity for me to see your home and discuss the finer detail of the work I will be undertaking for you.