Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/antq. rocker

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Expert: - 11/2/2008


Question
In 76 at an "antique" auction. For each child it was painted a diffrent color. My son & I stripped & sanded the rocker for my last child. We found it had been painted black on the bare wood & it seeped into the grain. I never liked shabby chec, but it looks worn,comfortable, like an old sweater. I think its oak "antiqued" by the black, it could be pine too, it's hard wood. If I just treat the wood am I lowering the value? Should I put on varnish or paint it? How can I find out how old it is? Tiger

Answer
Hi Tiger, once the original finish is gone, so is most of the value on something like this, so I wouldn't worry about it's value. If it was before the turn of the century (1900), it was probably shellac, or paint. It's probably not Pine, which is not a hard wood, as it's not really strong enough for a rocker, it's likely Ash, Oak, Birch or Maple, or even a combination of more than one wood, especially if it was originally destined for an opaque finish. The only way to determine it's age is to research it and find something like it, or take it to someone that knows chairs. If you have a good consignment shop in your area, you could take it in and act as if you were interested in consigning it, and inquire about it's age , origin and value. You could varnish it, lacquer it, shellac it, wax it, or paint it...it's really up to you, I like shellac then wax on older chairs, or a wipe on Urethane. Hope that helps a little- post back if need be- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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