AboutAnderson's Restorations-Rob Anderson Expertise We can answer questions about wicker repair and restoration, chair seating[caning-rush-splint-danish cord] furniture refinishing and repair, brass and copper polishing, veneering and veneer repair. WE WILL NOT GIVE APPRAISALS or answer "WHATS IT WORTH" questions. If you want a value, contact us for our current costs for this service.
Experience Just entered our 30th year doing this work. We started in Fl and have been in NC for the last 10 years. We have a web site www.andersonsrestorations.com where we have alot of information about us and a blog at www.andersons-restorations.blogspot.com where we have many before and after photos of our work.
Organizations Past president of a historical museum
Publications Antique Shoppe Newspaper, Yadkin Valley Living Magazine, Antique Lynks Newspaper
Education/Credentials Seminole HS in Seminole FL class of 1965 and some college before entering service. US Army
Awards and Honors Asked to demonstrate seat weaving at the NC Musuem of History, Paleigh, for 3 days. Demonstrated at the Mountain Heritage Festival, Sparta,NC.
Past/Present Clients Restoring 35 pieces of wicker for the Governors Mansion, Raleigh,NC paid through private funding.
Question I have a cedar chest that I purchased from a consignment shop. The women
in the shop suggested distressing it. When I went to buy my products and
ask about the distressing, the salesperson said that this was harder than
most people think. He suggested using a cedar cleaner and then putting a
clear stain over that. The only product they had was a gallon bottle of deck
cleaner. He suggested I go on line to find a cleaner that might be used for
this purpose and then do the last step. Is stripping it too much work? If I did
that what products would be used. I would rather not paint it but am open to
that too.
Thanks for any help you can offer.
Answer AS far as the outside goes, get some liquid stripper and #0000 steel wool and strip off the old finish. Then apply a stain if you wish or finish natural using several coats of a wipe-on finish in your choice of sheen. I recommend a satin.Let the stripper do the work-follow directions and do it in a well vented area NOT in the direct sun.
When your ready to apply finish, first take some #150 sandpaper and sand the inside with the grain. This will expose new wood and give the smell back to the inside.
If the outside is veneered, look for any loose pieces or chips. Apply some glue to these and clamp in place with tape till the glue sets. Don't strip for 48 hours if you need to glue anything.
You might want to sand the outside before finishing using the #150 paper. Once you have one coat of the poly on and dry, you can sand again using #220, then apply more coats.
Good luck with your project
Rob http://www.andersonsrestorations.com
