| The restoring or refinishing of antique oak furniture can | | | | the cost will be much more than if you do it yourself. |
| be a real challenging task if you're not equipped with | | | | Restoring the piece yourself can actually be fun if you |
| some vital information. The first thing you should know | | | | keep the mindset of lots of patience and how slow |
| that before you start changing the original appearance | | | | the process will be. Inspect the piece beforehand and |
| of an antique that it may diminish its value from the | | | | decide if any particular part is so badly damaged that it |
| point of view of a collector. Collectors place a higher | | | | will have to be replaced. If not, prepare yourself with |
| value on an antique if its appearance is completely | | | | the necessary tools to get the job done. You will need |
| unchanged. This is not to say that the piece can't be | | | | to purchase at least a can of paint and varnish |
| "cleaned up" but they are concerned with its originality. | | | | stripper. These strippers can actually damage the |
| Keep in mind that when you decide to restore a piece | | | | wood if you leave them on too long. Be sure that you |
| of antique furniture, you're going to be putting a | | | | follow the instructions very carefully. |
| considerable amount of time and effort into it. Another | | | | After completely removing all the old varnish, you will |
| thing to consider is that this process will not necessarily | | | | have to buy various grits of sandpaper. The use of |
| be inexpensive. Many people have started a project | | | | orbital sanders on oak will work to some degree as |
| like this only to find that the cost and the amount of | | | | long as you are very careful not to go too far where it |
| time it took wasn't really worth it. | | | | leaves heavy sanding marks. Also you can over-sand |
| In the case where you have a piece of antique oak | | | | a piece removing any details that were originally meant |
| furniture that has been badly damaged due to being | | | | to be there. Consult your local home fix-it store for |
| exposed to the elements, it might be the perfect | | | | details on what type of stain and varnish to use. |
| project to restore anyway. Restoring this particular | | | | Keep in mind that if your piece has a large amount of |
| piece could greatly improve its appearance and add a | | | | ornate or carved surfaces that this will add a lot of |
| thing of beauty to your home. | | | | extra time to complete the project. Realize that the |
| There are a couple of different ways that you can | | | | project could take up to several months because of |
| accomplish the task of restoring your piece. The first | | | | the intricacy of the detail. We suggest that when in |
| would be to bring it to an antique restoration | | | | doubt, or if you have any questions to consult a |
| professional. Kind in mind that this will not be an | | | | restoration professional and/or an antique oak furniture |
| inexpensive feat. It takes a lot of time and effort and | | | | appraisal specialist. |