Chem-Clean Furniture Restoration

Got all new innards, retied the springs and a really nice fabric that goes with the clients décor. The client gave it a really quick test drive at the shop and it sits as good as it looks. The client was really thrilled to have Grand Ma's chair back in useable shape.

Got all new innards, retied the springs and a really nice fabric that goes with the clients décor. The client gave it a really quick test drive at the shop and it sits as good as it looks. The client was really thrilled to have Grand Ma's chair back in useable shape.

SUCCESS. Now lets see if we can get some really nice fabric and really bring her back to life.

SUCCESS. Now lets see if we can get some really nice fabric and really bring her back to life.

And the back leg was broken off at the bottom of the seat line. So we cut in a new piece and drilled out and replace all of the old dowels. And repaired the broken top. With all of the repairs done, lets see if the old girl can stand on her own.

And the back leg was broken off at the bottom of the seat line. So we cut in a new piece and drilled out and replace all of the old dowels. And repaired the broken top. With all of the repairs done, lets see if the old girl can stand on her own.

Nearly all of the dowels in the joints were broken.

Here is / was a very rewarding project. Grand Ma's chair, circa 1935-40. Needed lots and lots of help. It would not standup very well on its own, so no photo with the old shot fabric still on. But her it is on the bench all apart and a couple of the reasons it would not stand up.

Nearly all of the dowels in the joints were broken.

Here is / was a very rewarding project. Grand Ma's chair, circa 1935-40. Needed lots and lots of help. It would not standup very well on its own, so no photo with the old shot fabric still on. But her it is on the bench all apart and a couple of the reasons it would not stand up.

Here we are all re-glued and ready to go to the caner. New rush seat is next. All movement has been removed and it is almost ready for a new butt.

Here we are all re-glued and ready to go to the caner. New rush seat is next. All movement has been removed and it is almost ready for a new butt.

Here is a close up of the seat. It is ALMOST ready to be replaced. It is a shame I can not take a picture of the amount of movement in this thing. It is at least 4 inches both left / right and fore / aft.

Here is a close up of the seat. It is ALMOST ready to be replaced. It is a shame I can not take a picture of the amount of movement in this thing. It is at least 4 inches both left / right and fore / aft.

Here is a slat back ( ladder back ) chair that we got in for only a new rush seat. But the chair was as loose as it could possibly be. The original hide glue in the joints had totally failed. Client thought long and hard about spending the extra money. But it is a waste of time and money to do a new seat, and not re-glue the chair. So we will cut the old seat out, take the chair totally apart, clean all of the joints and put the old guy back together again. It will then be ready for 3 more generation of family bottoms.

Well here it is all in its new satin black lacquer finish. It will be off to the caner as soon as the client gives her blessing. We are going to put in a new binder cane seat and back. What we install will be all hand woven and a copy of the original seat and back. Came out pretty good even if I do say so my self.

Well here it is all in its new satin black lacquer finish. It will be off to the caner as soon as the client gives her blessing. We are going to put in a new binder cane seat and back. What we install will be all hand woven and a copy of the original seat and back. Came out pretty good even if I do say so my self.

Do you remember this rocker ???

Do you remember this rocker ???

The writing surface on this one shows some serious abuse. You never quite know what has caused the old stains, so some are a bit tricky to remove. Each stain has a specific remedy. The trick is fining out what caused the stain in the first place. This stain is now gone. Photos tomorrow. Wait fooooor it.

The writing surface on this one shows some serious abuse. You never quite know what has caused the old stains, so some are a bit tricky to remove. Each stain has a specific remedy. The trick is fining out what caused the stain in the first place. This stain is now gone. Photos tomorrow. Wait fooooor it.

This is the oak desk after we have started to work on it. The desk is taken totally apart. Pulls off, drawers out, writing surface off . Any and all parts that can be taken apart, or off are taken apart or removed. Wood is stripped of old finish, dirt and years of abuse. Then we start to come forward and put it all back together again.

This is the oak desk after we have started to work on it. The desk is taken totally apart. Pulls off, drawers out, writing surface off . Any and all parts that can be taken apart, or off are taken apart or removed. Wood is stripped of old finish, dirt and years of abuse. Then we start to come forward and put it all back together again.

Last photo. I feel like I am running some sort of private zoo sometimes. But I have to admit I have all or the fun of pets and none of the responsibility. Skunk ate dropped pizza last night. Even the Buffalo wing hot sauce did not bother him. But I could not get a good flash photo thru the window. So nothing to share.

Last photo. I feel like I am running some sort of private zoo sometimes. But I have to admit I have all or the fun of pets and none of the responsibility. Skunk ate dropped pizza last night. Even the Buffalo wing hot sauce did not bother him. But I could not get a good flash photo thru the window. So nothing to share.

Here he is in the grass. Good looking bird, and big. Looked like he was trying to eat something, but there was nothing there.

Here he is in the grass. Good looking bird, and big. Looked like he was trying to eat something, but there was nothing there.

Does anyone know what type of hawk or eagle this bird is? He spent nearly 5 hours in the yard with me today. I worked, he sat on poles and in the grass. He was all over the place and did not seem to want to leave, or help. But he would not let me get real close. These were all taken with the telephoto lens. Bear in mind that the telephone pole is cut off for my garden, and I measured where he is standing is 15 inches across. So he is a big boy, or girl.

Does anyone know what type of hawk or eagle this bird is? He spent nearly 5 hours in the yard with me today. I worked, he sat on poles and in the grass. He was all over the place and did not seem to want to leave, or help. But he would not let me get real close. These were all taken with the telephoto lens. Bear in mind that the telephone pole is cut off for my garden, and I measured where he is standing is 15 inches across. So he is a big boy, or girl.

Does anyone want to buy ( fairly inexpensively ) some old furniture ? I have several things that need to go and I can get photos if you are interested. Or you can just stop by the shop. I have 2 oak C-roll double pedestal desks ( circa 1920 ), one has been totally restored, the other needs to be restored, 2 matching Art Deco easy chairs stripped of fabric and finish, a completely carved everywhere 1910 easy chair stripped of fabric but not finish and a large Victorian 3 door bookcase. Let me know if you are interested.

Here again is a time I should be more aware of taking pictures of our work. This is a set of bar stools, that are only a few years old and all metal. What we did was take off the old damaged fabric and replace it with a fake leather. We do not only work on the wooden things. I say just about everyday "Strip, Repair, and Refinish. If it is broke we can and fix it." We work on stuff that is colonial to modern. Had a client in this morning who is going to bring me a chair from 1620. That will be cool to work on.

Here again is a time I should be more aware of taking pictures of our work. This is a set of bar stools, that are only a few years old and all metal. What we did was take off the old damaged fabric and replace it with a fake leather. We do not only work on the wooden things. I say just about everyday "Strip, Repair, and Refinish. If it is broke we can and fix it." We work on stuff that is colonial to modern. Had a client in this morning who is going to bring me a chair from 1620. That will be cool to work on.

Here is the wax paper out of the way, and the first pass at the scraping. Brian will work all day on these two shutters, and there will still be paint in the open grain of the wood.

Here is the wax paper out of the way, and the first pass at the scraping. Brian will work all day on these two shutters, and there will still be paint in the open grain of the wood.