Another (Dyrlund) Table

This is typical,

I have finished one table and now just compleated another.

The same process was used as before, the table came to me already stripped and ready for sanding smooth, however, it's not that simple I always inspect the surface for any fine scratch lines that will certainly show up once the table has been stained.

Once sanded, and happy with the stain colour then onto applying various coats of lacquer for a long-lasting and durable finish.

As you can see from the pictures the top came out really nice.

Hope that you have enjoyed looking at these before and after pictures. Thank you for taking the time to visit my site.

When Things Go Wrong?

When things go wrong?

Well, this is something very important and needs to be looked at as and when it does happen, how do we overcome it and put things right? 

Firstly, with experience built up over many years, this will give you a much wider perspective on how to go about the best way to solve the problems as and when they do occur.  

How many people have sanded through the veneer?  And then the panic sets in oh what can I do now?  Well if things are so bad and the affected veneer can’t be touched up then it will need to be replaced with a new veneer.

How many of you have ever taken on a job, and thought how am I ever going to do this?  Must be all of us I reckon, I know that I have and many times.  Well, for me it works that I stand back from the job and take a fresh look and work out the best way to approach the situation, i.e. should I strip off the old finish? Or should the wood be solid and allow me to sand the surface?  As this would remove dents and marks within the surface, however, if I over sandpaper then I would be at risk of losing the old patina should the piece be an antique and that would be dreadful.

How about the classic blister on the surface?  How can we deal with that situation?  Do we heat the head of a hammer and press the blister down whilst the hammer is still hot so as to melt the old fashioned glue beneath the veneer as this often works on the old Animal glues used and in some workshops are still being used today.  Or do we cut a fine line into the veneer and apply glue into the blister and then apply a clamp to apply pressure whilst it dries. 

What about the dreadful woodworm?  Do we inject the woodworm killer?  Or do we soak the wood in a bath of woodworm killer?  Well, whatever does the job best for you.  Once the killer has dried do we then attempt to fill in the holes?  Or do we leave them to show that the item has age and character?  Well, that depends on what your client shall be expecting from you, and hopefully, you have had a discussion as to what is possible and what can be achieved given the condition of the item in the first place.

For me, it always seems that I get the jobs that no one else wants to do or perhaps can’t do.  Therefore I have a saying that I am sure you have heard before and that is “If you can do the hard jobs the easy ones are very easy”.  

One job that I would not take on are pianos why because they take up so much space and the workshop has to be almost spotless, well for me that was very difficult with other furniture to work on at the same time such as sanding causing dust everywhere.

Also, the amount of work that you have to put into working on pianos is tremendous and therefore the price, in my opinion, would be too high and most clients would not wish to pay for all of my efforts. 

Over the years I have self-taught myself how to repair furniture and in doing so meant that I rarely had to call in a Carpenter, therefore, keeping the cost down and that makes for a happy client that will come back for other jobs in the future.  Smart move.

Well, I hope that this will give you something to think about before you take on a job that you are not quite sure about.

Thank you for taking the time to read my posts, if you like them, please tell your like-minded friends and spread the word.
Kind regards. 

Thank you.

Rosewood Circular Flip Flap (Dyrlund) Dining Table

This is a job that I took on about one year ago now, it came to me with the top lacquer stripped off.

Due to the uneven remnants of the old finish still remaining, I lightly sanded the surface at first with my sander, and then a super smooth using my sanding block. Thus removing any fine lines left by the sanding machine.

Now ready for staining, and finishing.
After checking for any fine scratch marks prior to staining and being confident there were none, it was time to stain using Rosewood stain.

Once dry I sprayed over with several coats of 70% Lacquer as required, once dried, it was time for a smooth down with 1000 grit paper for a very fine finish, then applied several more spray coats of lacquer to ensure a good depth of finish.

As you can see from the pictures that the top came out really nice.

The Table was made in the 1970s and was and still is very popular today.

These Tables were made in Denmark, and sold in very large quantities, I can remember back to the 70s when I used to work on them whilst working for a World famous Department Store in Knightsbridge, in London. 

Thanks for taking the time to visit and read my posts.

"Wow" and Thank you all

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Thank you so much for your continued interest in French polishing and the content I have available here for you to learn and develop you skills.

Kind regards,
Andrew.

Time to do the ironing!

Hi,

This is job a that I carried out many years ago now and thought I should share it with you.

How about this beautiful rosewood circular table, that seems to have been used as an ironing board.

As you can see the shape left where the iron must have been laid, and the condensation that has gone into the surface and left its mark.

How did I get rid of this mark? I chose to strip off the old finish with a paint stripper to take it back to the wood.

Then as we do, I sanded the surface smooth in the direction of the grain, and after going through various grades of sandpaper, to eventually have a perfectly smooth surface on which to work.

Now came the stain, I used a rosewood fast-drying stain, that doesn't raise the grain, once dry, I had my spray gun ready with a Semi-Matt lacquer and sprayed over with several coats until I was happy that the grain had sufficient coats as to allow for the first few coats to sink onto the grain, and subsequent coats to build up the surface.

The pictures tell a thousand words. 

Look the way the grain has come out stunning!

Thank you for visiting my Blog site, I really appreciate it.

Mistaken for a Tramp

Mistaken for a Tramp

Recently, I was called to a very prestigious company that I have worked for many years now, and have always been treated with respect by every member of staff, however, this time things changed somewhat.

I had to arrive by 07: am.

I arrived a little earlier just in case I could be let into the company for an early start, however, no security was there as it was before 07: am but I did make polite conversation with a member of staff that I had met before also waiting to be let in.

Whilst waiting for the security to arrive, I sat on my polishing box just by the edge of the pavement and entrance to the company, I was just minding my own business and then suddenly several- security personnel arrived together, most of whom I know from my visits over the years.

Well, one of the security guards, told me to "Go and sit further up the Street", to which I replied, "Why do I need to sit further up the Street?"  He answered “You are blocking the entrance" I replied, "How am I blocking the entrance?" “There is plenty of room to pass;” this is when I realised that he thought that I was a tramp and using the entrance to sleep in.

So now, I realised what he was thinking I could play on this and show him for the rude person he must be.

To play along one of the guards took from his pocket a wedge of twenty-pound notes and proceeded to give them to me so-as to leave their entrance and go elsewhere. "I said no thanks for the money I have my pride".

Well, I thought I should tell the guard that I was there to work!  He looked surprised and asked, "Whom I was to see?" When I replied to a "Senior member of staff" he was I think blown away and must have felt deflated.

Other guards that I know spoke up to tell this rude guard that they knew me but he was set to show himself off as some sort of Well, you decide.

I hate rudeness from wherever it comes from there is never any good reason to talk to people like dirt.

Eventually, the senior staff member that I was to meet came along, he was informed as to what had happened, and he stated, "That he would be having words with that guard."

Other guards apologised for his rudeness there was no need for him to behave in the way he did.

I hope that he will have learnt something that morning, never judge anyone, you do not know, especially those you think are having hard times and difficulties in their lives, for one day it could just be you or I in that situation.

Always remember it is not what you see on the outside, it is what; is on the inside of a person that matters.

Thanks for stopping by.

Regards,

Andrew.

Work Top Refurbishment

Yet another difficult job for me to take on as you will see the poor condition of the three worktops.

I wish that I had taken a picture of the centre island top before I started work that's just me wanting to jump in and get started, however, at least I managed to take some pictures to be able to show you the before and after works completed.

The tops are made of solid Walnut and had the usual black burnt ring marks caused by pans being placed straight onto the wooden surface instead of putting them onto a protective base.

Well, I scraped off the old surface using a very sharp blade made of tungsten carbide; a blade made of this material lasts many times longer than a steel blade.

Once all the old finish had been removed, it was now time to start to sandpaper off the entire remaining residue.

Thankfully whilst sanding the surface luckily for me the ring marks finally disappeared, I was so pleased that this had happened, as I knew that my Client would be delighted with my work, therefore, another satisfied customer.

Just had to go over the surface, I used Danish oil as this penetrates the surface and gives a long-lasting finish, and so easy to maintain for my client, after a quick explanation and then let my client have a go at oiling the surface to see how easy it really is.

Do not forget any oiled rags used must be wetted and placed in an outside rubbish bin, as they can be prone to self-combustion if not properly dealt with.

See for yourselves, the standards I set for my work.

Thank you for visiting my Blogsite.