nasties hiding under the dust

[Chief012]

Hi

I am in the process of doing a very slight restoration on a cedar wardrobe I picked up a while back. Well it's more of a clean of 100 odd years of crud than a restoration.

I am cleaning off the piece with some Howards Restore a Finish and 0000 grade steel wool. It's coming along very nicely however I am noticing lots of small brown flecks that are left on the surface. It almost looks like these are part of the original finish or a mark that a non cedar loving cockroach left behind!

Any ideas on what this is? I am not hugely worried, however would like to make the wardrobe look as good as it should - it is cedar! :) I dont want to scrub too hard and spoil the original finish though.

Any ideas appreciated.

Cheers

Cam

[Lawry01]

Hi Cam....as many on hee would say, a pic would help! Whilst I still consider myself of grasshopper status on here, I have used the Howards products quite few times with varying , but generally good success. The first thing that comes to mind (sight unseen) is perhaps give the restore a finish a couple of goes, and leave it on for 30 seconds or so to soften and hopefully amalgamate the finish underneath. Other than that, maybe post a pic and see what other wise one's can offer. ;) Lawry

[Chief012]

Thanks Lawry, I appreciate the comments. I ended up going to 000 rather than 0000 steel wool which has done the trick.

I was concerned with going to hard and spoiling the original finish,..I think its coming up ok!

I hope you are enjoying your desk!

[Lawry01]

Nice grain on there Cam! And yes, I'm absolutely loving using my dsesk...creates a very warm ambience in the room.
Are you going to rub more back, or just enough to try the howards product?

[Chief012]

The grain is stunning, they choose some nice pieces of timber for the sides. It's been very satisfying to see it start to appear again. I don't want to go too hard on it so am seeing how it looks with a light clean and polish. I don't think it needs anything more than a sympathetic clean. If it's not up to scratch though, I will hit it again.

Glad that you are enjoying your desk!

Back to the cleaning :)

[Lawry01]

Looking forward to seeing your results. WHich Restore a finish colour are you using?

[Chief012]

I am using the Mahogany,..the closest to cedar they do so I have been told!

[Chief012]

Btw, this is what I started with, it hasnt been to hard thus far to make it look better!!

[Lawry01]

Thats a lovely classical looking piece! Seems like the flecks you originally had were just some old remnants of finish that just needed to be rubbed around/ out etc. If the few items I've used RaF on are any guage, I reckon yours will be well restored to its original glory!! I have a beautiful old early 1900's sideboard that is on my list to do the same with - not sure what the timber is though. With a bit of luck, I shouldnt need any/ much rubbing back..maybe a light goiung over with 0000 to clean it up, then an oak tinted RaF, then wax. The old shellac is looking a little mottled (patina!)

[Chief012]

I am usually impressed by what the RaF (!) products can do,..all with the help of the 0000,..a good combo!

Arm sore from polishing already,..out of practice :)

[Lawry01]

I am usually impressed by what the RaF (!) products can do,..all with the help of the 0000,..a good combo!

Arm sore from polishing already,..out of practice :)

Yes, I'm always impresed with them too..at first I was skeptical, thinking that it was too good to be true, but on the right pieces, its great stuff. I'm sure some of the real restore/ refinish diehards (no names mentioned WW !!!!) may disagree, and feel its the cheats way out, but I have spoken to a number of antique dealers/ restorers who wish they had discovered RaF years back!

Re your sore arm...may I prescribe some caffeine inducing substance between the hours of waking and around nowish, and post nowish, perhaps an ale, a wine, or better still a scotch! :;

[Chief012]

I can see why some would think it's the cheats way out, however for those of us without formal training or in practice it is a good solution. I would love to know the correct way to do these things, however the learning takes time and a willing teacher. I am getting there though,...I think I mentioned on a post the other day I would love to know half of what WW does!

I have tried the caffine motivator a few times today, without great success. An ale and/or a glass of red does sound good, however can guarantee that tomorrows work load may be further diminished! Still working my way into scotch,..I am trying! On the rare occasions when I do have a glass, my wife looks at me and the expression on my face and asks "are you enjoying that", I generally reply, "some bits yes, some bits no". I will persevere - I have too many nice bottles in my cellar to not try!

I think my problem is that I have developed a man cold through the day, a gift from my 21 month old monkey (son) who kept me awake half the night coughing,..hopefully he, Mum and I will sleep better tonight and I will feel more energetic for tomorrows elbow work!!

[Lawry01]

I can see why some would think it's the cheats way out, however for those of us without formal training or in practice it is a good solution. I would love to know the correct way to do these things, however the learning takes time and a willing teacher. I am getting there though,...I think I mentioned on a post the other day I would love to know half of what WW does!

Absolutely agree..and I am priveledge, like so mny, to have had his on-line tutelage (is that how its spelled?) :)

I have tried the caffine motivator a few times today, without great success. An ale and/or a glass of red does sound good, however can guarantee that tomorrows work load may be further diminished! Still working my way into scotch,..I am trying! On the rare occasions when I do have a glass, my wife looks at me and the expression on my face and asks "are you enjoying that", I generally reply, "some bits yes, some bits no". I will persevere - I have too many nice bottles in my cellar to not try!

When next down your way, would be more than happy to help your scotch -education progress!!:U

I think my problem is that I have developed a man cold through the day, a gift from my 21 month old monkey (son) who kept me awake half the night coughing,..hopefully he, Mum and I will sleep better tonight and I will feel more energetic for tomorrows elbow work!!
Hope you recover soon, but in the meantime, play on it a little....its only right to do so!

[Chief012]

Hope you recover soon, but in the meantime, play on it a little....its only right to do so!
Ha thanks Lawry!

[Chief012]

The wardrobe is all finished, I think it came up pretty well,...time for a new project!

[Lawry01]

Looks great...The finish seems really warm, which I love! Well done. :2tsup: Did you mainly do RaF on this eventually?

And yes, I know the need for another project..I'm about set to start on a few smaller ones, so will be posting soon! :U

Lawry

[Chief012]

Thanks Lawry, I think a bit of the warmth is from my photographer wife's skills. They are not manipulated just shot with the best light in mind. She is not surprisingly a lot more professional than me with her photos, a good thing as I am selling this piece!

I did just use the RaF and am pretty happy with how it has turned out,...not 100% but ok. Need to learn some more on removing the things that RaF doesn't. Always trying to learn :)

Good luck on your next project and looking forward to seeing some pix. I am just about to make a hall table and am planning on a WIP entry soon. Fun!! :)

[NCArcher]

A lovely piece Cam. If only we had houses big enough to keep all these items.
About time you did a WIP. Come on, have you started yet? :whip:

[Lawry01]

A lovely piece Cam. If only we had houses big enough to keep all these items.
About time you did a WIP. Come on, have you started yet? :whip:

Is WIP "work in progress'? And yes, Cam, when would NOW be a good time to start the project??????:q Lawry (I need to start the next one soon too!)

[Chief012]

Thanks Tony, need to move this one on to help fund moving the four wheeled project on! Takes up too much room :)

I have started,...design done and started cutting! ;) Just having a morning coffee figuring out how to solve my bowed board/not enough stock problem!

Yes Lawry, WIP is a work in progress,..also sometimes womething that is used for motivation!