Advice on cleaning antique (shellac) walnut finish

[MargieCeri]

G'Day folks! I have just bought a beautiful antique chest of drawers which has a walnut finish. It is in lovely condition for its age, but the finish has dirt and finger marks etc on it. The seller tells me it has shellac and not to get it wet - so what is the best way to clean an 18th/19 th century furniture piece and how do I know if it is shellac or not?

[Woodwould]

Margie, there's a big difference between cleaning an "18th/19 th century furniture piece" and cleaning the twentieth-century item in your picture.

It sounds like the piece has been waxed and it's the wax that's showing the finger prints. Try buffing the surface gently with a soft cloth and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then wax is confirmed. If you can't live with finger prints on it, you might consider removing the wax by wiping it off with mineral turpentine on a cloth and buffing off the residue.

[Lawry01]

Margie, there's a big difference between cleaning an "18th/19 th century furniture piece" and cleaning the twentieth-century item in your picture.

It sounds like the piece has been waxed and it's the wax that's showing the finger prints. Try buffing the surface gently with a soft cloth and see if that makes a difference. If it does, then wax is confirmed. If you can't live with finger prints on it, you might consider removing the wax by wiping it off with mineral turpentine on a cloth and buffing off the residue.

Ahhhh WW...you have such a wonderful way with words!!!!!
Margie..I have found that U-Beaut's (site sponsor) traditional wax is one that doesnt show fingerprints too readily (but they are still there!!)
Not sure what WW's view is, but I've also had some good results with Restor a Finish Feed n Wax, which cleans, nourishes & protects without any hard rubbing - good on tip of shellac etc....just buff off. By the way...very nice looking piece of furniture!!

WW...How DO you go about 'ageing' a piece of furiture? I would love to know how! Lawry

[Woodwould]

Ahhhh WW...you have such a wonderful way with words!

Sorry! My parents couldn't afford to send me to school, but I try my best.

Not sure what WW's view is, but I've also had some good results with Restor a Finish Feed n Wax, which cleans, nourishes & protects without any hard rubbing - good on tip of shellac etc....just buff off.

Any manufacturer that claims their product 'feeds' or 'nourishes' anything but patios, decks and teak garden furniture is lying to you. Once (indoor) furniture has been finished with shellac/varnish/lacquer, it is sealed and impervious to anything but some harsh solvents and strippers. I'm not saying Restor a Finish Feed n Wax doesn't make some furniture all 5h1te and briny, but it certainly doesn't do as they claim. A wipe with WD40 or Armorall would probably be just as effective (I wouldn't try them either).

WW...How DO you go about 'ageing' a piece of furiture? I would love to know how!

I'm working on it – I'll let you know if I make a breakthrough.

[Lawry01]

[QUOTE=Woodwould;1517552]Sorry! My parents couldn't afford to send me to school, but I try my best.


" there's a big difference between cleaning an "18th/19 th century furniture piece" and cleaning the twentieth-century item in your picture".........

Priceless!!!!

[Woodwould]

[Horsecroft88]

Heh heh guys you both have me cracking up. Well by jove old chaps I must have been slightly fortunate for I somehow managed to end up at school and then some !!

HOwever, in terms of things woody, it has simply come about through observation, practice and enjoyment (occasionally frustration), over many years. Mostly I get it correct in terms of being able to age/buy what i like, when I can afford it but yes I too have been dudded in the past. I once bought a set of four cedar balloon backs (off Fleabay) and both the description and photos seemed to be correct for what they were supposed to have been, that is 1880s, but in fact once they arrived it was patently obvious they were more likely 1980s or even from the 2000s and fakes out of Asia. They were complete rubbish. The scroll work on the back bar, the design, let alone quality of timber and finish just junk. I got rid of them via a local auction house, for very little return........ouch !

Re this piece, yes the door latch, let alone some of the design features (carvings/,mouldings etc) to me say 20th century repro. Sorry Margi.

From my experience, the way to tell if repro or orginal antique is to look underneath, look a the joints, whether or not there are dove tails for draws, whether screwed, nailed, or even horror of horrors stapled. The colour, texture, etc of old wood underneath is often a good starting point. Then of course look at the finish of the surface, whether or not it is too perfect, or has patina. And even after all of this, one still can get it wrong. There are excellent fakes out there which can mirror so much of the quality of real antiques. Then also there are the cobbled up pieces, using old timber, or components of antiques to make a "new" old piece. Many tricks out there to be aware of.

Books such as Carter's Guide to Antiques is a good starting point in terms of designs used relative to the periods.

Can't really add more on what already has been said about shellac and good wax polishes.