Refinishing an old solid timber wardrobe HELP!

[SquareBear]

Hi all,

This is my first post so please be kind...

I am restoring an old solid timber wardrobe which was my fathers.
(he used to use it to house his garden implements...)
It is solid wood....could be oak or someone said teak? It is HEAVY
(i will post pics) it is a beautiful golden colour
The back is tongue and groove and so is the floor...
I have sanded some of it but it has some warping in the solid timber doors.
It lived in a shed and has water stains down the doors and some serious water damage to the top....
Any tips on restoring it? how do i straighten the doors?

Thanks for your help

Andrew

[ubeaut]

You sure it's solid and not veneer over solid timber or core stock. If it has any figured grain it is just about guaranteed to be veneered as most good figured timber was too highly prized to make a wardrobe out of even in Victorian times.

This could also account for the warping. On a really good wardrobe it is often hard to see if it is solid timber or not.

Post some pics and it will help.

Cheers - Neil

[SquareBear]

It is actually from Geelong as that is where i used to live,
And my dad used to live in Newtown too (then Highton then Grovedale)

Anyway.....
It is SOLID timber!
Made of about 8 inch boards joined together.
One of the centre boards is a foot wide.
The doors are 2 and a half boards wide and have some timber supports on the back of them. These have oval holes to allow movement of the timber.
The door had pulled away from these....

I will post pics when my camera charges up.

Thanks
Andrew

[TassieKiwi]

Welcome to the funnyfarm mate!

If you're lucky it maght have been finished in shellac. Get some meths and a bit of steel wool, or a rag, and have a rub at it. If shellac, this will either liven the finish up with a light rub, or easily strip it off ready for a new one. If you are careful you will be able to leave most of the 'patina'. If the timber is waterstained you might have to go back to the fresh timber.

Den

[SquareBear]

Any hints on unwarping this vintage timber?
This is the door. i have sanded nearly all the watermarks off...
Attachment 25891
And another panel that goes between the doors.
Attachment 25892

What kind of timber is it?
Also any ideas on how to re-finish? oil? clear laquer?
Thanks
Andrew

[JB]

Looks like oak to me. Shellac and wax is an easy to apply and natural finish. Oiling can be dodgy, esecially in old dry timber (can soak it up and go very dark). Lacquer requires a spray gun.

Furniture restoration books are full of full of advice on how to dewarp timber, but my own experience is it's often impossible on very old pieces. Something that has taken on a new shape over decades won't revert to flat in a hurry if at all. Some kind of bracing can counter the warp though. This means attaching sections of wood that pull against the warp. Cutting grooves into the wood at right angles to the warp and inserting slivers of wood slightly narrower than the grooves can also work, but is not easy to do.

[ubeaut]

From the pics it definitely doesn't look like oak, I would be more inclined to go with the teak guess of someone, but without seeing it in the flesh so to speak it 's a little bit hard.

This photo is typical of oak grain


Looks more like a eucalypt


Or teak below

[Iain]

I have some oak at home (veneer) that looks like the bears bottom pic, the medulary rays are there in a fairly straight grain but not overly pronounced.
Not wishing to start a shyte fyte but just comparing to what I have on hand.

[SquareBear]

Hi there, i sanded and sanded and sanded.....
I then got some shellac (orange) and rubbed it in....

It does have the colour of the teak in your pic ubeaut.
It has a few burls is this consistent with teak?
Here is the result...with only 2 coats....

Attachment 25993

Attachment 25994

The wood is beautiful golden colour in the light...
(Just seeing it glow in the light is awesome, I love working with good wood!)
Thanks all, any more tips?
Especially with re-doweling?