Restoring Antique Kitchen Furniture

Before restoration, antique kitchen furniture can look worn and tired. While a lived-in look is often desirable with antique furniture of any kind, restoration efforts can benefit overly worn pieces. Fixing up antique kitchen furniture may appear daunting to the amateur, particularly because so many professional restorers clamor to do the job for you. If you want to save money on the process, you can try these steps on your antique kitchen furniture.

Perform a Basic Cleaning

Most antique kitchen furniture looks drab and old because of its handling, particularly if it has been varnished or repeatedly polished with the wrong kind of liquid. Excessive polishing can leave dark stains or unattractive streaks; it can even damage the wood beneath. Your first job, therefore, is to remove previous attempts to restore the wood.

Begin with a gentle scrub of the wood to remove any dirt and surface wax. You can try a steel wool scrubbing cloth, but you should use it lightly in order to avoid scratching the wood. You may also try a light clothes brush, or even a toothbrush for stubborn spots. If you have very detailed work, you can use a cocktail stick or similar device to poke dirt and debris out of the spaces.

Remove Old Signs of Restoration

Once you have given the furniture a brief clean, rub the wood with a wax remover or wood cleaner. Leave the substance in place for about 20 minutes (or as long as the manufacturer recommends) and then brush off the antique kitchen furniture with a suitable cloth. The wood should now seem brighter and cleaner.

Next take off any non-original fixes, such as a piece of dowelling on the side of the arm or some wire binding the leg to the seat.

Repair Loose or Broken Pieces

You can now start fixing the wooden part of the furniture. Remove any broken pieces and try to glue loose joints back together. You may need to take the broken parts to a cabinet repair shop in order to get the joints fashioned again. Once the part is restored, fit it back into place and seal it with some glue.

In older antiques, you may want to use authentic glue, such as hide glue, which is available on the Internet. You may be able to use other wood glues in small quantities. Try to conceal the glue as much as possible by laying it down in corners.

Apply Finishing Techniques

Once you have glued all of the pieces back together, use a wood staining varnish to coat the wood of the antique kitchen furniture. Then wax lightly if necessary. Leave your work to dry.