Wood Refinishing Wood Refinishing

Content

• Wood overviewWood overview• Solids vs veneerSolids vs veneer• Precision repairsPrecision repairs• Finish types & characteristicsFinish types & characteristics

Wood Overview

• Softwood usually equates with Softwood usually equates with

coniferous trees such as pineconiferous trees such as pine

• Hardwood usually equates with Hardwood usually equates with

deciduous trees such as Ash, Oak, deciduous trees such as Ash, Oak,

Mahogany, Teak, WalnutMahogany, Teak, Walnut

• Pine was not used as a decorative wood Pine was not used as a decorative wood

in its own right until the 20in its own right until the 20thth century century

Veneer Vs Solids• First became popular in the late 17First became popular in the late 17thth & 18 & 18thth

Centuries & was hand cutCenturies & was hand cut

• At this time it was more about decoration At this time it was more about decoration

than economy and was often laid on a than economy and was often laid on a

Mahogany substrateMahogany substrate

• Ability to cut veneer mechanically by 19Ability to cut veneer mechanically by 19 thth

Century enabled cheaper furniture to be Century enabled cheaper furniture to be

made made

• Today particle boards (mdf /chipboard) act Today particle boards (mdf /chipboard) act

as substrates & is more about economy / as substrates & is more about economy /

conservation than decorationconservation than decoration

• Modern veneer is only 0.8 mm thickModern veneer is only 0.8 mm thick

Precision Repairs

• Precision repairs Precision repairs are cosmetic repairs are cosmetic repairs without recourse to without recourse to refinishing and refinishing and usually on site:-usually on site:-– Heat / water marks Heat / water marks

(blooms)(blooms)– Gouges / Gouges /

dents/scratches/chipsdents/scratches/chips– Colour lossColour loss

Which Finish?WHICH FINISH?

Durable Non Durable

Wax

Low Heat / Water Resistance

French Polish

Better heat / water resistance

Durable

Traditional Modern

Oil Lacquer

The term French Polishing has become generic for all wood finishingThe term French Polishing has become generic for all wood finishing

Finish Types & Characteristics WAX & OILWAX & OIL

• Apart from paint the oldest form of wood Apart from paint the oldest form of wood finishfinish

• Beeswax polish and furniture oils such as Beeswax polish and furniture oils such as Danish, Tung & Linseed are finishes in Danish, Tung & Linseed are finishes in their own righttheir own right

QUALTIES WAX OIL

Easy to apply Yes Yes

Durability Low High

Heat /Water

Reistance Low High

Renewability /

Revival Yes Yes

Finish Types / CharacteristicsFrench PolishFrench Polish

• First introduced into UK early 19First introduced into UK early 19thth Century Century

• A solution of shellac in alchoholA solution of shellac in alchohol

• A natural product exuded by an insect A natural product exuded by an insect

laccifer laqccalaccifer laqcca common in India common in India

• A time consuming hand process using a A time consuming hand process using a

pad (rubber) to apply numerous light coatspad (rubber) to apply numerous light coats

– Grain Filling – Fadding – Bodying – Grain Filling – Fadding – Bodying –

Stiffing/Spiriting - WaxingStiffing/Spiriting - Waxing

Finish Types & CharacteristicsLacquerLacquer

• Comes in two basic formats – Solvent Based Comes in two basic formats – Solvent Based

or Water Basedor Water Based

• Available in various sheen levels Available in various sheen levels

• Solvent -Advantage is quick drying Solvent -Advantage is quick drying

• Disadvantage not environmentally friendlyDisadvantage not environmentally friendly

• Water Based - Advantage environmentally Water Based - Advantage environmentally

friendlyfriendly

• Disadvantage slower dryingDisadvantage slower drying

• Water based is the future - significant Water based is the future - significant

strides have been madestrides have been made

Long Eaton School Project

• For full information on our services see

www.furnituremedic-midlands.co.uk