I purchased an antique rocking chair (approx. 100 yrs old) for my wife and the original finish is flaking off in places. I want to preserve the authentic look of the chair and prevent further deterioration of the finish. The finish is dark brown in colour with gold highlights. I’m not sure if it is paint or a stain of some sort.
This chair will be used regularly. I was thinking of a wax or polish but I don’t want to make it too shiny. Any suggestions?
Thanks.
Replies
Is it the clear, final finish (topcoat) that's flaking? You need to determine what it is. (Even a "clear" finish might have yellowed by now). If it's never been re-finished with something more modern, it's probably shellac. The way to determine that is to take a Q-tip, dip it in denatured alcohol (not rubbing alcohol) and rub a spot of finish with it, in some obscured area. If it's shellac, the finish will become gummy because it's dissolving.
Shellac finishes can be fairly easy to revive, but let's see if that's what it is first.
Once you figure out what it is, here is a plan A:http://www.homesteadfinishing.com/htdocs/savingfinish.htm
I think BHAH meant this post for you.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Those are nice old chairs and should have the finish preserved. On other items that I have had where something was "flaking off" (paper labels on a coffee box, etc.) I have sprayed a coat of shellac over it.
I think the finish that is flaking could be a tinted shellac. My black rocker was this. The brown color on some of those chairs is paint, I believe, but still a shellac topcoat. If the flaking is not extensive, or you can live with the amount it is (as it sounds from your post), I would lightly brush the surface and spray shellac.
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