reza@ihuxb.UUCP (12/13/83)
My wife and I found a used dining room set for $100. There is a table that can seat up to 10-12 after adding the leaves, and 10 chairs. The set is made of solid mahogany and is about 50 years old. The table needs some refinishing. You ask what about the chairs? Well, the chairs are painted white! Other than these and some minor scratches the set is in good shape. Is it worth the $100? Somebody told me that 50 years is considered too old for useful wood furniture and too young for antique, and advised against buying (can you tell how much I know about wood?!). Is it practical to strip the paint off the chairs? How about stripping joints? I would appreciate it if people who have done similar refinishing projects let me know how much it cost them in terms of time and money. H. Reza Taheri ...!ihnp4!ihuxb!reza (312)-979-1040
ell@linus.UUCP (Edward L. Lafferty) (12/17/83)
I have had very good luck with old painted stuff. 50 yrs. is ok. You probably have nice solid mahogany and it can be stripped and refinished with lots of elbow grease. A VERY sharp scraper will help after you have used the stripping compound for the "joints" and little crevices. Sounds like a pretty good buy, but be sure you really have all solid mahogany underneath all that paint and stuff and that you are willing to work at finishing it.
warren@ihnss.UUCP (Warren Montgomery) (12/19/83)
I refinished an oak kitchen set (table and 3 chairs) about 7 years ago, getting a pro to take most of the gunk off with a chemical treatment. He charged me $25 for the whole thing and did a good job, leaving only a little paint in the groves in the table legs. It had at least 5 coats of paint on and came pretty clean, but retained a greyish tinge when done, which he attributed to the original finish. (I later found out that it was originally stained grey with red and blue designs (yuck!)). What was left was solid oak chairs and a veneered table. They used a petroleum based stripper that did not seem to harm the wood or the glue appreciably. (my carelessness in letting some rain water get on it while letting it air out afterwards did!). I can't recall the exact name of the place, but it was something like the jolly stripper, and was in Bedford Mass. just off routes 4&225 about 1 mile north of 128. If you do something like this, I recommend making sure what you have to begin with, checking at the shop to see what other pieces they have stripped look like, and not doing it chemically at all if you want a light, clean finish at the end. (We were planning to stain it with a dark stain, so a little grey tinge in the wood was no big deal. -- Warren Montgomery ihnss!warren IH x2494
mauney@ncsu.UUCP (12/20/83)
References: ihuxb.455
A table and 10 chairs for $100? Buy it!
If you like the way it looks and the wood is in good condition, why not?
I don't understand why 50 years would be too old for wood furniture.
How do antiques get to be antiques? Some get put in attics but most
are used for a hundred years and then presto! Wood does not deteriorate
unless abused, so if the furniture is sturdy and if the refinishing won't
kill you, there is no reason not to use it. Beware, though. Painted
furniture is oftern painted for a reason. Don't be surprised if the chairs
are not beautiful, or made of several different woods.
Jon Mauney ncsu!mauney