If your furniture is solid timber – hose off the mud and debris etc and dry the furniture with a towel. Do not put it in the sun to dry as this may cause warping and cracking etc. Leave it in the garage with all the doors open making sure that the drawers and shelves are out (so they don’t swell in the framework).
If your furniture is veneer – remove mud with mineral turpentine & steel wool and dry with a towel as you work from top to bottom.
Most antique furniture is lined with pine and will take up to 3 days to dry out.
The next thing to do is to make up polish rejuvenation. Buy a small 500ml spray bottle; pour 150ml of pale boiled linseed oil in, 150ml of gum turpentine and 150ml of methylated spirits. All these items are readily available at your local hardware store eg. Bunnings. I call this product “Shake to Rejuvenate”.
Shake well before using. And shake it regularly as this product will separate in 30 seconds!
Spray on a pad of 0000 steel wool and apply with the grain. Letting the solution soak it helps in removing the yellowing of the polish almost immediately. Don’t rub hard as the polish might come off. Remember it is 1/3 methylated spirits, which is the base for French polish and varnish. Note: We use this mixture on French polish, varnish and single pack lacquer. It may not work on 2 pack lacquering, marine poly enamels and hard finishes which should be waterproof anyway.
Now that you have rejuvenated the polish you will need to give in a good drink. We use straight orange oil with a rag and leave it to soak in for half an hour then wipe off the excess with a dry rag (orange oil also available from local hardware store).
Next is a feed and seal. The best way for a good feed and seal are ethanol based waxes such as liberon or jacpol wax. They are not easily obtained as one is made in France and the other in England, however if you Google they are available online. If you can get them, buy them in a medium brown. If you can’t get hold of them you should be able to buy Australia’s best wax – Gilly Stephenson’s dark restoring wax, again available at your local hardware store.
Apply the wax in a circular motion feeding the grain then finish off in a straight line with the grain. Leave to dry for 20 minutes then buff. This process also works for coffee cup marks on tables etc.
If this is not successful it’s a strip, sand and polish I’m afraid. Murphy’s Antique & Restorations offer a free online quote service. Please email your photos to admin@murphysantiques.com, it may take a while for us to reply as we are busy with flood damage.
Jill passed away during strict Covid 19 funeral restrictions, which meant the industry couldn't pay our last respects at her funeral. Jill was not only Queensland's longest licensed second hand dealer, but over time she became Queen of our industry. The knowledge and information that Jill has passed on to our generation over the years has been invaluable. Jill being the last of her generation means a generational effect has now taken place in our industry so it is now up to our generation to lead our industry into the 21st century and this new digital era.
Meade Murphy Murphy's Antiques and Restorations
I remember as a child going to Isle Love Auctions and Jill would show up and run all the dealers up in price as well as buying all the good quality antiques herself. She would set the price on antiques one way or another. She preferred to deal in quality Rosenstengel furniture as well as fine china. Jill lead the way in our industry being the power broker behind the Queensland Antique Dealers Association - Q.A.D.A.
We all called her the Queen of our industry and was the last active dealer from her generation. It now appears that a generational affect has now taken place in our industry. We must honour all the old guard that have passed away and thank them for the great knowledge and wisdom that they have passed on to our generation.
Introducing Sammy a true master in her field of a dying art of Re-veneering and Inlay Repairs.
If you thought the veneer was unrepairable, Sammy can work her magic.
Sammy….all the way from England is Exclusive to Murphy’s Antique Restorations
We buy old broken Antique timber furniture and furniture parts.
If you have any broken or furniture parts for timber furniture contact Murphy's Antique Restorations.