The restoration on every item is huge.
We love what we doThe restoration on every item is huge.
This box was bought in gloss paint and the restoration goes as follows….
1, We strip the box in an acid bath called caustic soda that removes all the paint.
The acid bath is hot so it gives a nice colour once stripped. A cold bath is no good and makes the pine go very grey.
The temperature is very important depending on the items paint, varnish or stain… Two hot and it cooks it and drawers would fall apart and twist the pine… Too cold and it won’t remove the paint and go grey .. medium temperature is just perfect.
2, The item is then pressure washed to remove the acid and excess caustic.
3, Then all items are naturally air dried on breezy warm sunny days. This can’t be rushed as if it is or dried using false heat from heaters the item will not shine once waxed and caustic white residue appears through the wax once it arrives in a centrally heated home.
4, All wood work is completed, reattach any beadings, plinths, piece a missing section from old pine or remake a bit of a drawer runner. This box needed no woodwork.
5, The item is then sanded in 120 or 150 grit sandpaper till nice and smooth.
The unit won’t sand if it is not completely dry or the wood will not go smooth.
We don’t over sand as this will remove the nice Victorian colour from the stripping.
6, Everything is then covered with lots white vinegar that naturalizes any remainder or caustic soda acid.
7, Air dried again after the white vinegar.
8, A light hand sand / pad off.
9, Then the items are ready for waxing.
This is done by hand using Briwax medium brown p7. Depending on the shade more coast can be added if required.
Not every item is a 5 minute job and can take a while to get the best restored Victorian pine items to sell.
We have over 70 boxes stripped and air drying and new ones getting finished each week. With chest of drawers, benches, linen presses and more always in a rotation of restoration we might just have the item you’ve always been looking for.
