How To Restore a Pair of Georgian Side Tables (Part 2)

[@Swooop9530]

I always learn much from your videos. Thank you!

[@martincox8475]

Great work, the emphasis on the length of time pure restoration takes is never to be underestimated. As I often tell my customers quick fixes rarely last the test of time, for restorers patience is definitely a virtue!

[@GilboysRestoration]

It certainly is Martin. I sometimes shudder at the true cost of restoration. I can honestly say that we hardly ever charge the true work hours that go in to it. 🙃

[@adhanks4703]

Beautiful Work. Love The Channel

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you very much. 🙂

[@Cradley684]

Great videos really enjoyed them, great work they look great, look forward to more videos like this, Stay Safe All !!!.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Brian. 🙂

[@nvartanian]

Love the content and like that Thomas Johnson is using your wax as well. Please make more videos. :)

[@GilboysRestoration]

~ Thank you ~ We are making more. :-)

[@magnuswalter4695]

Thanks

[@davidkraiger4377]

Nice

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks

[@TheFurnitureArtisan]

👍. You really are getting quite good at this😉

[@GilboysRestoration]

😀 Thank you. 🤩

[@ragtoppilot9145]

Thank you for your excellent restoration videos. I came across your shop on Amazon and made my first purchase of wax today. I have a George 111 drop leaf table that has been waxed for many years, but is quite dull. I want to wax it now with your antique wax. My question please is, should I wax over or what is the best method of removing the build up of wax? Many thanks.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you. I would just go straight ahead and wax it. Do one leaf at a time. It makes it much easier. ✅ I only recommend cleaning with a mild soapy cloth (and dry it) if the surface is really dirty, or has fly poo dots on it. 😳

[@as03uk]

I tried French polishing for the first time today! Does anyone know the best way to apply it into detailed areas, such as inside edges of trim, or other decorative features? My fad doesn’t get anywhere near it,

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi. Use a 'pencil mop' (small polishers mop) for carved relief areas. ✅

[@as03uk]

@@GilboysRestoration Thank you very much for your reply! I thought the pencil mop was only for stain, but now understand more about how to handle the polish. Much appreciated. Love the videos!

[@carriebtc]

Beautiful work. Congratulations. Thank you for showing step by step the process of your craft. Highly enjoyable. Cheers

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you.

[@jamiepowell8025]

Many thanks for sharing Simon, another hugely inspiring video. I've finished a few similar pieces with your waxes and can't tell you enough how they finish everything off beautifully. :)

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Jamie. Thats very kind of you. 🙂

[@gav2759]

You're right. It's rare to work on completely original furniture. The evidence of another's hand usually emerges as you become more "intimate" with a piece. Thanks for posting.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Yes it’s often the case. It’s a shame because these tables looked to be ‘right’ at first look. 🙃

[@Cariadog1]

I really enjoyed watching. A little disappointing that they weren't the real deal but nontheless lovely pieces which came up beautifully with your hard work. Your workshop reminds me of my old school science lab for some reason 😂

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi NinaforRoxy. Thank you. 🙂

[@maturefox1]

I mean they were beautiful before already, but you made them shining and perfect in a way again. Thanks for sharing then! Take care and be well!

[@GilboysRestoration]

My pleasure 😊

[@urbanryberg1354]

👍👍👍

[@adhanks4703]

Beautiful Work. Love The Channel

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Ad. 🙂

[@jeanine6492]

Thank you for showing the features of these tables at the end; I was wondering what the ‘brass locking pole’ locked! Why would the top underside have baise or felt, especially since there didn’t seem to be supports out the back or stays I guess? Please more of these A- Z restorations, they are so informative and fun to watch plus you are a calming port in this stormy world.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Jeanine. I think the brass locking pins were fitted after it was originally made. I think to make them more appealing. They are more decorative than practical. 🙂

[@jeanine6492]

@Gilboys ah that makes sense. What about the felt on inside top and no stays or supports?

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Jeanine. Only the brushing slides had a baize lining. The interior has the original paper lining. I don't know why the lid had no support or stays. They were never fitted. I do talk about this at the end of the video. Kind regards Simon

[@jeanine6492]

@Gilboys thank you. I didn’t realise it was paper lined. I do watch all the way to the very end and remember you talking about there being no stays and not adding one unless the customer wanted it.

[@GilboysRestoration]

No problem. I think if these tables weren't so desirable I would have added the stay/support. 🙂

[@TheCottackWorkshop]

Fantastic job Simon! Loved seeing you getting to know the pieces and everything that went into bringing them back.

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thank you.

[@carriebtc]

P.s.: Do refinished pieces of furniture (rather than in their original state) retain their resale value in the UK Antique Market? Here in the States (USA) they would lose a great deal of their value when not in their original finish condition. Please advise. Cheers

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi. It often very much depends on where they are bought. If they are at auction over restored or obviously restored pieces will not achieve the higher value. But if privately bought from a dealer then I would say the majority of pieces have had restoration. I think this is true of the USA and the UK. It also very much depends on the quality and amount of repair work carried out. In the case of these two tables they were ruined by years of water damage. There was no other option but to restore them. Kind regards Simon

[@jackieohehir3259]

Nicely done.....it's never simple though is it?

[@GilboysRestoration]

Thanks Jackie, It never is. 😂 In my experience of furniture restoration, there's always a hidden problem that wasn't apparent at the time it came in to the workshop. 😬 😄

[@elainebutterworth8051]

Another very interesting demo, thank you. A question - when you were touching up previous work to the cracks on the brushing slides, I noticed that you didn't fill the crack first to give a smooth working surface. Was the gap too narrow to make a difference?

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Elaine. Can you give me a time (00:00) in the video, so I can see where you mean. 🙂

[@elainebutterworth8051]

Hi, I'm not being picky, I'm watching very closely and trying to learn from your excellent videos. It was in Part 1, at 20:21

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Elaine. No problem at all . I wanted to know the time stamp so I could see what you see. ✅

[@GilboysRestoration]

Hi Elaine. The crack was previously filled. The very fine white line in the centre is a resin filler that had been applied a long time before I picked them out of the workshop. ✅. It may look like its not smooth but I can assure you it was quite flat. You can see me sanding them just before I start colouring. I'll explain a little bit more about them. They have been in the workshop for a very long time. Our customer had removed them from long term storage only to find they had been subjected to prolonged water damage. When he brought them in to us, both tops were severely bowed, and under this pressure the veneer had torn right through the crown. The tops were removed from their bases, and for months and months and months the tops were wetted and heavy weights were placed upon them. After a year and longer they eventually settled into a near flat surface. Now the next problem was aesthetics: The highly prized decorative veneer was ruined. It had to be sanded. The problem with sanding any aged period veneer is, as soon as you do so the colour will flood back and darken. There was no other option. So we ended up with flat repaired tops that looked nothing like they should. The only option left was to bleach them with two part wood bleach, very lightly sand them and stain them. The next process was very careful applications of French Polish (shellac). This was successful but we still had the problem of the split veneer and damaged edge banding. Now both our restorers in the workshop had tried many times to disguise it by using powder colours as I demonstrated in the video but they really struggled because every time they attempted it it looked great from one angle and bloody terrible from another, so they were left alone for months as nobody wanted to go near them. This is the point when I picked them up and started filming the process. So some of the repairs had been carried out and the frames had been worked on a little. They were not easy to colour and the fine balance of colouring too much and using too much pigment is easily overlooked. This is where you need to have an understanding of the materials being used and the desired overall finish to the antiques. I enjoy colouring and these tables were very challenging. I hope this sheds a little more light on them and answers your question. 🙂 Best wishes Simon

[@elainebutterworth8051]

@@GilboysRestoration Gosh Simon, I hadn't expected all that! - thank you. You are to be complimented on taking on such a challenge and achieving such a good outcome. Most people would have given up.