Rare Victorian Est. 2008 · The Curator's Archive
Video Posts No. 301

Video - Part II: Refinishing A Merklen Brothers "Shabby" Table

Originally published

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Here's Part II of the Merklen Brothers table refinish project. If you didn't view the first Part yet, I recommend you watch it first, here.

In this episode, I'm in the shop of my favorite local furniture restoration business, Rose Valley Restorations, and we go through a battery of tests to determine the best approach to stripping.

You can view the video by using the player below or follow the instructions to view it in full-screen, stereo and High-Definition.

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3 comments

  1. james conrad
    neat that you are filming this process. finishing wooden objects today is an art form onto itself and i note that certified line copies of the Brown family Goddard desk/bookcase which sold in 1989 for 12.1 million comes in a variety of finishes, including one that has a "200 year old patina". Indeed, if one can restore/conserve the most important work of art in the western world,Michelangelo Buonarroti's painting of the sistine chapel, one can restore your table. For a look at the issues surrounding that "WAR", which still continues today, check this out and click on before and after pic's. http://msopal29.myweb.uga.edu/
  2. woodwright
    I'm really surprised to see your refinisher working with a Methelene Chloride stripper (I heard him say it was in the video) without wearing gloves. Think about it - it will disolve old paint and finish - how good can it be for your skin, and to absorb into your body? Chemicals are absorbed through your skin and into your bloodstream. It also has a burning effect on your skin (you definately don't want it in your eyes). I definately wouldn't advise using it without gloves. woodwright
  3. RareVictorian
    Yes, maybe his bloodstream has built up a resistance ;-) He was careful to tell me to wash my hands before I left. I took this video over a week ago, so the final sanding is now almost complete. Video 3 might be a week away. It takes no time to video tape, but all the time in the world to edit it, even into the lame production quality that I put together. I tell myself I'm focusing on the content and not Spielberg-esque production techniques. It will get easier (and faster) over time since this is only the 2nd video I've ever put together aside from my Honeymoon video in Bora Bora.

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