A few weeks ago we came across a large antique desk that was in need of major repair. We picked it up cheap just to harvest the decorative walnut inlayed panels on the sides and top. I chainsawed the desk, and saved and then cut to size some of the inlays. These two (roughly 16X36) I want to use for the drop down table tops in my Hunter Cherub 27, to replace the white mica. Question? What would be the absolute best varnish to use to protect the delicate inlayed panels? Think they will hold up? Thanks, Jim
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Polyurethane
I'd use a hand-applied polyurethane. I've been doing doors in my house with Clear Satin Minwax (rub-on). Use a lint-free cotton cloth to apply. Comes out very nice. Also available in Clear Gloss. Got it at Home Depot.
I'd use a hand-applied polyurethane. I've been doing doors in my house with Clear Satin Minwax (rub-on). Use a lint-free cotton cloth to apply. Comes out very nice. Also available in Clear Gloss. Got it at Home Depot.
Paul, is that the gel?
Paul, is that the rub on gel poly? GEL? I'll check it out, thanks! The veneers are "glued" to a very hard yellowish white wood (some of it still has tree bark on the back, go figure), but I can palm sand that smooth. Thanks, Jim
Paul, is that the rub on gel poly? GEL? I'll check it out, thanks! The veneers are "glued" to a very hard yellowish white wood (some of it still has tree bark on the back, go figure), but I can palm sand that smooth. Thanks, Jim
Stop !!!!!
This junk may well be over 200 hundred years old and perhaps the craftsman who originally built it used natural glues of that time. Applying urethanes, etc. may be incompatible with the inlay. Id check first with a local furniture historian (dont panic if he/she faints when you tell him/her that you used a chainsaw on the rest of it) and ask them how to refinish it. Be prepared to apply natural oil based varnish so that you dont lift the veneer inlay. Designs such as these were quite common in the early to mid 1800s. If this could have possibly come from the state of Mississippi then the original date of the piece is probably 1817.
This junk may well be over 200 hundred years old and perhaps the craftsman who originally built it used natural glues of that time. Applying urethanes, etc. may be incompatible with the inlay. Id check first with a local furniture historian (dont panic if he/she faints when you tell him/her that you used a chainsaw on the rest of it) and ask them how to refinish it. Be prepared to apply natural oil based varnish so that you dont lift the veneer inlay. Designs such as these were quite common in the early to mid 1800s. If this could have possibly come from the state of Mississippi then the original date of the piece is probably 1817.
Should have gone to the Traveling Roadshow!
The traveling Road show antiques!!!...They could have shocked you with the $$$$$ ...saw something like these inlays go for $160,000.!!!!.....
The traveling Road show antiques!!!...They could have shocked you with the $$$$$ ...saw something like these inlays go for $160,000.!!!!.....
Stop! and Roadshow....
Never could have gone in a furniture show, it was too big even for my pick up, I had to bring it home with the tailgate down and a red flag on the back. It had a bookcase with doors on the top, the doors I saved, but it was about 9 feet high. Had to cut it up, because there were no screws anywhere, just put together with wooden teeth, they never even took off the bark inside. Not well built, no screws or nails. Guess the company used no screws. I saved all/only the parts and doors that had the inlay to use in the boat, I hope it works. Thanks for the glue and finishing tips. It was a mess, very dirty and sticky. The wood parts will look neat in the boat. Believe me it was not an expensive desk from a furniture store, not worth anything except for the nice woodwork. Thank you Jim
Never could have gone in a furniture show, it was too big even for my pick up, I had to bring it home with the tailgate down and a red flag on the back. It had a bookcase with doors on the top, the doors I saved, but it was about 9 feet high. Had to cut it up, because there were no screws anywhere, just put together with wooden teeth, they never even took off the bark inside. Not well built, no screws or nails. Guess the company used no screws. I saved all/only the parts and doors that had the inlay to use in the boat, I hope it works. Thanks for the glue and finishing tips. It was a mess, very dirty and sticky. The wood parts will look neat in the boat. Believe me it was not an expensive desk from a furniture store, not worth anything except for the nice woodwork. Thank you Jim
Stop<G>
Rich, thanks for the tip. The desk was very dirty. The panels you see in the pic (after I ran them through the table saw to size) I cleaned up with steel wool and lemon oil, the dirt and soot came off but it was black! Dulled my Schmidt blade too! I hope this is worth the effort. Certainly will look better than the white mica table from Hunter factory. Thanks, Jim
Rich, thanks for the tip. The desk was very dirty. The panels you see in the pic (after I ran them through the table saw to size) I cleaned up with steel wool and lemon oil, the dirt and soot came off but it was black! Dulled my Schmidt blade too! I hope this is worth the effort. Certainly will look better than the white mica table from Hunter factory. Thanks, Jim
teeth??
Jim thoses teeth are called finger joints or Dove tails.... the sign of a craftsmans work especially if it had that type of inlays in it. As a cabinetmaker myself I think its just a shame to destroy a peice that must have been a work of art ...at one time. If there are no hardware connections it shows how fine that joinery must have been to be able to hold the corners together for such a long time. Good luck with the table leafs.
Jim thoses teeth are called finger joints or Dove tails.... the sign of a craftsmans work especially if it had that type of inlays in it. As a cabinetmaker myself I think its just a shame to destroy a peice that must have been a work of art ...at one time. If there are no hardware connections it shows how fine that joinery must have been to be able to hold the corners together for such a long time. Good luck with the table leafs.
Nice inlay!
The inlay caught my eye. We bought 3 new tables for our living room a few years ago with exactly the same inlay style. The coffee table was oval, just like what you found, and the other 2 tables were circular. It looks like you have a nice project for your boat. Good Luck!
The inlay caught my eye. We bought 3 new tables for our living room a few years ago with exactly the same inlay style. The coffee table was oval, just like what you found, and the other 2 tables were circular. It looks like you have a nice project for your boat. Good Luck!
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