Some of the best buys in furniture today are items manufactured in America during our “Depression” cycle, which in furniture terms runs from roughly 1920 to 1960. Read More +
Author Archives: Fred Taylor
Furniture Detective: Antique castors can make (or break) furniture

One of the mysteries of the universe to me is “Why do so many 20th century pieces of furniture have wheels or casters on them?” A clue of sorts can be found in the generic name of many early 20th century items, those that are known as “Colonial Revival.” Read More +
Furniture Detective: Watch the muntins when reassembling antique furniture
This article is a continuation of last issue’s “Take down” column (Don’t fall to pieces when disassembling furniture), in which the steps involved in taking apart a Colonial Revival bookcase secretary for refinishing were outlined and discussed. — Editor Read More +
Furniture Detective: Don’t fall to pieces when disassembling furniture
Once you have made the decision to refinish an older or antique piece of furniture, naturally the next thought is the schedule of events that happen between now and the final coat of finish. Read More +
Furniture Detective: Patch up your respect for Bondo
Very often in the course of restoring a piece of antique furniture it is necessary to fill a nail hole, plug a crack, fill a divot or even replace a missing area of trim. For this purpose there is a variety of generically called “wood putty” or “wood dough” products available commercially plus the never ending list of custom recipes Read More +
Furniture Detective: Furniture repair success takes product, patience and pride
When you embark on any project involving older or antique furniture, whether it’s just a simple repair, minor adjustments or a major recondition or refinish, your recipe will call for three main ingredients, the three “Ps” of successful work: product, patience and pride. Read More +
Furniture Detective: Simple home solution for bleaching wood
The best advice you can receive about bleaching wood is to avoid it if at all possible. Of all the things that are done to wood furniture by amateurs and professionals alike, bleaching is probably the most dangerous to you personally and potentially the most harmful to the wood. Read More +
Furniture Detective: Unconventional methods work when staining patch compounds
Any time you strip and refinish a piece of wood furniture, somewhere down the line you probably will need to fill a nail hole, patch a crack or fix a piece of trim. Read More +
Furniture Detective: Removing oil and dirt to preserve a ‘patina’ takes a slight touch
Well, you bought it, got it home, lubed the drawers, leveled the doors and it looks great, doesn’t it? Read More +
Furniture Detective: Rebuilding case good runners needs ‘new’ old wood – Part II

After taking care of the worn out runners on the bottoms of the drawers as discussed last week, attention must now be paid to the other half of the problem – the inside runners in the case itself. Read More +

