| Project by YorkshireStewart | posted 298 days ago | 654 views | 0 times favorited | 17 comments |  |
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This isn’t a serious entry in 2009 Winter Awards as it’s not exactly ‘Fine Woodworking’ but I think it’s an interesting story that happens to fit the theme.
When my step-daughter moved into her C18th country cottage in Yorkshire, she found this wreck of a bureau amongst the debris in a garden shed. It was being used to store flower pots and old seed packets. ”You don’t think you could clean it up for me??” said she. What can a fella do?
I imagine it dates from around the 1920s, so it was worth bringing back into use.
To remove the accumulated filth, I used a mixture of linseed oil, vinegar and methylated spirit (denatured alcohol) in equal parts; applied with fine steel wool. Yes, I know I shouldn’t have used steel wool on oak, but there’s no sign of any problem after several years.
‘Cleaning it up’ included replacing the craftsman built(?) shelves with something a little more stylish. See above.
I took the opportunity to incorporate some ‘secret’ drawers (and now I’m telling the world!) as was the tradition with some of the finer desks and bureaux. Picture # 4 (not a very sharp image) shows the four secret drawers. The two bigger ones were so secret that when I went back after a couple of years to take a picture, it took us half an hour to find them! The distressed finish, or lack of finish, was deliberate in an attempt to make them blend in.
-- Res severa verum gaudium - True pleasure is a serious business. http://www.folksy.com/shops/TreeGems
17 comments so far
SCOTSMAN
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2238 posts in 479 days
posted 298 days ago
you made a GREAT job well done it looks German to me as I brought baack a German table from when I lived there and it is similar in design bnut maybe not cheers Alistair
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
Colin
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186 posts in 814 days
posted 298 days ago
At last Stewart, I have been watching the contest waiting for your entry, I knew that you would not let me down, the restoration work looks great as do the secret drawers, good luck with the contest.
Colin
-- Colin, Aberdeenshire, Scotland. "Every craftsman was once an amateur"
SCOTSMAN
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2238 posts in 479 days
posted 298 days ago
Hi Colin I hope you are keeping well kindest regards Alistair from Argyll and bute
-- excuse my typing as I have a form of parkinsons disease
Andy
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570 posts in 802 days
posted 298 days ago
Thanks for sharing this story and the process.
My wife and I have been fixing up,repairing and refinishing old furniture for 34 years now.It started out of need and now is mostly out of enjoyment.We love seeing the transformation.
You did a real nice job on this Stewart.
I imagine your step daughter was very happy with you :-)
-- " If I can make it,so can you" Andy in Oregon
TonyWard
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285 posts in 1222 days
posted 298 days ago
Stewart
Nice work, great to see an old work given a new lease of life.
Tony Ward
-- Bandsaw Box Plans
Karson
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25793 posts in 1294 days
posted 298 days ago
Steward. A great job.
-- What happens in the workshop stays in the workshop. No wait that doesn't sound right. Karson Southern Delaware karson_morrison@bigfoot.com †
Beginningwoodworker
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4154 posts in 567 days
posted 298 days ago
Nice peice.
-- CJIII Future cabinetmaker
dennis mitchell
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3789 posts in 1208 days
posted 298 days ago
Great save!
-- http://www.woodsongsfurniture.com
griff
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926 posts in 656 days
posted 298 days ago
Great job,
-- Mike, Bruce Mississippi = Jack of many trades master of none
scottb
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3402 posts in 1221 days
posted 298 days ago
fantastic save….
if only you’d show us how you fit in the secret drawers – in such a way that even you couldn’t find them!
-- I am always doing what I cannot do yet, in order to learn how to do it. - Pablo Picasso -- http://blanchardcreative.etsy.com -- http://snbcreative.wordpress.com/
rikkor
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11335 posts in 768 days
posted 297 days ago
What a great restoration. You do nice work!
HallTree
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2041 posts in 661 days
posted 297 days ago
Nice Job! I have been wanting to make a small desk for my wife. Have never seen one like yours. Very different.
-- Ron in Osseo, Minnesota
motthunter
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2079 posts in 693 days
posted 297 days ago
always nice to save a good one…
-- making sawdust....
jockmike2
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7302 posts in 1140 days
posted 297 days ago
Mr Stewart, it never ceases to amaze me the extreme bounds of your ability. The restoration of the desk is another example of your endless talent. Fine job.
-- Mike. mwurm13@yahoo.com
Grumpy
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14920 posts in 745 days
posted 297 days ago
Excellent restoration Stew. Don’t worry about your secret I won’t tell anybody. LOL
-- Grumpy - "Always look on the bright side of life"- Monty Python
clieb91
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681 posts in 829 days
posted 296 days ago
Stewart, Nice save and some great additions you added.
CtL
-- Chris L. "Don't Dream it, Be it."
Roz
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461 posts in 680 days
posted 296 days ago
fantastic, I’ve never seen anything quite like it.
-- Terry Roswell, L.A. (Lower Alabama) "Life is what happens to you when you are making other plans."