How Cabinet Scrapers Leave Evidence on Wood
A cabinet scraper is a thin steel tool whose prepared edge shaves fine curls from wood. It can level difficult grain and refine surfaces without the scratc
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Materials & Techniques
34 published guides on repair, care and the stories behind well-made things.
Shellac Finishes on Antique Furniture
Shellac is a natural resin dissolved in alcohol and used in many furniture finishes. It can form anything from a modest brushed coating to a highly refined
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Turned Wood on Antique Furniture
Turning shapes wood as it rotates on a lathe. Balusters, legs, stretchers, knobs and columns can be produced with repeating beads, coves, rings and tapers.
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Traditional Upholstery Layers Explained
Traditional upholstery builds form with webbing, springs where used, hessian, stuffing, stitching, calico and an outer cover. Each layer contributes to pro
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Cane Seats: Construction, Damage and Repair
Cane seating may be hand woven through holes in a frame or fitted as pre-woven sheet cane in a groove. The two systems require different repair methods and
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A Guide to Veneer on Antique Furniture
Veneer is a thin decorative layer of desirable wood laid over a stable substrate. It allowed cabinetmakers to arrange figure, create symmetry and use scarc
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Steam-Bent Wood: How to Recognise the Technique
Steam bending softens wood so a solid component can be curved around a form. It preserves long fibres and can create strong, light parts with little waste.
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Patina, Oxidation and Dirt: Know the Difference
Patina is the accumulated visual effect of ageing, use, light, oxidation, finish and maintenance. It is not simply dirt, and it cannot be manufactured by a
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Parquetry Explained: Geometric Veneer Patterns
Parquetry uses repeated geometric veneer units rather than pictorial scenes. Cubes, diamonds, chevrons, stars and lattice patterns can animate table tops,
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French Polishing: Technique, History and Care
French polishing is a method of applying many thin shellac layers with a rubbing pad, producing clarity and depth rather than a single heavy film. It becam
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