The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California
The Care Of Wood Work In The Home
Repair
FROM time to time, old furniture and bygones, and for that matter new furniture too, need repair. With antiques it is a moot point how far repair should be carried without turning it into overzealous restoration. One of the prime purposes of old furniture and wooden bygones was use, and original purpose and age must be carefully assessed before deciding whether the condition is good or bad. If the original use entailed wear, such as occurs in a kitchen, it is unreasonable to expect to find the object in 'mint' condition. Of necessity, it will, if well used, bear the scars of honorable service, and the repair, whilst preventing further deterioration, should not remove the scars.
Sometimes an old and badly glued repair has to be broken down before a new one can be effected. Immersion in hot water, or if this is not practicable, application of cloths soaked in hot water soon opens the join. All old glue must be removed with a brush dipped in hot water, or with wet cloths; some assistance may be needed from a sharp chisel or knife. Dry naturally and if the material is an oily one, such as teak or some of the nut shells, dab the edges with a weak solution of washing soda. To make the new joint, apply glue thinly to both halves of the fracture at the temperature recommended by the manufacturer; bring together tightly, squeeze out and wipe off surplus glue. Then open the joint and leave for ten minutes. The thin layer of glue left on the two surfaces to be joined will form a sealing coat and prevent joint starvation. After the ten minutes have elapsed, recoat the two surfaces with a thin layer of the glue, bring together tightly and leave under light pressure for the time advocated by the glue manufacturer. Remove surplus glue after it has jellied, but before it has hardened completely. If you have left it too long and the glue has hardened completely, remove as much as possible with a sharp chisel and finish off with No. 0 wire wool.
Many excellent cold glues are now available, but they all function better if used in a normal living-room temperature. The glue sets much better in a warm, airy room. If you want to develop the maximum strength of the joint in the minimum time, never put the object under repair to set in a cupboard or drawer, where there is no circulation of air. Tubes of liquid glue are convenient for small repairs, but if speed of setting is a vital consideration, some of the new powder resin glues have advantages.
