How To Restore An Antique Chest

You've buy one of those antique chests and now you need to restore it. But, before start with the project there are few important things to consider. Firs, make sure there is a great ventilated place in your home. You can make the restoration outside or in your garage. This is important as you do not have any idea of where this antique chest was stored, in what environment and condition was used, what is been put into it and what kind of bacteria, molds and bugs could have.

Also, if the chest dates form 19th century or earlier then you should consider of removing its glue, because then this glue was made from either a fish or horse base. Yes, you've heard it right. This specific glue along with the exterior/interior coverings helped the chest to save the beauty of the 100+ year old wood. So, back again to the restoration process. Here are few simple and easy steps that will help you back the beauty of the old antique chest, thus make it useful again.

Clean

Cleaning the antique chest should be the first step of your restoration project. The amount of collected dirt and dust throughout the years of storage or use must be thoroughly removed. The clear picture of the chest will give you a clear idea of what this antique piece needs. For this purpose, use a sponge, clean cloth and oil-based solution. While cleaning, make sure you cover all areas of the chest including the veneers and the lower rails.

Repair

Now when you are done cleaning, make a thoroughly inspection of your antique chest. Try to find if there are any areas that need to be repaired. This can be replacing handles or tightening screws. If the chest was not maintained well in the past, the repairing may be more severe than you think. Checking the item for any marks or labels is also important. This will help you to indicate its origin. If you suspect about the value of your antique piece then consulting a professional is always a great idea. Repairing the broken areas of your chest will improve its structure so you can use it for many years to come.

Refinish

Refinish is not a must, because not all restoring projects are same. Some of them do not require this procedure, but if your chest does, then make sure to remove previous finish before apply a new one. Before start refinishing, there is just one step to take – sanding. This will make the surface of your chest smooth so the finish will be perfectly applied. Refinishing is one of the most time consuming and challenging parts of the restoration and sometimes it's okay to ask for professional help.