Name: Kryz
Location: Berkeley
Time: 16 hours
Cost: $442.36
Description:
Signed: Rulon E. Murphy - Hollywood Calif. - Jan. 1939
Features:
A combination of solid Birdseye Maple and veneer, turned knobs, stilted legs, and five drawers. 53” x 16.75” x 29.25”h
Issues:
Potted plant on the top surface caused a severe watermark, and rippling of the veneer. An opaque cherry stain is concealing the radiant Birdseye grain patterns. Surface has nail polish remover marks, and overall wear.
Objective:
Re-veneer the top, strip the finish, sand to the natural Birdseye color, and refinished “green”, highlight the exquisite wood.
BEFORETell us the tools and resources you used for the project:
3M Hi-Strength Spray Adhesive 90
Soy bean stripper from soyclean.biz (non-toxic)
Sheet of Birdseye maple veneer from veneersupplies.com
(5) 220 sandpaper, (5) 320 sandpaper. (2) 400 grit
#00, #0000 steel wool
Sanding block 220 grit
Bondo wood filler
Bullseye Shellac (all natural, non-toxic)
Howard’s bees wax and citrus oil (all natural, non-toxic)
Bag of rags
Razors
Scraper
Natural bristle brush
Dewalt palm sander
TOOLSShare step-by-step instructions for how you completed the project:
Day 1:
Removed the top surface from the desk
Laid down towel over the damaged veneer, and steamed the surface with a household iron allowing the glue to get soft and veneer to ripple
Then lifted the veneer with a scraper and scraped off the glue
Once the veneer and glue was completely off used a razor along the edge to remove debris and create a clean sharp edge
Sanded the surface with 220 to remove excess glue. Did a few minor fills with Bondo to create a completely flat surface
Measured the space and cut the veneer to size using an L square ruler and razor
Fit the veneer into place
Cut a piece of craft paper slightly larger than the veneer
Sprayed the back of the veneer and top surface with 3M adhesive and allowed it to dry for 3 minutes Then sprayed another coat in the opposite direction and allowed it to dry to a tacky surface
Then used the craft paper to separate the two surfaces while lining them up to the exact position
Once ready, pulled back the craft paper one inch to get the initial connection established
Slowly removed the craft paper a few inches and used a steel roller to press the two firmly together
Repeated this process until the surface was completely flat
Then lightly sanded the surface
Began stripping the desk with the soybean stripper.
Allowed the stripper to soak in, and used #00 steel wool pad to scrub the surface, and a cotton rag to
> wipe the surface clean
Used a natural bristle brush to clean out the corners. Repeated this process until the finish was removed to the bare wood
Allowed it to dry overnight
DURINGDay 2:
Completely sanded the surfaces with a Dewalt palm sander on the flat surfaces, and sanding blocks on the rounded areas
Starting with 220 grit, then 320, - 400 to make the grain pop
Removed all the dust
Then sprayed the first coat of shellac. Allowed this to dry two hours, and sprayed another coat. Then allowed the shellac to dry for five days
Day 3:
Wet sanded with 400-600 grit for a smooth finish.
Used #0000 steel wool on the curved areas. Then buffed with Howard’s bees wax and citrus oil to an all-natural gloss finish
AFTER
Well done! That wood is beautiful.
view NashvilleJen's profile
Beautiful work!
view aphrodite's profile
Birdseye is so beautiful. I also like sedua and zebrawood. Great project.
view the Oracle's profile
OK, that's pretty amazing. When you take something old and you refurbish it that beautifully, there's something extra green about it. It's like your breathing new life into an extinct species of a beautiful insect caught in amber.
That sounds like malarkey, I know but seriously, some old furniture is made of kinds of wood that the trees all died off in various kinds of plagues and stuff.
view Curtis's profile
amazing rescue! and that tip about the craft paper to separate the 'contact cement' which is what that spray sounds like, genius. Thank you so much for sharing this. I would've seen that water damage and thought "gotta paint that".
view southof290's profile
You did a spectacular job. I think the piece is more beautiful that it probably was when it was first created
view John H's profile
Stunning! I have a new respect for furniture refinishing after doing my own project (that was NOT as nice as this) and this is incredible!
view Christine (the one in DC)'s profile
What a gorgeous piece. Nice work!
view cgretton's profile
Thanks all.
I have an appreciation for rare and exotic woods. Birdseye grain has reflective qualities which catch light, change in the direction of viewing, and sparkle... Another favorite is Brazilian Rosewood... for it's rich color, dynamic patterns and scent. If the veneer wasn't raised off the surface and rippled it could have been saved using a wood bleach to remove the stain... but this veneer surface was a lost cause. Re-doing the veneer was a first. Got the tip regarding craft paper from Macbeath Hardwood in Berkeley and it worked great. The soybean stripper was a dream... No fumes, skin burning, etc. Highly recommended for a non-toxic approach.
Now I have to find a chair.
Below are a few additional images if anyone is interested.
Before and after image
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1134268/BirdsBA1.jpg
Steaming the veneer loose
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1134268/p6.JPG
Lifting up the veneer
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1134268/P1.JPG
Before and after close-up of the veneer
http://img.villagephotos.com/p/2006-1/1134268/beforeafterveneer.jpg
view Steve02's profile
sanding around all those curves and in all the nooks and crannies is a pain in the rear end, so bravo on that!
view lindsey kathlene's profile
Wonderful work! A beautiful piece!
view Lois's profile