Chapter 72 Workshop meeting September 2003 - Case Restoration 2

 
Doug and Greg Kelly provided generous guidance and instruction on many points of case restoration, useful techniques and various pitfalls of some approaches. Their knowledge, experience and willingness to share this information is something for which we all are most appreciative.
Twenty Chapter members were individually advised on the clock case or cases that they had brought along at various stages of case stripping (where necessary), repairs, surface preparation for restoration, many french polishing processes and sequential rubbing back and waxing; including Greg Kelly rubbing back his recently french polished OG with 1200 wet and dry to produce a beautiful patina from the application of 2 waxes.  Greg will provide us all with details of the various waxes and restoration products he used during the workshop.
Allan Dodds demonstrated dial paper replacement and gave us a couple of other examples of his considerable skills in case restoration. John Kouimanos advised us all of a source of veneers at Veneer Craft in Padstow.
Instructors    Minty, Kelly and Dodds
Students    Ekins, Sona, Garnsey, Hennessey (Harry and Julie), Burchell (John and Jeff), Dunstan, Nicola, Ward, Stapleton, Ramsay, Kouimanos, Root, Colgan, Potter, Bate, Davies, Mitchell and Reid

Click on the thumbnails for some more detail

Doug Minty talks about the various finishes that may have been applied to a clock There are many 20th Century examples of wooden cases Keith uses methylated spirits to see if the finish is shellac as in french polish Peter and Carl comparing results Some finishes are very hard to get off even after using a paint stripper
Many of these clock cases are cheaply assembled but this oak side should polish well An Octagon case being rubbbed back - time consuming work Howards case is coming along Greg Kelly assessing the work yet to be done on this example Greg illustrates how the shellac finish can be cut back
Allan Dodds shows how to replase a paper dial on an American clock Here's one of Allan's he is to restore It's an Ansonia Triumph which had a missing top Allan carved a new one from 2 pieces of cedar glued together We discussed various methods of restoring this dilapidated case
Greg cut back the finish on this ogee so as not to have such a shiny finish A finished example Using a rubber A Beidermeier case for restoration You often get sucked in at an auction thinking you can restore a wreck!