Illustrated Guide to Furniture Repair & Refinishing: Expert Techniques for Heirlooms and Flea Market Finds

Whether youre restoring a cherished family heirloom or renovating a yard sale bargain, youll achieve professional results with this comprehensive do-it-yourself handbook. Step-by-step instructions, and hundreds of clear illustrations are provided for everything from simple repairs to full restoration. Learn how to fix dents, bruises and bends, fill cracks and holes, mend veneers, and make replacement parts. An excellent section on finishing teaches how to identify the original finish, change the color, duplicate antique finishes, and more. 

Learn how to fix old furniture like a pro with this comprehensive handbook. Whether you need to repair a wobbly table or refinish a chair, this book provides the practical information you need to identify the problem, disassemble the furniture, make the repair, reassemble, and refinish. An excellent section on finishing teaches how to identify the original finish, change the color, varnish, antique, and more.

John Kelsey is a journalist, editor and writer specializing in woodworking and furniture making. He is a former editor-in-chief at Fine Woodworking magazine, the author of Furniture Projects for the Deck and Lawn and KidsCrafts: Woodworking. He is the current Editorial Director at Fox Chapel Publishing.

Part 1: Repairs

Restoring Basics:

Disassembling Furniture

Restoration Techniques

Minor Repairs

Remedies for Bruised and Bent Wood

Repairing Dents

Filling Edges, Corners and Contoured Surfaces

Mending Veneer

Grafting in a Patch

Replacement Parts

Table Repairs:

Cures for Ailing Tables

Sealing a Crack in a Table Top

Repairing Chairs:

Strengthening Chair Joints

Pegs and Splints for a Break

Reweaving Chair Seats

Reupholstering Chair Seats

Casework Repairs:

Mending Worn Cabinets

Repairing Bed Frames

Refinishing Surface and Finish Repairs:

Stripping Finishes

Removing a Finish with Chemicals

Mechanical Removal

Refinishing:

Sanding by Hand

Scraping

Raising the Grain

Filling the Grain

Changing the Color of the Wood

Applying a Stain

Bleaching Wood

Applying a Protective Finish:

Rubbing Out a Finish

Antique Finishes

Antiquing

Part 2: Reupholstering

Reupholstering Furniture:

Tightening a Sagging Chair Seat

Taking Off the Upholstery

Rebuilding the Seat and Back

Covering the Structure with Burlap

Making the New Cover

Attaching the Fabric

Restoring a Loose Cushion

Glossary

Index