I don't profess to have all the answers - not by a long shot! But I have discovered a few "don'ts" along the way, and thought they might be helpful to you when you're working on that valuable, or sentimental, antique piece of furniture. So, here they are and I'll add to the list as my old feeble brain will allow me to think of them, so check back now and then to see what I've added.

   1.   DON'T ever use phillips head screws to make a repair of any kind in an antique UNLESS it is a structural repair and the screw, once the project is completed, will not be visible. This is true even if the repair is to the interior, back, or bottom of a piece. There is nothing more disappointing, when looking at a genuine antique, to discover the heads of phillips head screws showing, no matter where on the piece they may be. And the piece, unfortunately, is thereby disfigured and devalued, and will require repair of the improper repairs already done to it.

   2.   In like manner, DON'T use round, modern nails to make a repair on a piece from the era when square nails were used. Square nails are available over the internet. Just type in "square nails" and you'll find a wealth of suppliers. Round nails in a square nail piece are incongruous, unattractive, and detract from the character and integrity of the piece.

   3.   DON'T use new wood to make a repair on a piece unless absolutely necessary. Antique or old, seasoned wood will look better and be of better quality. Even when using older wood, try to stain it to the aged color of the original wood adjoining the repair. Naturally, if at all possible, you'll also want the replaced wood to be of the same species as the original.

   4.   DON'T waste money on expensive products to clean old wax, dirt, and/or alligatoring off of an old piece. Most of them don't work anyway. Instead, get yourself some denatured alcohol and fine steel wool, as well as some old rags you don't mind throwing away (old socks and T-shirts come in handy). Pour some of the alcohol in a bowl (working outside, please, so as not to be overcome by the fumes) and dip the steel wool into it. Don't get too much! Rubbing in a circular motion, clean a small area at a time - not over twelve inches square, if that much. As soon as you've gotten the old wax and dirt to come loose, or the alligatoring to start breaking up, wipe it clean with your old cloth. Then go on to the next spot. Don't scrub too hard and wear yourself out, for the alcohol and steel wool will generally do the trick without damaging the original finish underneath. When all is done, you may need to go over it again with the same procedure, if the old dirt and grime is especially hard or thick. 

   5.   DON'T, if possible to avoid it, refinish a genuine antique. I believe if you'll use the technique I've described in paragraph 4., above, you'll usually discover that the old finish underneath, even if not perfect, is just too beautiful to destroy. And if a little touchup is necessary, little bare or worn spots can be "touched up" with a little Minwax oil stain in the desired color (if necessary to get a proper match, you can mix colors as well). Once you've cleaned the piece as described above, just wax it with a good furniture paste wax, either clear or colored depending on the need of the piece. Usually, if the patina and color, once cleaned, are what is desired, just plain Johnson's paste wax is as good as anything, and costs less! Refinishing is usually going to be disappointing, as it generally makes the piece appear "new", and often devalues the piece as well.

   6.   Please, if an antique or older piece of furniture has a good original finish, DON'T "shabby chic" it. Some day, perhaps sooner than we think, "shabby chic", especially the cheap, lazy, slap-dash version of spray or brush painting an old piece with latex paint, will be out of style and that beautiful old original finish will have been destroyed. If you have an old piece with worn or "just about gone" finish, and you want it to have a true, beautiful "shabby chic" finish, do it right!

      I have a secret formula for doing this, which I developed myself, by trial and error, and which gives a piece more the look of an old French Provencial finish. "Shabby chic" with class! It takes lots of time, but the result is worth it! Sorry, this is one secret I can't share with you, but if you're not too far from Eutaw, Alabama, I might be willing to do the job for you for a reasonable price.  

CHECK BACK WITH US! I'm sure I'll think of some more good "don'ts" from time to time.          

Copyright 2008 by Tom Woodard