Antique Furniture Restoration Techniques @ John Lloyd Fine Furniture

Students should bring small items of furniture to work on. Some knowledge of woodwork is desirable.

About the course

This course is designed as a practical introduction to working on and restoring antique furniture and will cover many of the main areas and techniques required for repair and refinishing.

Ideally, students will have some woodworking experience or have attended our ‘Sharpening and Tuning’ course, so that structural repairs and splices etc. can be attempted with confidence.

This course is, however, equally relevant for the complete beginner who can use the course to enter the world of furniture restoration and gain the confidence of working on their own furniture in a controlled and supportive environment.

Specific techniques will be covered in a logical progression, with plenty of time set aside each day for project work, when students may work on the pieces of furniture that they have brought with them, or concentrate on increasing their skills in particular elements of the course which most interest them.

Students are invited to bring up to four pieces of furniture to work on, and for advice and guidance on an appropriate approach for their repair. Due to the relatively short duration of the course, projects may need to be completed at home.

Subjects Covered to include:

Useful tools and jigs

Dismantling furniture – releasing and cleaning joints

Re-making / repairing joints

Glues – types, properties, preparation, uses and application

Assembly techniques – cramps and cramping techniques

Veneers – re-laying, removing, making and patching

Cleaning old surfaces – chemical and mechanical- the controlled approach

Reducing stains and watermarks

Cleaning ormolu and brass fittings

Polishes – making shellac and wax

Finishing – basic techniques of applying shellac and wax polish, cosmetic colouring systems

Metal work – ageing and colouring

Available Course Dates

• 20th - 24th March 2023

To make a booking please click here.