Clean & Restore Teak Parker Chairs

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23rd August 2014, 04:35 PM
mtchairs

Clean & Restore Teak Parker Chairs

Hi, hoping to get some help and advice. I have two Parker armchairs made from solid Teak from the 60's that I would like to clean up and restore. The timber is in pretty good condition overall but a bit faded and speckled in places and definitely needs a good clean.
What is the best method of cleaning and oiling? I have seen mention of cleaning with soap and water, using fine steel wool, mineral turps etc and then follow with Teak/Scandinavian/Danish oil. Can someone give me step by step instructions and tell me what I will need?

Thanks
28th August 2014, 05:24 PM
Christos

Firstly welcome to the forum.

I cannot advise you with the restore of the Parker chairs but I do recall them at my mothers aunty place. I was just a young lad and they were slightly chipping at the arm rest. Not sure how they would have been finished.

I should add that I do not think they were oiled as the finish was flaking off.
2nd September 2014, 02:17 PM
Xanthorrhoeas

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtchairs

Hi, hoping to get some help and advice. I have two Parker armchairs made from solid Teak from the 60's that I would like to clean up and restore. The timber is in pretty good condition overall but a bit faded and speckled in places and definitely needs a good clean.
What is the best method of cleaning and oiling? I have seen mention of cleaning with soap and water, using fine steel wool, mineral turps etc and then follow with Teak/Scandinavian/Danish oil. Can someone give me step by step instructions and tell me what I will need?

Thanks

My parents had some of these when I was growing up. I remember them as having a soft, natural satin finish, not glossy, not anything like polyurethane. As such they did show marks if they had water or tea or similar spilled on them. It is also possible that there were other types of finish but that is outside my experience.

Mum used to clean them back with some Teak Oil from memory. Why don't you post some photos and I'm sure that someone will be able to advise you.

My advice is:

It really depends on how dirty they are. If absolutely filthy then the warm water and natural soap flake wash, with immediate and complete drying off afterwards with something like towelling cloth (not in the sun nor with heat) is a good start. If not that grotty or you don't or can't do that then you could try the standard cleaning mix called Bristol Museum Mix (BMM) I believe. It is made from three main components in equal parts: A. Brown Vinegar; B. Boiled Linseed Oil; C. Wood Turpentine. Oil and water don't mix but when you put them together into a bottle and shake well you get an emulsion. Rub the emulsion over the timber with 0000 steel wool then rub off well. That cleans off the marks and will give an immediate lift. To complete you could wax with a good furniture polish with a high Carnauba Wax content.

BMM is often used on very degraded finishes on antique, French Polished furniture. A small amount of metho is added to the mix to soften the darkened shellac and make it easier to clean - but great care is needed
2nd October 2014, 10:40 PM
hiroller

BMM sounds a lot like this stuff:
http://www.ubeaut.com.au/reviver.html
3rd October 2014, 08:26 PM
Xanthorrhoeas

Yes indeed

Quote:

Originally Posted by hiroller

BMM sounds a lot like this stuff:
http://www.ubeaut.com.au/reviver.html

That sounds very similar indeed. I was not aware of that product but am not surprised they have it. Buying the uBeaut stuff saves mixing your own and would be an easy way to see if it works.
3rd October 2014, 08:39 PM
Xanthorrhoeas

Parker are back in action so perhaps ask them

Quote:

Originally Posted by mtchairs

Hi, hoping to get some help and advice. I have two Parker armchairs made from solid Teak from the 60's that I would like to clean up and restore. The timber is in pretty good condition overall but a bit faded and speckled in places and definitely needs a good clean.
What is the best method of cleaning and oiling? I have seen mention of cleaning with soap and water, using fine steel wool, mineral turps etc and then follow with Teak/Scandinavian/Danish oil. Can someone give me step by step instructions and tell me what I will need?

Thanks

Australian Wood Review 84 p 42 has a story on Tony Parker, one of the originals behind the chairs. Apparently they are back in production in Seven Hills. Maybe you could ask him?