Chair silky oak

It's nothing really refined or remarkable but I think this is a reasonable sample of Australian everyday furniture that most people would have used (maybe different materials in other areas of the country). This was one of a few that were discarded on to a heap for a bonfire fire. Just my sought of rescue. $5 and I was 5 chairs richer. Now I'm cleaning up and needing to decide what stays and what is broken down for materials. I seem to struggle with the breakdown side of things :(

Any now I decided to glue and clamp the only area starting to separate. After this I intend scrubbing with Sunlight soap and then a simple protective layer. I'll test to see if shellac was originally used or varnish. I was actually thinking of just rubbing some wax on with steel wool. Maybe BLO with a some varnish. Can anyone tell me what did they used to do with these chairs for protection?

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I'm not really knowledgeable about the early/mid C20th furniture but that looks to me to be about 1920-1940. In that period I understand that the finishes were usually shellac or shellac-based varnish (varnish had added resins etc. you would need someone more expert than me to know exactly what was added). In either case the finish should be susceptible to metho and a scrubbing pad (don't use steel wool). I note that Neil Ellis recommended paint stripper in one post in this forum but I have never used that, primarily because I always refinish with shellac and therefore do not want to remove all the shellac from the timber. However, if you do want to go back to raw timber that may be the best.

The final finish that you use on them really depends on your intended final use. If strictly indoors use then shellac does a fine job. I use a fine, natural Badger hair lacquer brush and very dilute shellac for fiddly work where a rubber won't do the job. Cut back with fine wet and dry paper between every few coats to get a fine finish.

Apologies if this is repeat advice.

If the chairs are likely to get some weather then perhaps a furniture oil would be better - I'm not up on the options for those.

Good luck

David

Sadly no reaction to metholated spirits. It was a busy weekend cleaning up so the chair will have to wait another week :)
I must admit I have started collecting pictures of people from the past in Australia just to see what chairs they were using.
I've been amazed at some of the fancy and bamboo chairs from a 100 years ago :)

You could try a cut back with some oil and turps and a 280 to 400 grit paper then give it a rubber with shellac . Its a good way of reviving and getting a beautiful shine . Use a thinned down shellac and half way through building up the shine dab some drops of linseed oil on and keep rubbing round in circles and figure eights . Then finish off straight . It will really look nice if you get it right . Using shellac is all about keeping the finish as thin as can be . Just enough to do the job right. Not, the more the better.

Rob.