Beautiful Antiques, Restored with Hardware Store Materials
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- Опубліковано 18 січ 2024
- Tom Johnson of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine puts away the heavy machinery and uses some readily available products to spruce up a series of pieces. Tom has been restoring furniture professionally since 1979. Visit our website at www.thomasjohnsonrestoration.com, or write us at thomasjohnsonrestoration@gmail.com. And for those on the west coast looking for custom framing, be sure to check out Tom's daughter's shop, www.emcollier.com (@emcollierframes on Instagram).
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Seeing Ella again was nice. She is missed.
Thank you! I miss her so much! What I wouldn't give for one more hug
This is all excellent information. Thanks to you, I recently had the courage to refurbish the top of a new-to-me Thomasville mahogany-finished dining table with about 60 years of furniture polish and probably cigarette smoke. It was rough-looking and had faded to orange and the guy I bought it from had tried to fix it with Murphy's OIl Soap which didn't help and it made weird white areas on it. It took six or seven scrubbings with KrudCutter to get it clean and three applications of Feed and Wax (buffing between each) to get the color back. It now matches the rest of the table and looks brand new! I was too proud! Now on to gluing the stretchers back into a dining chair and working on some veneer projects that I would have never thought of attempting without Thomas Johnson videos. Thanks again!
Wow! That's great! I'm so glad my videos can be such a help!
Mr. Johnson,
I live just on the outskirts of one of America's largest cities. Knowing already there are many, many variables to my question, but with your decades of experience in this trade, is it still possible to make a descent living (80k/yr) in this industry?
Do you think "you" could do it if you were in a large market? I would love to do this full time, and looking for encouragement.
Thanks in advance.
The funny part about this is I remembered a lot of those video's when you made them seen them all and admittedly forgot a lot of the methods so it was nice to get refreshed. and best of all was to see Ella again always great to see videos where she was in them. thanks for sharing ECF
You're welcome! At first we felt like we were cheating by reposting old videos, but it's turned out to be a really good thing
I watch your videos religiously and have learned so much from you and your colleagues that you feature every so often. Your videos are so valuable to everyone including homeowners like me that need a quality but non-invasive way to repair/restore our own family wood pieces. Thank-you again.
You're very welcome! That makes me very happy
One of the best videos for a while, shows just what can be done and the only real carpentry tools used, 2 spring clamps, 1 pipe clamp and some yellow glue. great finish,probably cost about $60. Clamps excluded
Thanks! Yes, there so much you can do without a lot of fuss!
So nice to see Ella again. What a sweetheart. ❤️
Thank you! She was! I miss her...
As much as the tips you offer in your videos you provide the courage for us DIY'ers to tackle challenging projects. A short time ago I was asked to reglue some damaged legs on a small table built by the grandfather of a good friend. With the direction from several of your videos I disassembled the table, repaired several dowel joints, scrubbed and refinished the top with some of your recommended tung oil varnish. It turned out great and the friend was overjoyed with the results. Thanks for what you do.
You are so welcome! That is great! Nothing makes me happier.
Tom, Thank you for this lesson, it's greatly appreciated.
You're very welcome!
As a "local hardware store" proprietor I appreciate this video!
Thanks! I'm doing all I can! We need to keep our hardware stores!
"Yes I am!" he says almost defiantly 😁I really appreciate these techniques Tom, I've been a fan for years and learnt so much from your video tutorials. Plus the glimpses of mother nature, and the beloved Miss Ella, always take the cake. Happy 2024 to you mate!
Thank you! I appreciate it! I miss that girl!
Thomas, I'll bet you get this a lot..."You missed a spot.", lol. Seriously, I watch every restoration video I can get my hands on and I truly believe you must be the most skillful of all!
Thank you! That's nice! I do get it a lot - from my wife!
Your videos and techniques that I learned from them helped me to restore and repurpose an old chiffarobe into my pantry. I couldn't have done it without your tutalidge.
That's great! That makes me very happy
Great approach!!! Makes it less dimaying (when we watch you great restorers) for us, that love our old furniture but simply can not afford a full-blown restoring process. Thank you!!!
Thank you! Yes, it's good to keep after the little things
You know, just being sure we won't damage our old furniture further, and know how to treat it as carefully as we possibly can, is a HUGE help.@@johnsonrestoration
You always make it look so easy which is the trait of a pro!!! 😊🙏🏻
Thanks!
Amazing how a piece can be transformed with simple everyday items. A great video Tom, and some very useful tips. Thank you - take care 🙂
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!
First one clamp project ever..lol. Needed the winter blah relieved watching you tackle a project thanks.
Thanks! It does help you forget the blahs
Thomas, artisans such as yourself and your father before you are a treasure. I believe your brother is also in the same passion? I am so happy to follow your presentations full of skill and years of experience. I also really appreciate the little vignettes of nature u]you through iin.
Thank you! Yes, there were 3 of us who took up the trade, my oldest brother who took over my dad's shop passed away a few years ago, now there are 2!
Tom I think I remember my wife’s grandfather use a bar of soap when he came to visit us to temporarily wax a drawer runner. You remind so much of him. He was the best that I had ever seen until I found you. Good memories! That was 48 years ago.
Wow! That's cool. I'm always happy when I can spark memories in people, I hear that a lot
Thanks for the videos Tom. I hope to get some of the pieces I've collected cleaned up this year using your technique. Looked like your cat was enjoying the hens nest. Take care and God bless.
You're welcome Ron! They find the warm spots!
I use your technique continuously. Glue ups, finish restoration and repair. Thank you so much for sharing your knowledge.❤
I am currently restoring a 100 yr old roll top desk. Would not have been able to do it without your guidance.
You are so welcome! That makes me happy!
Good morning Mr. Johnson. Thanks.
You are very welcome!
Ella. What a sweetheart! Let me add one technique for cleaning dirty old hinges, latches, screws, etc. Cook in a normal solution of water and laundry soap (e.g. liquid Tide) in a discarded (never to be used for food again) slow-cooker. Set on low for about 12 hours. Remove, rinse, and scrub as required. Old paint, dirt, rust, and gunk are easily gone, but the patina remains. Dry well and spray with WD 40 or another water displacing oil. Let the oil soak in before you wipe clean and reinstall.
Thanks! This sounds interesting - can't wait to try it
@@johnsonrestoration Yay! Always happy to share. You'll be amazed at the way it loosens multiple layers of icky old paint.
Love your work❤. This makes me miss my old dogs soooooo much. We lost them both in 2022.......Fabio 13 years, and Tessie 15 years.....
Oh! 2 in one year! I feel for you. I miss Ella every day
Hi Tom , thanks for this video. There were some good tips for those of us who lack your skills, not to mention our own fully stocked workroom. It's good to see what can be achieved just using a few basic skills and some over-the-counter products.
Glad it was helpful!
Lots of great info. Using tips I’ve learned from you’re videos in the past, I’ve been able to revitalize a couple of old pieces of furniture made by my grandfather. Thank you so much for sharing your expertise with us!
You're welcome! That's great
I’m amazed that the barn find first item still had all its accumulated thick dust intact - without any hand prints or brush marks by the previous owner!
Your amazement could be construed as criticism or even a suggestion of distrust. I am sure that was not your intention but you should be careful with wording.
Thanks! We were careful removing it from the barn so as not to disturb the dust, I knew it would make a great shot to vacuum it for the first time
Thanks! I didn't take it that way but you're right, you do have to careful when writing, it can be interpreted differently than you intended
Great to see that some of the things I've done myself are acceptable. 😊
Great! At least acceptable to you and me! But that's enough
Good morning and Thank-you.
You're welcome!
Never disappoint! Thank you 🐝
Thank you too!
Thanks for all the practical tips. The projects look so much better!
You're welcome!
Hey Tom, I love seeing these projects again. It's also lovely to see your beautiful Ella again. We've had a bit of a cold snap here, obviously no where near as cold as you get there but cold enough for my joints to get stiff though. If only WD40 had a solution to creaky hips and knees! 😁 by the way gorgeous chickens. Take care. Kate x
Thank you! You too! We're getting a break from the extreme cold today
¡Buen consejo! Es bueno darle mantenimiento a nuestros muebles antes que sufran mayores daños, y Ud. Mr. Tom nos brinda algunos consejos muy importantes. Debemos darles mantenimiento cada cierto tiempo y sin necesidad de gastar mucho dinero, solo es cuestión de cuidarlos. Muchas gracias Mr. Tom, saludos y bendiciones.
¡Gracias! ¡Eso es tan cierto! Por supuesto, esto se aplica a todo en nuestras vidas, incluida nuestra propia salud.
@@johnsonrestoration Sabio consejo. Muchas gracias.
Thomas: that is an excellent idea. Carol from California
Thanks Carol!
Very well done. Thank you for sharing. Have a great 2024 and stay safe.🙂🙂🙂
You;re welcome! And I wish the best for you as well
A trio of really useful tips/projects, thanks as always for sharing your experience!
You're welcome!
What a wonderful video! It lifted my spirit.
That is great! Thanks
That dust was so thick you almost needed a power washer. Lol. The final result is beautiful!
Thanks! Maybe I should get one?
@@johnsonrestoration lol. Well, you never know. It might come in handy.😁
Tom ,where can I purchase your level of skill and knowledge? That would be priceless and a massive selling product.😂😂
Thank you, that's nice! It's not difficult, but it takes 50 years (omg)
I can only emphasize how much I have learned from your videos over the last few years. Instead of modern wood glue, I now use bone glue. It's nice to see your beloved dog again, who has since passed away. Stay healthy and continue to be so generous with your knowledge. Greetings from Germany
Thank you Helena! I appreciate it, and yes, I miss Ella every day
Thank you for lining up the products you used. It finally enabled me to decipher your description of the steel wool you use. To my Australian ears it's always sounded like four ought but now I know it's four zero. A beautiful little desk. My father-in-law made one of similar design but much more pedestrian. Great result. Ha Ha I should have listened to the end before I commented.!
Thanks! I did say 4 aught! That's the way we learned it
Excellant job once more Thomas!
Thank you!
Good timing, Tom. Now that I have adopted some of your bravery with the wood carving I will work on a simple chest (1800, square nails, wide boards).
Thanks! Good luck! One step at a time
Thank you Tom. You're such an experienced craftsman and we learn by watching you. Though I am a novice at this, you give me the confidence to at least try some things.
You're welcome! Yes, go ahead and try! You will learn, and you have nothing to lose
The writing desk is ready for another 100 years! Great job Tom, Looks great!
Fingers crossed! Thanks!
Hallo Thomas, wieder ein informatives Video, und unterhaltsam. Habe wieder was dazu gelernt, danke. Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende. Viele Grüße Christel ☺️👍
Danke Christel! Wir haben ein kaltes Wochenende! Aber trotzdem gut, viel Zeit am Holzofen!
@@johnsonrestoration dann viel Spaß
Love your Trademark comment "It looks pretty good" 👍❤️
Thank you 😋
Thomas: watching you all these years, I’ve collected many products that can be used by my clients to touch up or clean a piece of furniture. This video was a great reminder and help. Thank you. Carol from California
Thanks! I should show a basic kit, that would be a good video
Another great video. Thanks for posting.
You're very welcome!
I appreciate all the helpful tips and seeing the neglected and very dirty pieces made beautiful again! It was a nice surprise seeing a pet at the start of each section. Yes, I do consider a chicken a pet, one with the benefit of providing eggs when young! 💕👍👌😊💕
Thanks! Oh yes, I love my chickens! They all have different personalities, they always keep us laughing
Always a pleasure to watch
Thank you!
Just finished a restoration on a Globe Wernicke barristers bookcase. Taken me over 20 hours.(It’s time with these things)
Did some things well but other things could have done better or not at all.
It looks nice in my hallway still having a lot of it original character
Thanks for the simple tips from hopefully an improving beginner.
You're welcome! It sounds great! Yes, I did a couple of those when I was starting out, but when I realized how much time they took I started estimating them correctly and of course never had to do another
@@johnsonrestoration It was a labour of love. It’s sitting nicely in my hallway waiting to be filled. Here’s to the next one😊
Lovely. As I've said before, rewatching your videos is so helpful; there is so much in each one it takes at least a couple of watches to get all the information in one's head! I especially liked your suggestion of inking in where there are missing bits of veneer so that it can function until you or someone else can do the replacement correctly. Not everything has to be done right now!
Thanks! Yes, you can always come back to it!
All this is good to know. Sometimes considering a refinish is daunting.
Thanks! Yes, you have nothing to lose by trying
Either Tom has good heating in the shop or this cold weather people have been complaining about in the North East has been greatly exaggerated. ;^) I appreciate all the knowledge you have imparted, Tom, over the years.
Some people only cover parts that are cold :) he may not be feeling cold :)
We can see by the view out the window that the first and second clips were made during summer. Currently it is 18 f in Maine.
Thanks! Yes, how about that! We Mainers really can acclimate!
Thanks! It was summer when I made these
Thanks! This morning it was 8 degrees! No wind, it doesn't feel particularly cold
Right now I am faced with the daunting task of refinishing or restoring some of my father's pieces: a dining room set; a lovely little corner table; a massive library; some coffee and end tables and a beautiful little French Provincial jewelry box he made for my mother when they married in 1952 (with short cabriole legs and a sliding panel hidden opening which when I was a little kid you could not tell where it was, so perfectly he fitted them). He himself would just refinish the others so this last one is the real challenge. The veneers are perfectly matched mahogany in a diamond pattern and the french polish is faded, not to mention the little chips (which reveal the sliding panel). I am a cabinetmaker but not a furniture restorer, outside my own sporadic projects. So your videos have taught me a lot. Thanks and looking forward to your next ones.
You're welcome! As a cabinet maker I'm sure you have the skills needed! That's a lot of furniture! But the box is precious, be sure to write down the origin of the box and keep that info with it
@@johnsonrestoration What I don't have right now is the place to do it, save for the box, on which I will take your frequent advice and do as little as possible.
Love your work, appreciate keeping your content music free as well.
Thanks!
Luckily for me I don't have anything to fix up in the house. But I do love watching you work. Always makes me feel good. Stay warm. Stay well. Allan
Thanks! Nothing to fix? I would like to speak to your wife about that
What a great idea for your DIY enthusiasts.
If you're ever looking for video ideas, how about a series of lessons, "Tom's Basics?" How (and when) to sand, how(and when) to chisel, etc. I would also like to know how to figure out when a piece is "valuable" and needs the whole 9 yards, vs. when "good enough to use everyday" and the different levels of craft needed to achieve the goal.
Thanks as always for education and entertainment.
Thanks! Good idea! It sounds like a whole lot of talking though! But I'll try
Another Thomas Johnson masterclass - thanks Tom!
You're welcome!
One other overlooked item. After watching you work to repair veneer, I purchased an inexpensive set of small palette knives. Invaluable for dealing with splits and loose joints and sections of veneer.
Thanks! Yes, I'm using my pallet knives a lot!
Just in time for my weekend therapy session!
That's great!
@@johnsonrestoration I’m a general contractor and I was effecting a challenging repair yesterday. The home owner had trepidation’s as to the outcome.
I stated to him that after almost 40 years nothing bothers me in construction anymore.
And that is why I find it so enjoyable to watch your repairs.
Anything can be repaired it’s just a question of time and a lot of talent.
A few years ago I restored a century old maple desk almost exactly like the first desk you did. It had two major problems. The back was plank wood had failed where the nails were splitting it with some wood loss. This was repaired with a piece of Baltic birch plywood cut to fit. The second was that the shellac finish had crystalized in the dry desert air where it was for most of its life. The shellac was stripped off. The veneer was reglued using hide glue. And then it was reassembled and a new shellac finish applied. I left some stains and cigarette burns to show its history.
Wow! Quite a job! It sounds like you were very successful. Thanks for watching!
NICELY DONE, TOM! A REALLY DRAMATIC DIFFERENCE!
Thank you!
Thank you
I will try that polish on my cedar chest my dad had commissioned for me.
Great! How nice to have that cedar chest, good luck!
Thank you Tom, another great video, hope you and yours are all good there in Gorham. Stay lucky and keep 'em coming
You're welcome! We are good, and I hope the same for you!
always enjoy, cheers Robin Tasmania
Thank you! Wow, Tasmania!
🙋♀️❤️. You inspire me to spruce up the furniture! Hopefully, I'll get over it!🙃
Yes! Go for a walk in the winter woods instead!
Great episode! Always do a before and after. I love that!
Thank you!
At 9:36 - Tom uses some wax to allow the drawer to slide easily. Two other uses for wax is 1) bracket on wood screw threads before driving them into wood and 2) on a zipper to make it also slide easier.
Thanks! Funny you should mention that, I just waxed up some zippers yesterday!
Thank You for your careing detailed lovely posts on Utube:) I find them Educational an Inspirating ! Always wanted to learn how to restore wooden objects
To original Beauty 🥳
You're so welcome!
Great video! 😊❤ As always learned a lot!
Great! Thanks!
Excellent info! I really like the feed and wax polish...great products and one bottle goes a long way.
Yes it does! Thanks!
Great little tutorial Tom, Thanks! That cedar storage chest was kinda cool!
Thanks! It is! But it is big!
Thank you, turned out great, enjoyed the video and the information.
You're welcome! Glad it was helpful!
This was so helpful! Thank you!
You are so welcome!
Hi TJ, Love the edge repair, beautifully executed!
Thank you!
Great refresher video, thank you. Have found that it is becoming difficult to obtain the beeswax polish, so I will hang on to my container of it like it is gold.
You're welcome! I haven't experienced a shortage on that, of course a bottle lasts a long time, maybe I should start looking now!
I love restorations that do not change the color or texture of an older piece.
Me too! Thanks! It's tough though when something is seriously damaged
Informative and great to watch.
Thank you!
Thank you for another excellent instructional video. Was really nice to see Ella in the first video too keeping an eye on you be mostly sleeping 🙂
You're welcome! I miss her!
Do you have any plans to get another workshop assistant of the four legged type ?
This is so helpful! Thanks!
You're so welcome!
So helpful. It is exactly what ii needed at this time, Thank you so very much.
Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching!
Thank you for sharing these tips, absolutely love my Howards beeswax polish. Hope you are do well. ❤
You're welcome! Yes, that stuff works wonders! We are well, I hope the same for you!
Hey Tom
Wow a three for one video! 🙂
You have encouraged me to try something with my kitchen chairs, probably not right away though..
...haha
Take care😊
Thanks! Go ahead and get it done!
@@johnsonrestoration
Thank you Tom🙂
100% agree. Clean first and see what you can do to conserve. Nice review.
Yes! Thank you!
And I find that true of everything - when somethings not working properly, clean it, half the time that was the problem
ohh my heart GOD BLESS LITTLE ELLA i sure miss her in ur video tom. it must seem pretty empty with out her supervisiing you all ... thank you for this video.. i found a way to get the panels off.. they were glued {heat gun} and brad nailed !!! {3 diff types of files} to cut /smooth them , so i could get the new panel in.....1 panel done behind the drawers now onto the other 2 !! thank you
That's great! And yes, I miss her so much...
Awsome job! Also not much drama with the desk!
Thank goodness!
I put on the Scratch Cover on a solid oak Shelves and it looks so good. It made it dark.
Thanks! If a piece doesn't have a good finish on it the scratch cover can work like a stain so be careful
@@johnsonrestoration it had no stain. Just raw wood. It’s been years now and it looks great !
Looks great!
Thank you!
Great video for us home restores. Many thanks !
You're welcome!
Thank you for a great video and I have been using that howards Bees Wax for years !!
You're welcome! Good stuff!
Its amazing.
Thank you!
When you vacuumed it looked cleaner but once you started to clean it with cleaner the wood colour stated to jump out and shine for me that was 90% of it but what a lovely finish to a beautiful peace of furnitures. 😀👍👍👍👍
Thanks! Yes, I was lucky it still had a good finish on it
I picked up a mid century dining table off the curb this summer and am hoping a good cleaning will go a long way to restoring it. Thanks for reminding me how to start with the basics before jumping in with more intrusive approaches.
Thanks! Yes, barring any serious damage it should clean up fine
Very nice!
Thank you!
Good job tom great info good video
Thank you!
So simple and easy, yet still an excellent video, which only re-enforces that I am doing thing the right way when it comes to restoring furniture with minimal effort but maximum results 🎉. Thanks again
Very welcome! That's great!
Very helpful, thank you!
You're welcome!
Thanks - I was wanting to try this type of touch up with some furniture. This was very encouraging.
Great! Yes, give it a try! You've got nothing to lose
thomas nice to see again hope you are keeping well i like to keep up on your video s it give me lots of tips on repairs keep up the good work 😎✌👍
Thanks 👍