Restoring a Broken Desk - Shellac Finish and Wood Repair by Fixing Furniture
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- Опубліковано 17 вер 2022
- This roll-top desk was broken and had a very worn finish. Learn how to patch broken wood, match wood stain, revive an old finish, and re-glue parts to restore wood furniture. We teach the skills of furniture repair, so you're going to learn something new in this video.
This desk has a broken pedestal that has come apart. It needs to be disassembled to repair a piece of wood that broke off. Watch how Scott prepares and patches in new wood to glue in a new piece. He then stains and finishes the wood to match the existing wood.
The desk top and the top of the gallery have a damaged shellac finish. In many cases, applying a new coat of shellac is easy... but this desk turned out to get messy. The old finish reacted to the new finish. Scott shows tips and techniques to deal with challenges like this.
Bonus - there are some old treasures hidden inside the roll-top cavity.
RESOURCES:
Workshop Tour Video - • Workshop Tour of a Fur...
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Wood Filler with Mohawk Finishes Video - • Best Wood Filler to Ma...
Book - Classic Finishing Techniques (French Polishing - amzn.to/3XMghdx
TOOLS & SUPPLIES USED:
Dozuki Hand Saw - amzn.to/3eTea6d
🇨🇦 Canadian link - amzn.to/3LqBUuQ
Liquid Hide Glue - amzn.to/3QQiu3y
Respirator for Woodworking - amzn.to/3Dz4QPk
Plastic Razor Blades - amzn.to/3Bsq26D
Wood Filler - amzn.to/3DuMZch
Blunt Tip Syringe - amzn.to/3BOQsAZ
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This video is hosted by Scott Bennett, Owner of Wooden It Be Nice - Furniture Repair in Brooklin, Ontario, Canada. WoodenItBeNice.ca
#restoration #broken #furniture - Навчання та стиль
I’ve been refinishing and repairing antiques for 45 years (self taught). I learned more from your video than from any other! One video and you have a loyal fan! Your teaching technique is spot on! Thanks 😊
Right!! This video was packed full of knowledge!! I'd subscribe and like this video twice if I could. Definitely going back and watching older videos and I'm excited for the next video. Looking forward to the clamp video!!
Ditto, easy thumbs up on this one.
Just what I thought.
That spray 9 stuff is amazing.
This is amazing. I would normally just *completely smash* this kind of shit up with a sledge hammer. Then it goes in the wood stove. You should see how this stuff crackles. It is really dry. I have busted up 100s of desks and pieces of furniture this way. Now I have some idea how to restore them instead of *busting the crap* out of them.
"A roll top desk hiding an accidental time capsule." What a novel idea!
Lol, never thought of it that way, I'm sure the customer will enjoy looking through what I found in there. Cheers. Scott
@@FixingFurniture I'm wondering whether you offered any modification/ remedy to prevent future "time capsule" incidents. ..and what would that remedy be..?
@@waaynneb1808 just off the top of my head i thought of something that could be done. a back panel on a hinge and a center key lock to keep it closed.
Growing up, I had a child-sized roll top desk. So often, things would get caught up just like this. We never got to the point of taking it apart like in this video but I remember it being quite a pain to clear things out to get the top rolling again.
A lot of desks, dressers, cabinets all had secret compartments to hide money and important papers
I love your calm demeanor, the lack of obnoxious music/quick camera cuts, the helpful explanations and the humble attitude. The fact that you respect the desk is an heirloom and don't act judgmental or crack any rude jokes is really something to be valued.
And obviously your craftsmanship backs it all up!
At one time i worked for a saddler and leather workers workshop. We did all sorts of work for all sorts of people including the Foreign Office, who sent two diplomatic bags for repair and instructions to please mend one and use the other as a pattern to make five more. Whilst taking the one apart, we found a secret compartment, so rang up the customer to ask about it. A black van turned up in about three hours and removed both bags, they didn't know about the secret bottom. The firm got compensated for loss of work. This was in 1970s UK. Your secret catch reminded me of this. Have you ever found a hidden compartment whilst mending furniture? Great vlog.
I was wondering the same thing - secret compartments 😮😉
This guy is the Canadian Bob Ross of furniture. Love watching him work
I would've loved to see the look on the owner's face when you gave him what you found in the desk. Lol. You've done a great job mate. 👏
I loved the part where you pulled out all the stuff that was stuck in there. I watched every bit, I was absolutely mesmerized. Thank you. Another grandma!
So much treasure came out of that desk. Just awesome.
Glad to hear you enjoyed it! Scott
Outstanding! My son, who's 30 now, used to believe only the fanciest people had roll top desks. I shared your restoration and he shouted, "Vindication!!!" Because, apparently, only the fanciest person is worthy of this desk, now.
Thanks for sharing your work. It's truly fascinating.
Thanks for the chuckle Melanie, and thank you for sharing this video with others. Glad you enjoyed it. Scott
I have a roll top desk that is my favorite piece in the house. Really, there is nothing fancy about me!
@@jennifermanian1420 Me too Jennifer. I bought my desk at a yard sale probably 45 years ago. I love it. I'm not fancy either.
Scott, you did a beautiful job on this desk. Thank you for sharing.
=D I'm planning to bid on a roll top desk this week! Hoping to get a fancy bargain =D
My grandfather found a lady's rolltop from the 1880s out in a field in the 1970s. He fixed up and gave it to me. I still use it and it's my favorite piece of furniture. Neither the desk nor I are fancy...
My wife and I are restoring an antique sewing machine, the draws are in the most need. We watched you video about a month ago and I remembered seeing you getting old glue to release. I searched my history to find your video again and find how you got the glue to come free. I used your tip and it worked great. Thank You
Really enjoyed your work. Couldn’t help but notice the stamp of her Majesty the Queen. RIP
It was fairly common for roll top desks to have that locking drawer mechanism. It creates a series of dependent locks, so that the user could simply roll the top down and lock it to the desk surface, which in turn, locked the drawers as well. Clever system for locking up the whole desk without having to install a bunch of locks and tumblers on every individual drawer.
I'm a DYI hobbyist wood worker. I admire your precision & meticulous way of achieving the restoration. You remind me of Bob Ross the painter from the 80s & 90s on the PBS network. You're similar (speech-pattern) by the way you explain in layman's terms so beginners & novices can grasp & will fully understand. One video & you've hooked me as a subscriber. Your intellectual knowledge of products you use, & you also convey it in a charming way. You're a master craftsman, but another talent that gleams is teaching by visual demonstration. The careful way you sifted through the clogged rollway & made a point to return it for sentimental value speaks volumes about your character. I feel blessed when I discover like minded people. 100K subs by 2022 probable, but should be 10 times that by 2024. God bless you & your wife.
This most probably is one of the best furniture restoration I have ever seen.
The woodworking knowledge got you the watch, but the historical excavation earned you the subscription! ;) Super interesting! :)
Simply awesome teaching content without any distracting, repetitive music!
It’s refreshing to be able to watch without it.
All too many UA-cam videos are somewhat ruined by it.
I’ve asked other people and they’ve agreed.
Thank you for not having any in yours.
I thoroughly enjoyed the way you showed us how to restore this piece. Unbelievable repair patching the wood!
What a beautiful desk it is once again, thanks to you! ☺️
Thanks for sharing that. I enjoy the creative aspects of editing with music, but as you've observed, I do it sparingly. Cheers. Scott
@@FixingFurniture You’re welcome. ☺️
I agree on all accounts! Too many UA-camrs have "background" music so loud you can't hear their instructions/tutorial. With others, God help you if you are wearing earbuds...the volume on some of their vids needs to be so high to hear them, that when they take a short break from speaking and blast the music, it blows your eardrums out!.
Hi, @@samiches2008! Absolutely! Thank you so much for mentioning about the earbuds. So very true. I love, love, love Bumblebee Apothecary but if I have earbuds in, I can’t watch some videos.
The music is simply not needed at all. ☺️
@@FixingFurniture You’re welcome. ❤️
You are an excellent teacher. You don’t just clearly explain what you’re doing but also why you’re doing it that way. Extremely informative. I loved the discovery of all that stuff that had been jammed in the back.
Glad you enjoyed it Julie. Thanks for sharing that. Scott
The surprises you pulled out...I expected some was to be the result of mice nesting. However everything came out clean.. Kudos to all the very good wood restorers and refinishers who have gained such knowledge and provide this service. I can understand the owner not wanting to change the look as much as possible. When I moved from the family home to an apartment all the new things didn't feel right, didn't feel like home. Especially new Christmas ornaments. I will subscribe. Looking forward to see what else you have worked on.
I would love to know what the telegraph said, but of course it was private family business.
Thank you for a nice, informative UA-cam! Subscribed!
@@lauralake7430 The weather is here. Stop. With you were beautiful! Stop. After reading this put it in the roll-top desk. Stop. Have you seen my yardsticks? Stop.
From ugly duckling to beautiful swan. Thank you for sharing your craftmanship with us !
Beautiful. A thoroughly comprehensive video. Thank you.
The amount of things that were crammed behind the roll top was very impressive and that’s always fascinating to see what it all is, it’s a window into the history of that desk. At some point someone was sure they had those pictures or one of those stamps or any of the other things and could not figure out where they could have gone! Well now they know🤔🤭
How funny to think of "hey! I remember looking for that stamp!" 40 years ago🤭
We got an old beat up ship’s captain desk with hidden African postage stamps & an old quill type ink pen nib. Kinda showed the age & proof that it had been “around the Horn” so pre Panama Canal. We just cleaned & oiled it. The broken brass inlays & old scars remain on both pieces. Incredible what can be found in second hand shops & the secrets they sometimes hide.
i hope there were consequences .. and he knew to stop the potential of new hamstering
I taught woodshop for 13 years and I know quality instruction when I see it! This guy reminds me of Russ Filbeck, a Master chair builder and a fantastic craftsman. He knows ALL the little tricks........just like this guy! BRAVO! I would have NEVER thought of using mineral oil as a lubricant on the final sanding.
I'm glad you enjoyed my video Gary. Thanks for sharing your thoughts, and thank you for subscribing! Scott
There's nothing quite like finding old newspapers, or the like, on a job. It doesn't do a lot for productivity, I find. Great content and well produced vid, thanks for posting.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thank you for subscribing! Scott
I love watching your videos. You are a great teacher and craftsman.
Thank you very much! And thank you for being a subscriber! Scott
This was the first video I have watched but, it will not be the last. My father was a self taught carpenter and I use to watch him when he worked. Watching you remind me of my childhood. Thank you.
Good camera work. You’ve put in the effort to get good angles (wide and close ups/ inserts) that makes the video so easy to follow. Also, the lapel mic audio is excellent. Overall, a top quality media work. Mark of a good artist.
Thank you very much! You recognized the details that go into making a quality video. I'm glad you appreciate that. Thanks for your comment. Scott
Porfavor traducción al español!!!! Saludos muy buen trabajo
Great video. I love the clever mechanism to lock the drawers when the tambour was down. Old furniture is really neat.
I agree. I thought that was so cool too! Scott
YOU ARE AMAZING!!!
THIS ROLLTOP DESK IS BEAUTIFUL!!!!💖💖💖💖💖
Good heavens! The Finesse and attention to detail is off the charts.
Glad you liked it! Thanks for sharing that. Scott
That was a very nice job of repairing the missing piece of wood. Unless you know it’s there, no one will see it. Well done! It’s ready for another 100 years.
I've been woodworking my whole life thanks to my dad and another family member and I just wanted to say this was so informative. It's much easier to me to build something from scratch than it is to repair and you sir are a master at it
Glad it was helpful! Thanks! Scott
I very much enjoyed having this on in the background (on a 2nd monitor) while using my PC to do my Spanish homework - cathartic
I love the care you take making your repairs, and the explanations for doing them. So many of the furniture repair videos I watch everyone seems to be in such a rush, making more damage as they go along, then repairing what they've broken or damaged before refinishing.
Your videos are a refreshing change.
This video was packed full of knowledge! The desk looks absolutely beautiful!! I totally agree with keeping some of the aging/character and not make it look new. So excited to find your channel
I'm glad to hear you enjoyed it Laura! Thanks for sharing that. Scott
Beautiful restoration. You have retained the character of the piece perfectly, unlike other so-called "restorations" I have seen on other channels.
Oh man! I would have loved exploring every tiny scrap of that "time capsule". Love it!
Shellac, ah yes, I remember it well. Back in the 70s all the woodwork out of our large transformers had to be rubbed back and polished if the core was removed from the oil filled tank for more than 8 hours. And there’s a lot of wood support in the darn things as well 😂😂.
Thanks for posting, enjoyed this walk down memory lane.
I love how your power tools are set up - neat, tidy & so much versatility! I learned furniture woodwork in high school in the 80s (my teacher Mr. Henshaw helped make me the man I am today; God Bless you, sir!), but we never had anything like what you've got; I've been out of the loop far too long!
The repair section you did was absolutely incredible. That is art!
What an incredibly beautiful piece of furniture.
That looks almost exactly like the desk that came out of my husband’s grandfathers jewelry and clock shop. It sits in my living room and is in much better shape. I thoroughly enjoyed this.
Thank you for taking the time to talk and show why and what you are doing with the pieces you are working on. Excellent tutorial sir.
Glad you liked it Terry. Thanks for the feedback. Scott
In the deep recesses of my mind, I have always had a vague notion that shellac was to be applied with some sort of cloth pad. I think my Dad did it on an end table he made when I was about 5 yrs old (70 years ago). Now I know I didn't just imagine all that. Thank you.
I have absolutely no interest in doing this type of work myself. But, here I am watching the whole video and enjoying your work. Sept 2023 and at 99.6 subs. Your work is incredible and I look forward to seeing more of your videos.
It's fascinating that a cenrury of "treasures" were caught in the roll-top system. A beautiful repair and restoration of that old desk.
Very nicely done. I love to see an old piece of furniture like this which has been sympathetically restored and shows it’s history. Thank you for explaining the process of repair it is very interesting. 😊
I own the exact same desk! It’s one of my best pieces of furniture and I just wish I had someone like you to lovingly update it
I LOVE these old rolltop desks!
Wow, you are a master! Love the finished desk!
I currently own a larger version of this desk. It’s been in our family since about 1964. It will go to my younger brother at some point. It is in perfect working order but I’ll send him a link to this video in case it ever starts having issues. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. 😊
Thank you. Scott
Amazing! Great attention to detail one doesn’t see anymore! I learned so much!
Glad you enjoyed it! Scott
So glad the UA-cam algorithm suggested this video for me. I immediately recognized the desk, it's very similar to one sitting in my wife's office. To the best of my knowledge, it was my Grandfather's desk that was originally used in the hardware store he owned in Wisconsin, well before my birth. I came to know it from my Grandmother's basement during summer family visits. I would sit at it and play with the old mechanical check printing machine, from the same hardware store. After my grandmother's death, we were helping clean up her house, and this was one of a few pieces I felt a vey strong draw to and asked my dad to keep. Shipped it out to our home at the time, and it followed us to our current home almost 11 years ago. Then my wife started grad school, and ended up completing her PhD dissertation sitting at this desk. My dad is thrilled that my wife uses it, it's not a "show" piece, but gets love and appreciation. The roll top on our desk has a few small drawers mixed in with the cubbies, the roll top pulls off a solid desktop, there's a center lap drawer, and probably one fewer drawers on each pedestal, and the pedestals sit on legs, but I recogized the desk immediacy. I called my wife over to look at the opening picture of your video, and she recognized it immediately as well. Thank you for refreshing some fond family memories. I look forward to discovering more of your videos.
What a gorgeous piece of furniture she is! 100 years of stuff shoved down the back is amazing and hilarious.
I don't normally watch finishing or restoration vids, but this one caught my eye because my grandfather had a rolltop desk very similar to this one. It was a fixture in my grandparents' home since before I can remember, and I'm in my mid-fifties so it was at least 1960s vintage and probably older.
I knew immediately what those pins were: "Yeah, those are drawer locks. When the top is open, the drawers are unlocked, when it's closed, the drawers are locked."
The finished piece looks terrific, but I'm especially impressed with how well the replacement section blends in with the original. It takes a lot of skill to blend a new finish with an existing finish so perfectly, particularly when the existing finish is eighty or a hundred years old.
Glad you enjoyed the video Will. Thanks for sharing that! Scott
Well you answered why my wife’s roll top doesn’t open all the way. Great restoration love it all. Thank you for sharing.
You're welcome Richard. Maybe there are some treasures in your wife's desk too! Scott
So much info to keep on the brain.
rolltop desks are my favorite
I am so very impressed with your work! Such exquisite attention to detail and to preservation of the finish where at all possible and keeping the uniqueness of this antique desk. You are a master!
Excellent video - very informative and clear. The end result was superb. Finding the hidden time capsule of household items was so cool.
Wow, that was a lot of archiving in that room top. What fun! I appreciate how you tell the details of each step of work you do.
Thanks so much!
Hal Ledyard Winnipeg Blue Bombers (best backup quarterback in Canada) Football (born July 7th 1931 - died April 21, 1973) Played for Ottawa Rough Riders, San Fransico 49ers, Saskatchewan Roughriders and the Winnipeg Blue Bombers position played Quarterback. So glad I had your channel recommended to me by You Tube really enjoying it
Outstanding work, Scottie. I appreciate how in-depth and comprehensive you are.
Thank you Adam. Glad to hear you enjoyed it. Thanks for subscribing to our channel
What was under that roll top was amazing. No wonder it didn’t work. Your masking of the repair was perfect. So interesting watching you. You truly are a master of repair. Awesome to watch. Loved it immensely.
Well thank you Shirley. Scott
that is great a video about working in small space , just what I need !!!
You my friend are the Bob Ross of furniture repair/refinishing. Great video.
Beautiful old writing desk. Been after one like that for ages. You did a professional job. Just the right amount of correction to keep it with its character. The owner will cherish your work for a long time
I'm glad you liked it! Scott
I just stumbled upon your page and decided to give it a watch and was delighted to see all of that history pulled out of the back! I have been wanting to repair some heirloom furniture that has been passed down to me and your channel is giving me the inspiration to get to work! Thanks, from Peterborough!
I have learned more from you than working alongside a local Virginia furniture restoration business for 5 yrs. Thank you. I will be sharing this! 👍
Thank you. It is a real joy to watch mastery. You are the Bruce Lee of Furniture Fu.
Beautiful piece !! Great job keeping it original, even more so not tossing out all the things you found.
I have just found your channel.
It is great! The fact that there is no annoying music plus your voice, which is very pleasant to listen to and the way you explain every step made me subscribe.
I hope your channel goes from strength to strength.
Don't change a thing!
That gives a whole new concept to finding money down the back of the sofa!
Hello, Thank you for this video, I love several things regarding your video. Your attention to detail is excellent and most importantly. the narration, you deliver clearly and concisely. I would love a writing desk like this one, hopefully, this will last another 100 years. "Relating to the 1920 letter" Good job I hope the customer liked the finished job, please let me know.
Many thanks.
Gordon, Halifax, UK.
The repairs and finish restoration were excellent. It was especially gratifying to see all the dirt removed. I wonder how much time the original users of the desk spent looking for items that had disappeared down the tambour track.
I know we had a couple more stamps?
I also wonder how many people were blamed for losing stuff, or were accused of snooping in the desk. Good grief!
I enjoy a good voiceless restoration, but it was super cool to hear the explanation for everything. Its always great to see experienced professionals at work, this was a real treat! Proud of myself for catching the canadian accent almost immediately lol
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing that. Scott
.Amazing!! Made me think of my father and uncle and their woodworking skills, building houses, and making custom trim throughout. Thanks for jogging that memory, Beautiful work, and I learned a lot about staining touchups. Subscribed.
I've saw some "restored" furniture in a shop. There was a multitude of different pieces that looked "brand new". After watching your restoration I can see the problem with what I saw in the shop is that the furniture looked "brand new". Your restoration made the furniture look "real" if can can use that term. Your restoration as well as what I've seen in museums or classic houses/buildings looks as if the antique/classic furniture is authentic and well cared for but not "rebuilt".
Thank you for sharing your talent, wisdom and Knowledge.
Scott: this was another amazing restoration. And the treasures found at the back was an added bonus. That was exciting too.
Great job! It was quite an involved project although not completely refinished to keep the authenticity of the piece. I especially like that. Thank you. Carol from California
Glad you enjoyed it Carol. Nice to hear from you.
Thank you sir, your work is fascinating. I love antique furniture, am blessed to have a desk similar to this from my great-grandmother. So neat to see the restoration process.
I cannot believe how much was crammed into that rolltop!!! 🤯🤯💖💖
Yeah, it was fun to explore! Scott
this desk is a piece of beauty.
The treasures that you found inside!! 😱😱😱 I bet that family was thrilled to not only have an heirloom repaired, but the time capsule you found for them must’ve been the icing on the cake. This one had me so excited to watch as you pulled out each item. I hope your videos help others out there to want to repair old furniture instead of throwing it out or tossing it into the backyard fire pit. Who knows what all is out there hiding inside of old pieces of furniture lol
I hope the owners had a family reveal for all the treasures found in the desk. I can picture Uncle Chuck saying “that’s where my yardstick disappeared to”, and Aunt Minnie marvelling when her missing journal was revealed.
Wonderful teaching video. The how and why of each step was very informative.
Glad you enjoyed it! Thanks for sharing that. Scott
I’ve been working in the hardwood floor trade for 35yrs and you do awesome work
WOODMASTER TECH!!! NICE JOB...I LOVE ROLL TOP DESKS...TY!!!
Thanks for watching David! Glad you enjoyed this project. Scott
It is such a pleasure watching an expert at work. Very methodical and clearly explained throughout. Reminds me of Baumgartner Restoration, like restoring an art piece but that happens to be in the form of wood furniture.
Glad you enjoyed it Jean-Benoit. Thanks for sharing that. Scott
Great job!!!! Loved the look of it after and the care you took while working on it!
Thank you! Cheers!
I LOVE watching experts. Do you know any?? Seriously, this was very satisfying to watch!
the stamps would interest a collector for sure
Oh, I love your style of repairing instead of refinishing. It looks so beautiful…still aged and preserving its history instead of like an old piece of new-looking furniture. Just found your channel so did my part to help you reach that 100K goal 👍
Thank you for your support Karen! Scott
To get the level paint spots off, I found a hooked dental pick (second hand/disposals) is worth adding to your tool set. It also helps when the spots are in corners and other hard to get places.
Scott ! Thank GOD!!! I've been looking all over for that notebook.
You may consider me as a wood furniture lover. This video of yours, opened a new window for me. Thank you.
Wonderful! Thanks for sharing that. Scott
You are most certainly an artist, sir! I enjoyed watching you work and explain so clearly. I am no woodworker, but I love and appreciate beautiful wood pieces and to see someone so lovingly restore a well-loved piece is wonderful! One more subscriber for your channel. Keep up the superb work.
Thank you very much Deborah!
My thoughts exactly. You can see the care and passion he has for his work! The accidental time capsule was the icing on the cake!
Great video and impressive work! I have a very similar desk that's been in the family for over 100 years. It has the same locking mechanism on the drawers and also has a secret compartment on the back right side that opens with a hidden lever inside the top of the right side drawer. I appreciate the great work you did restoring this roll top.
Fascinating on repairing furniture ! Stunning finished product !
It's so nice that you kept the stuff you found to give back to the person, I think other people would have just tossed it in the bin,
My goodness, sir. This is the first video of yours I've stumbled across, and you've already opened my eyes to how much I don't know. You are truly a craftsman, and you just earned yourself another subscriber. Your attention to detail is extraordinary, and your expertise inspiring.
Awesome! Thank for your support Dave! Scott
yeah I stumbled on this as well, beautiful job.
Nice work ! My first video of yours, are you you a hobbiest or do you do this full time ? Awesome teacher ! One of the most complete and informative videos I've ever seen.
Thank you
This is my new, FAVORITE channel. Keep the videos coming. Love how detailed and patient you are.
Awesome! Thank for subscribing and supporting our channel. Here's a new video as of 1 hour ago... ua-cam.com/video/qtVgAK-1pZU/v-deo.html
I have a desk older than yours. It also has a draw lock mechanism. Much more damaged and warped. Your content is helping.