Rocking chairs are among those seating chairs, which provide a great amount of comfort. They add charm to the room where they are placed in. The rocking chairs that are antique are often regarded as exemplary symbols of those golden times when furniture making was more an art than a means of livelihood.
However, if you have an old rocking chair that has started showing signs of deterioration after standing the tests of time, then it is imperative to get the piece restored to its former glory and magnificence. Although it is generally recommended to hire a professional firm dealing with antique furniture restoration in Sydney, performing a DIY is also possible. Given below is the procedure for salvaging an old rocking chair at home:
Tools Required
- Palm sander
- Wood glue
- Clamp
- Sandpaper
- Cotton batting
- Spray bottle
- Jute twine
- Thread and needle
- Painter’s tape
- Fabric
- Upholstery foam
- Chemical stripper
- Webbing
First, the rocking chair has to be inspected for any signs of decay, cracks in finish, tears in the upholstery, rips in webbing and other similar damage. If the old finish are to be stripped or new paint coats are to be applied, it is imperative to take steps for ensuring that the areas in good condition are not affected. Such areas can be taped using the painter’s tape.
Next, the surface of the chair must be sanded gently with a sandpaper having fine grits. This will help to smoothen the surface and make it ready for adding paint or glue. Then the existing finish has to be removed with the chemical stripper by spraying it onto the wood surface.
After the original finish has been stripped, any damaged or decayed parts will have to be replaced. However, care must be taken to remove as less parts as possible for maintaining authenticity of the chair. Small crevices can be repaired by filling wood glue in them and pushing it in place with the clamp.
Rips and tears in the upholstery must be sewn together and while doing the same, cotton batting and fresh upholstery foam can be added for making the chair more comfortable. If the chair has separate cushions, they will also have to reupholstered. As for damaged webbing, torn webbing may be either repaired or replaced with a new one, depending upon the amount of damage. Loose webbing can be reconnected using jute twine. But if it is severely torn, then replacing might be the only option.