Inspiration for refinishing antique (?) drop leaf/gate leg table?
teenie08
2 years ago
last modified: 2 years ago
Featured Answer
Sort by:Oldest
Comments (18)
Helen
2 years agoRelated Discussions
Help identifying drop leaf table
Comments (3)You might not find anything - many older pieces are pretty unique, and no one has put most of them on the internet. Don't quote me on this, but the wood grain to me suggests pine on the legs, and on the top, possibly plywood over hardwood - you can sometimes see the board edges through the stain if this is the case. Together this would make it a less valuable piece, and probably from the 30-40s. It's a cute little thing and practical, nothing to be embarrassed about having in the house, but not heirloom quality (and even with heirloom quality, if you don't have space you don't have space). Karin L...See Morere-finishing black walnut table
Comments (8)Complex problems have simple, easy-to-understand solutions. They just happen to be solutions that don't work. Mineral spirits will not "melt" anything that resembles a finish other than wax or tar. Denatured alcohol will re-amalgamate shellac. Shellac and Varnish are completely different finishes that cure quite differently. So now, I really have no idea what you did. Regarding the top, You can try saving the finish but you will probably need to chemically strip the top. Then, first try a light sanding. If that does not remove the stains, you will probably need to apply wood bleach. That will remove the patina from the wood. And to get a match on the leaves, you will have to do them all. Then restore some color with a stain. If you can't afford to have it done, run to your local library or bookstore and get Bob Flexner's "Understanding Wood Finishing" (2nd edition) and read the sections that look related to what you are trying to do. Lastly, if you don't want to strip because you don't want the mess, that's one thing. If you watch too much Antiques Road Show and think you'll be destroying value, you are mistaken. Doing a good restoration will make it usable, make it look better, and re-gain the protection that the finish once had....See MoreHelp Identifying Antique Drop Leaf Table
Comments (11)Nice satinwood accents and banding inlays. Definitely better than the current crop of institutional furniture. There were really cool pieces in the Brookings Institution after WWII as well. I would like a better pic of the detail where you can see the end grain transitioning into the tabletop just where you can see a glue joint. Right now I would have to say by default it's veneer, until I can see the seam in the end grain and the face grain aligned. Very light mahogany, where it's clear enough to tell (legs and apron). Casey...See MoreEarly Drop leaf extending table with 5 leafs and leaf storage rack
Comments (6)Wonderful table!!! Appears to be walnut...likely midwestern. Those tables with that grooved leg were made between 1880 adn maybe 1910...maybe even 1920. The difference in the finish is likely due to the table and 3 leaves being refinished and the other 3 leaves were not. Of course the rack is different wood, it was just for storage....not "furniture". I had it's twin.....but my daughter has it now. Loved that table....It could be a tiny little table in a small apartment, and you could flip a leaf up to eat on....or it could expand to fit a family of 6 or 8. I can't imagine what was patented....that sty;e table was fairly common in the day adn 45 years ago not unusual at farm sales. What kind of leaf support is there? And it appears as if a cleat has been added to the drop leaves to keep them from warping....likely when it was refinished. I saw a table exactly like that, with 5 leaves, oak, all refinished, leaves also redone....sold at a sale 3 weeks ago for $165. In my mind way too little....but it was a tag sale and didn't even sell the first day so the price must have been pretty close....See Morelindac92
2 years agoHelen
2 years agolast modified: 2 years agoteenie08
2 years agoteenie08
2 years agoGargamel
2 years agoFori
2 years agoIzzy Mn
2 years agoPG
last yearlast modified: last yearPRN
last yearlast modified: last yearteenie08
last yearIzzy Mn
last yearlast modified: last year
Related Stories
DECORATING GUIDESDecorating With Antiques: Tables to Elevate the Everyday
They may have common uses, but antique tables bring a most uncommon beauty to dining, game playing and more
Full StoryFURNITUREForever Furniture: A Buyer’s Guide to the Dining Table
There comes a time when a make-do piece of furniture won’t do. We give you a leg up on choosing the right table for you
Full StoryBEDROOMS15 Nightstands That Are Not Your Average Bedside Tables
Take another look at that unusual antique or flea market find. It could have a new life next to the bed
Full StoryFURNITUREObjects of Desire: Dressing Tables Groomed for Style
Have your own vanity fair with a table for doing makeup and hair that fits you perfectly
Full StoryANTIQUESDecorating With Antiques: Painted Furniture Brings the Eye Candy
Too much brown got you down? Lighten up with antique furniture decorated with artistic designs or awash in a lovely hue
Full StoryDECORATING GUIDESFrom Queasy Colors to Killer Tables: Your Worst Decorating Mistakes
Houzzers spill the beans about buying blunders, painting problems and DIY disasters
Full StoryKITCHEN ISLANDSInspiring Ideas for Vintage Kitchen Islands
Tired of the same old boxy kitchen island? Look to the past for a functional piece with timeless personality
Full StoryKITCHEN DESIGNGoodbye, Island. Hello, Kitchen Table
See why an ‘eat-in’ table can sometimes be a better choice for a kitchen than an island
Full StoryHOLIDAYSLuxurious Holiday Table Settings for Less
Pair colorful glasses, gorgeous garden finds and hand-stamped napkins for a holiday table that looks positively rich
Full StoryDINING ROOMSDiscover Your Dining Table Style
To pick the right dining table, you need to match it to your personality as well as the look of your dining room. These identifiers can help
Full Story
lindac92