22nd April Mark Hopkins – Furniture Restoration
Mark gave us as good a talk as he did last time he came. This is a piece that Mark made from scratch for a show in Exeter, where it won 3rd prize. Each surface has been covered with veneer. The main sheet of veneer is soaked, glued to the surface with animal glue, pushed down until flat, and left to set for an hour or so. The shape of the inlay veneers are cut from the main veneer and the lifted out. At this stage the glue is amenable. The soaked inlays are fitted into position and pushed down until flat
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Mark is demonstrating how the veneer is pushed down with a veneer hammer. As the veneer has already expanded during the soaking, it is important to push the veneer flat from the edges towards the middle so that no extra expansion occurs. The veneers are then sanded using 120, 240, and 400 grit paper, care being taken that the veneer is not all sanded away. A coating of coloured stopping is applied to fill in any holes. This is sanded and then 3 coats of Sand and Sealer are applied with a sanding between.
Mark uses traditional French Polishing techniques. Small amount of polish and a dab of linseed oil is applied , it is one of those occasions when less is more, as it is easy to take off the polish by having to much oil or polish on the rubber.
Mark showed us a range of veneers bought from Ebay and local suppliers. Here he is showing us a pack of walnut veneer that had been destined for Rolls Royce. It seem that one has to buy when the veneer is available, as when you want it, there is none to be found
Mark recommended
Restoration Materials for polish, stains etc.
H. E. Savill for brass fixings
Martin & Co for historically accurate knobs and hinges