Fine Furniture Restoration: Special Guest: John Mark Power

I think many of us do not fully understand the techniques and skills necessary to properly repair our older furniture -- which in my opinion -- is usually well worth restoring because often times the wood and workmanship cannot be found in today's marketplace. I have had the pleasure of partnering with a highly skilled antique furniture conservator based in Harper's Ferry, West Virginia named John Mark Power.  John Mark specializes in the restoration of original finishes of vintage and antique furniture.  He also builds reproduction furniture and designs and builds uniquely custom furniture.  John Mark blogs about many of his latest projects and has agreed to guest blog here from time to time so that we may better understand the restoration process .  Enjoy this account of his restoration of an oak office chair to its original function.

This chair had broken in several places and the joinery had loosened in the base.  I was asked to repair the chair and to replace the casters.  The following photos detail the repairs to a leg and to the arms.  In both cases, the breaks were across the grain and required what is called a bridging patch.  A bridging patch is new wood applied to both sections of the break to span the break.  Two patches are usually required for a strong repair.  The photos below help explain the process.

This first picture shows the legs disassembled and the leg in the bottom of the photo with all of its broken parts.

This next photo show the leg being glued up with the original parts.

After the leg had dried, I cut away material on both sides of the leg to receive a patch.  Note how the break (and previous repairs) can be seen in the center of where the wood has been removed.

The patch is inserted into the space with glue.

The patches being glued in place.

After the glue dries, the patch is cut to a rough shape on the band saw.

The patch after it has been carved to shape and sanded.  It is then stained and touched up to match the existing finish.

The same process was used for the arms on the chair.  Each arm received two patches.  Here is a photo of a patch ready to be glued in place.

Gluing the patches.

Gluing the patches on the other arm.

A completed patch carved, sanded, and ready to stain and touch up.

Here are two pictures of the chair with the arms and the broken leg (facing out) repaired and touched up to match the existing finish.