Restoring the rest of the woodwork at the PA capital was classified as a restoration project, not conservation like the Penn fireplace had been. The intent of the restoration was to restore the wood to the way it looked on the day the building opened. The following labor-intensive wood restoration techniques have been used for years and actually mirror to a large degree the original techniques used over 100 years ago.

1. Apply a solvent soluble paint remover, strip all layers of varnish and shellac using knives, steel wool, and metal brushes leaving only the aniline dye residue and natural patina; Note: under no circumstances should water soluble paint remover be used on wood
2. Neutralize the stripping chemicals by applying mineral spirits to the surface with rags. Allow to evaporate and dry thoroughly;
3. Smooth all surfaces with 0000 steel wool. Remove residue with tack cloth;
4. Create a clean, dust-free, low-traffic area for applying the finishes;
5. Match aniline dye dissolved in water to original color and apply with pads and brushes, wipe off with clean rags to achieve uniformity of color;
6. Apply alkyd sanding sealer. This solution penetrates and seals the wood better than varnish or shellac, raises the grain, and creates a harder finish more suitable to fine sanding;
7. Fine-grit sanding, clean with tack cloth;
8. First coat of alkyd varnish, allow to dry,
9. Extra fine-grit sanding, clean with tack cloth;
10. Apply second and final coat of alkyd varnish.

<< Back