BARRICADES
MYSTÉRIEUSES
Antiquités
Antiquités
| RESTORATION OF FINE FURNITURE CLASSES |
These classes may be of interest to anyone who :
-is curious and passionate about the history of Québec's old furniture, its preservation and its restoration
-is desirous to upgrade his/her knowledge or to acquire more
-is interested in concluding his/her personal project (family furniture, architecture, etc.)
They are offered for small groups (3-4 persons) or individually (coaching), on an hourly basis Monday thru Saturday between
7 am and 8 pm, according to everybody's availability. Each meeting will last 2-3 hours.
The participant can bring any object or small piece of furniture to practice effectively. Access to the workshop, material and equipment, insurances and taxes are all included in the prices.
Theoretical classes are 25$/h
Practical classes are 35$/h in a group, and 60$/h for personal coaching
Classes can be given both in French or English, and can be offered in other locations.
THEORETICAL CLASSES
One lesson will cover the history of North American furniture, especially Québec's own, from the colonial times to the Industrial Revolution. We will also cover folk art funiture still in use untill the middle of the XXth century.
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Another
lesson will discuss the techniques and limitations to preserve the
integrity of old furniture and/or architectural pieces in a
contemporary context.- Repairs will be considered according to their strict necessity so as necessary or desirable compromises.
- Refinishing will be taught according to the tradition with the era and enhanced with a modern point of view (refinishing of original paints, varnish and wax).
- The relevancy and evaluation of the cost of any project will also be discussed.
PRACTICAL CLASSES (elementary)
How to determine the appropriate technique of paint removal :- dry or ''moist'' scraping
- heating gun and iron
- ammonia and P.D.E.®
- chemical and ''ecological'' paint removers
- timing, atmospheric conditions, lighting, ventilation, etc.
- tools
- scrapers, spatulas, knives, steel wool, brushes
- security rules
- proper disposal of residues
Small repairs (rossignols)
Consolidation of a piece of furniture, of a door, a drawer, a picture frame, etc.
Gluing a chair :
- the right use of glues
Dowelling, screwing, nailing and pegging technique
Hardware : avoiding anachronisms, or enhancing contrasts
PRACTICAL CLASSES (advanced)
- How to restore and refinish any given pine furniture from colonial era to Industrial Revolution (forged nails and square nails)
- restoration of armoires
- respecting original colours
- repairing or restoring missing or damaged pieces
- How to restore and refinish a piano, a side-board, a table, a commode, etc.
- Architectural restoration
- exterior (balcony, brackets, etc.)
- interior (stairways, mouldings, built-in furniture, etc.)
- Refinishing
- the use of oils and stains
- shellac, beeswax and varnish techniques
- original colours
- outdoor paints and varnishes
- Old woodworking techniques
- the use of hand tools
- the use of hand planes
- how to determine the best tool for the best work
- Old upholstering
- Old lamps repairs (electrical or gas)
- according to modern standards : polarity, grounding at all times
- logic of dimantling, cleaning, refinishing and rewiring
