Reconditioning Woodvils

[Kentastic]

Hey all,

I've got another Woodvil headed my way and I'm looking for some advice on reconditioning Woodvils and making them look like new. I already make sure I give them a good soaking with Howard's Feed-N-Wax about one a month (or 6 weeks), and it keeps them from looking any worse than when I got them, but they definitely look used. Any advice on making them look like new again? I know I could send them to Rob for some spa treatment, but I don't know if I really need to spend the $$ if I could do it myself.

So any tips? Fine grit sand paper? 0000 Steel wool? A specific wood restorer product? None of them have any major damaged areas, just a little rough around the edges...

What prompted this is I recently purchased some Renaissance Wax that I want to try because it's supposed to be very good at preserving the condition of whatever you use it on. Antique people all say to use it on anything you want preserved without changing the look or feel of the wood. So I was going to try it on one of my Woodvils, but I realized that both of my current (and I assume my newest edition) Woodvils need a little restoring before I do.

So any advice? Should I just break down and send them in to Rob for a makeover? How much does he charge for just reconditioning?

later,
Ken





I'm also feel a little uncomfortable about giving Rob my wood and asking if he could polish my mod.

 

[pwheeler]

If I get one like that I'll bring it to my shop, thoroughly sand her down, and clearcoat her with catalyzed lacquer, 3 coats, sanding with 320 between coats.

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Ken, it would depend on the finish, poly coated vs natural etc. But in general sand and refinish

 

[mackman]

Ken send if off to the spa and let Rob go thru it. When it comes back it will be like new. Mine came back magnificent.

 

[MamaTried]

i have 4 Woodvils boxed up to send to the spa for various reasons just to get them working again. 2 are early run Woodvils-- the ones with Reo engraved in the door. it never occurred to me to get them refinished/restored.


how rough are your Woodvils, Ken?


or is this a mid-life crisis kinda thing? sell your SUV, get a convertible, ditch the wife for a twenty-something?

 

[unsure]

Just be careful and all wll be great and you'll have a beautiful Woodvil. Unlike me that thought adding an extra coat of gloss would be cool.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[MamaTried]

Just be careful and all wll be great and you'll have a beautiful Woodvil. Unlike me that thought adding an extra coat of gloss would be cool.

BEFORE

AFTER

i'm guessing you're being a tad careful with Nebula II...

 

[unsure]

i'm guessing you're being a tad careful with Nebula II...

 

[Kentastic]

Unsure, Now that is one I would pay Rob to refinish. Would be worth every single penny. If you'd like I can send you a prepaid mailing box so you can send it over to me and I'll make sure Rob get it and does a great job refinishing it....


............ oh and then I'll send it back...yeah ... send it back.. that sounds good.

Ken

Just be careful and all wll be great and you'll have a beautiful Woodvil. Unlike me that thought adding an extra coat of gloss would be cool.

BEFORE

AFTER

 

[Kentastic]

i have 4 Woodvils boxed up to send to the spa for various reasons just to get them working again. 2 are early run Woodvils-- the ones with Reo engraved in the door. it never occurred to me to get them refinished/restored.

how rough are your Woodvils, Ken?

or is this a mid-life crisis kinda thing? sell your SUV, get a convertible, ditch the wife for a twenty-something?

Nahh like I said none of them are bad at all, they just don't look "like new". Part of it is that none of them are poly coated, they are just natural wood which is what I like, but it does make them harder to look all new and shiny. I'm just a little nervous about taking sandpaper to them afraid I'll screw something up, but I think if I'm using super fine sandpaper the worst that I could do is scratch the brass fittings up a little bit, and once it's got some more wax on there they would be fine.

 

[MamaTried]

Unsure, Now that is one I would pay Rob to refinish. Would be worth every single penny. If you'd like I can send you a prepaid mailing box so you can send it over to me and I'll make sure Rob get it and does a great job refinishing it....


............ oh and then I'll send it back...yeah ... send it back.. that sounds good.

Ken

don't think Gil owns that one any more, but in any case


GET IN LINE, PUNK!

 

[Kentastic]

don't think Gil owns that one any more, but in any case


GET IN LINE, PUNK!

Mama you are not allowed to have ALL the fancy mods. Bad Mama... Bad....Share with your friends... that's a good boy....

 

[nerak]

Nahh like I said none of them are bad at all, they just don't look "like new". Part of it is that none of them are poly coated, they are just natural wood which is what I like, but it does make them harder to look all new and shiny. I'm just a little nervous about taking sandpaper to them afraid I'll screw something up, but I think if I'm using super fine sandpaper the worst that I could do is scratch the brass fittings up a little bit, and once it's got some more wax on there they would be fine.

I used a 400 grit and sanded the poly off one of mine. It is really smooth now. The Howard's didn't give it a real shiny shine. But it gave it a nice feel.

My Cocobolo that is natural finish does not have a high gloss shine. It is smooth and protected. That is all I want for a natural finish.

 

[MamaTried]

Nahh like I said none of them are bad at all, they just don't look "like new". Part of it is that none of them are poly coated, they are just natural wood which is what I like, but it does make them harder to look all new and shiny. I'm just a little nervous about taking sandpaper to them afraid I'll screw something up, but I think if I'm using super fine sandpaper the worst that I could do is scratch the brass fittings up a little bit, and once it's got some more wax on there they would be fine.

aah. i like my Woodvils like i like my women... old and...

wait.. what?



seriously, i have an old cocobolo natural finish that has really darkened. i'm thinking of trying my (one) hand at sanding it to bring back the original grain. also, a few poly finished woods, i might wanna sand to natural. i know Karen has posted what she used to sand, based on Robert's recommendation, but of course i can't find it. i figger even if i screw up, i can send them to the spa.

ETA: lol. Karen ninja'd me about Karen

 

[Filthy-Beast]

Be sure to sand with the grain and not across it or in circles

 

[unsure]

Unsure, Now that is one I would pay Rob to refinish. Would be worth every single penny. If you'd like I can send you a prepaid mailing box so you can send it over to me and I'll make sure Rob get it and does a great job refinishing it....


............ oh and then I'll send it back...yeah ... send it back.. that sounds good.

Ken

Yeah about that....I did and Rob was able to restore it that good which raises the question "How messed up it was before he got it?" In all fairness it still looks pretty good,

 

[canoeist]

Ken,
I refinished a few of them using 320 grit sanding block then a piece of 600 sandpaper. Put Howards on them for a natural finish. They turned out very good, almost looked like new. They were all well used woodvils

 

[Kentastic]

Ken,
I refinished a few of them using 320 grit sanding block then a piece of 600 sandpaper. Put Howards on them for a natural finish. They turned out very good, almost looked like new. They were all well used woodvils

That's what I wanted to hear. I don't want them shiny like as in poly-coated shiny. I just want them looking almost like new instead of aged. Now there are some things I like aged, but I think I'd rather age them myself... not someone else's aging... errr I know what I'm talking about.... it doesn't matter if it makes sense to anyone else.

 

[Kentastic]

Yeah about that....I did and Rob was able to restore it that good which raises the question "How messed up it was before he got it?" In all fairness it still looks pretty good,

How messed up was it before he got it?

 

[unsure]

Well...all I can say is I didn't have the heart to take a picture. Rob got it so the hit was only to the color brightness. That gloss ate thru the original finish and suck the color but if you had not seen the original blue/purple it was you wouldn't think twice.