I’ve inherited the dining room set from my family. It is a rather pretty set, but the fiscal value of it means less than the sentimental value. The chairs have a high straight t-back with cabriole legs with very simple claw feet in front, and one of the four remaining chairs has slightly curved out arms (once there were 6 chairs). The wood has been refinished but once upon a time it was a very dark, almost black stain. The seats have the original leather which is dark and very rich looking. The style looks somewhat Edwardian, but I am not an antique buff. Each chair even has a small brass decoration that looks like an earring or something. I think the wood is oak by the grain.
The closest to the style I can find on the web are these chairs:
http://www.piercesamericanantiqueauctions.com/images/June2103Inventory/thumbnails/p1010073_thumb.jpg
The grain is the same, but the top is thinner and the back board is slightly more ornate. The legs are somewhat curvier, the dowels on the bottom of the chair for added support are straight instead of spindled.
This is the table’s second cousin at least in regard to the legs.
http://www.piercesamericanantiqueauctions.com/images/June041003/thumbnails/p1010035_thumb.jpg
The table has a bevel around the edge as well as a very subtle scalloped edge. the skirted area is also scalloped in a similar shape to the chairs.
This dining room set was first in my great grandparents house, and then at my grandfather’s house, and finally at my mom’s house and now it is at my place.They have been refinished many times, and other than the leather on the seats - they have been “repaired”. Now here in lies the problem. It is very easy to tell who did these so called repairs. Now here in lies the issue. Grandpa drank, constantly and obviously he tried to fix the dining room set while under the influence of a gallon of that sweet wine he used to love so much - there are blocks of wood with strange angles, and slightly askew holes in them beneath the seat in each corner of each chair. There are nails and screws at angles which would not be possible to screw in, never mind unscrew. There are small brass brackets holding things together, with round headed screws which were not intended for wood, and because they are too long of screws, they are sticking out. Most of the screws are stripped, and some of the priming holes for screws have gotten too loose. On top of this, is the piano wire twisted around all four legs of each chair.
I doubt that the repairs made by my grandfather are the best way to keep this dining room set in one piece. I also know the refinishing and “repairs” would have devalued this table beyond the price of getting this fixed professionally. I am not a rich girl who can pay for restoration, and I know the only remaining value is this set is the sentimental value to me. Still I want to keep these chairs and table, and have them part of my home and most of all I would like the chairs and table stable enough to use, sans piano wire.
I would need approximately 5 different screw drivers and a sudden ability to be double jointed to remove every single screw, and somehow I would need to remove all the stripped screws as well. I know I would need wood filler, a drill bit to prime holes, I know I need carpenters wood glue, and I know I will clamps to hold things in place, and my dad or my brother-in-law who have the tools and the skills to build new woooden corner brackets for under the table and chairs (and build these new ones with 45 degree angles and holes in the correct places).
I can’t afford professional restoration, but I will asking for help from my dad who once was a shop teacher, and has no problem doing any sort of wood work. Also, I think I would enjoy the project of bringing the dining room set back to life.
Anyone here on SDMB have any advice (other than pay for a pro), that may help me with this task. Are there any type of braces, brackets, tools, magical glue, or anything else I should take into consideration.
Thanks!