There are two finishes used on our furniture and both finishes should be treated in different ways. These finishes are Oiled and Lacquered.
How to tell if you have an Oiled or Lacquered piece of furniture.
Pick an inconspicuous spot to do the test so that you do not leave any marks that may spoil the appearance.
Use a couple of drops of linseed oil and rub gently onto the wood.
If the oil absorbs into the wood then the wood has an oil finish, if it beads up similar to water sitting on glass then the furniture has a lacquer finish. If you can remember the name of the range you bought then our brochure or web site will tell you which finish each range is.
Oiled Finish
Furniture that has an oiled finish is less resistant to stains than a lacquered table so it is recommended that mats should be always used for cups, glasses, plates etc.
The furniture should also be kept as much as possible from direct sources of heat such as radiators, Agas, conservatories etc or room where extreme temperature conditions occur to avoid splitting or shrinkage.
Furniture can be dusted with a cloth and should be fed with Danish oil on a regular basis to avoid the furniture drying out. Always follow the manufacturers instructions.
The positive side of an oiled table is that if any damage is done to the furniture it is much easier to correct yourself without the help of a professional furniture medic. If the table is damaged by either staining or small surface scratches that are not too deep then the table can be given a light sanding followed by a coat of oil.
There are many products on the market and many brands, Liberon is just one which has a wide selection and can be found in most DIY stores.
Lacquered Finish.
Lacquered furniture is the low maintenance option and should withstand spills with out staining the furniture. Although it is always recommended to use mats, FTOAK lacquered furniture should be able to withstand heat up to a coffee cup level, anything hotter mats should be used.
If you spill anything on the furniture, wipe up and dry immediately. Sticky marks can be wiped off using a damp cloth and then dried. Normal furniture polish may be used. DO NOT use any detergents as this may damage the lacquer.
For maintenance and occassional use a medium stain (on our light Oak or Ash furniture) wax may be used to help protect the lacquer and even out and cover any minor surface marks and scuffs. Brands such as Liberon, Brywax or Fiddes all do waxes of this kind. When you open the tin the wax is very dark but this will not affect the colour of your furniture as you are only applying to the lacquer and not the wood so the colour will remain the same. Follow the instructions on the tins.
For damage to lacquered furniture
Although there are an increasing number of self correcting products on the market now including lacquer/wax sprays in a can for repairs this is down to how confident the person is at DIY. If in doubt contact a furniture repairer in your area.
|
