If
you are going to develop your skills, you will have to get hold of old
furniture to restore. These days old furniture can be found everywhere and
often people sell furniture that is still in a good condition because they do
not want to go to the trouble to fix it.
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| Vintage kitchen dresser restored to original state |
The
first option is to look at pawn shops and secondhand furniture shops. However,
you should be careful because they are in the business of making a profit and you
may end up paying too much for it. The main thing is to buy something that you
like. It also depends on what you want to do with it. If you are going to keep
it the price may not be that important. Should you want to fix it and sell it
again for a profit, then price is very important. It’s important to be
aware of prices of secondhand furniture. Make sure that you know the value of a
piece before you buy it. Remember if you are going to sell it you want to make
a profit and the selling price must be lower than the price of a similar new
piece of furniture.
The
best option is to buy a piece that is not too badly damaged. Small defects such
as cracks or loose joints can be fixed without too much effort. But if you have
to replace some parts (e.g. a table leg), then it can become costly. In such a
case you may have to go to a cabinet maker to make a new leg and more often
than not you will have to take the whole piece apart to fit the new leg. Also,
some hardwood types have become very
rare and can be difficult to find and are usually very expensive.
Auctions can also be a good source for secondhand furniture. Again, beware of paying too
much for it. If a piece is soiled or damaged you might get it for a very low
price. Make up your mind what you want to pay for it and stick to that.
Keep
an eye on your local news paper. Be sure
to first have a look at the piece before you make an offer. The internet is
another option. Gumtree and other similar sites sometimes have good buys. Like
with a news paper, you should try and see it before you buy.
To
start off with your restoration and refinishing efforts, you should try and
practice on your own furniture. You can
then afford to make mistakes.
