Trash Day Rescue! - Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration
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- Опубликовано: 23 май 2024
- Tom Johnson of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine fixes up this handsome midcentury modern table that had been left out in the rain. Tom has been restoring furniture professionally since 1979. Visit our website at www.thomasjohnsonrestoration.com, or write us at thomasjohnsonrestoration@gmail.com. And for those on the west coast looking for custom framing, be sure to check out Tom's daughter's shop, www.emcollier.com (@emcollierframes on Instagram).
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Impressive old school skills mixed with new age wisdom and insight - “Must be able to withstand a hot pizza box….” A true renaissance man! 😂😂 Nice work Sir!
Thank you! I like that!
You know Mr. Johnson is serious when the BIG clamps come out.
And when he breaks out the epoxy and not the hide glue!
Oh yeah! The big guns...
Yes! Serious...
There are many Mid Century Modern (MCM) renovation RUclipsrs who have "done" Lane Acclaim pieces. Never thought I would see an Acclaim piece being restored here on TJA! Great job, Mr. Johnson! 👍👏❤😍🥰
Thanks! Yes, there seems to be a lot of it around!
I so appreciate your teaching. You give reasons for your actions and do not have that travelogue music. Stay well. Thank you.
Jesus the commercials.😐 BTW, 3/4" Pony clamps can be extended to any length you like without having a set of clamps sitting fallow for 'several year's.
I know you can just get sick of a piece and want it gone, but to throw a piece this well designed and made out in the rain is just beyond me.
I'm so glad you spotted this jewel. ❤
I'm going to say this was a piece that was damaged and the owner couldn't live with a repair on their showpiece coffee table.
Thanks! we'll never know how or why it ended up out there
Yes, but we'll never know the story
I think the thing i like about you the most, Mr Johnson, is the respect you show for all your projects.
You preserve the best things about our America and treat them as Integral parts of our common heritage.
Thanks for all you do. You’re a credit to the human race.
That is so nice! Thank you! I respect all those who came before, and take responsibility when working on other people's possesions
THAT is the EXACT coffee table my mom used to change me on when I was a toddler!!!! I remember it, it was in our living room growing up. That brings back so many memories. I lost two front teeth on it.
I love that! You should get one just for those reasons
While most people could, “refinish” items, it takes years of talent like yourself to use the right products in the best way. Another job well done.
You don't need those commas there.
Thanks Jim!
Yes! An English teacher no doubt!
It's MCM day in Gorham Maine, and a pizza box proofed finish. Thanks for the chuckle and making the world a little more beautiful today.
You're so welcome Beth!
I love how ecologically aware you are, Tom. That's one of my favourite features of this channel, including the masterful renovations. :)
I love that, too! I’ve seen other furniture repair RUclipsrs using syringes or brushes just once claiming that these are “disposable,” and I’ve been wondering if it was actually possible to clean the syringes. Because this is what I would do.
Thank you! I try to be as good as I can when it comes to plastic etc
Thanks! It makes me crazy to see all that waste
I am puzzling through a knotty dilemma today, and your steady, patient and superb artistry helped me to order my thoughts; thank you!
That's great! That makes me happy
For a 60 year old piece of furniture, it's doing well. 👍🇦🇺🇦🇺
Cathy they don't make them like that anymore!! Left out in the rain, and just needs a "shot" of glue 😉
You're so right.
Thanks! Yes, true! It had been through a lot!
Old furniture has so much more character than anything you can buy today. This is a beautiful example. I’m glad you saved it and brought it back to life.
I don’t know if i would say that the quality is no longer available. It’s not at Ikea or the big box stores, but i bought about ten grand worth of furniture from Conn’s a few years back and I’ll stack this up against a lot of other old units.
They’re well built, not Chip core with plastic embossed and have solid wood parts.
North Carolina still makes great furniture by Great Craftsman.
Please don’t sell us so short.
Not meant to criticize, just presenting a different observation. Have a great Memorial Day Weekend!
The quality is definitely still there with Stickley and Old Hickory Furniture, but oh, boy, do you pay for it. Their coffee tables retail @ $4500 😵💫
@@pdmacguire and I'm sure this Lane coffee table was very expensive when new, after all it has a serial number. Expensive furniture has always been expensive, cheap furniture is rarely inexpensive when new.
Thank you! I'm glad I could do that too!
Thanks! You are exactly right! There are a lot of companies making good furniture today. When people say "they don't make them like they used to!" I always want to correct them but I don't!
It's always a good day when I get to sit down and learn from a master. Thanks again Tom.
You're welcome Raymond!
I feel like a trash day table some times. I just wish I had some trick to make me feel as good as this table looks after you've worked your magic on it :) Great job Mr. Johnson!
Thanks! I like that!
Thomas, one of the things I really like about your videos is that your shop looks like mine…sort of controlled chaos with a mix of old and new machinery and hand tools that proves you have been in business for decades and decades. So unlike the many RUclips maker channels with racks and racks of matching perfectly organized brand new tools, shiny new machinery without a single chip out of the paint job, all ensconced in a room without a single speck of dust to be seen anywhere. Kind of reminds me of the Woodwright without all the blood and gore! 😂❤
LOL My shop is so unorganized to the average person but when my kids need something and they ask me for it, I say go into the shop and on your left hand side on the second shelf there are 2 boxes and in the second box there it will be! Yes, they've made comments about the age of some of my tools (they were my father's from the 1960's) and I just laugh and say, if you think they're too old, why do you still use them too?! If I ever "organized" my shop according to the average person, I'd never find my stuff!
The World we know was made with old tools. No point in re-inventing the wheel when you already own a full set. The fact that you can still buy the original pattern 6 foot clamps proves they have never been bettered.
I don't find those sparkly new shops interesting. No mojo there...
Thanks Lane! Yes, controlled chaos! I have always wanted my videos to show people a real business that was actually making money doing repair work - the real world as they say
Thank you! That's exactly what happens to me - I get on an organizing spree, and then I can't find anything!
I’m glad you saved this beautiful table and restored it to it’s original condition. It’s always a good day when a video drops from Thomas Johnson, it makes my heart lift ❤
Thanks! That's nice!
Would have never thought about the hot pizza box on finishes. Practical, and made me laugh. Another beautiful piece, Thomas.
Thanks! If you've seen as many as I have...
My parents had that exact model coffee table, thanks for keeping it alive for another generation
You're welcome! What happened to the table?
Unfortunately they sold it along with a couple of Danish chairs and other pieces many moons ago. Was super excited when I saw yours, I’ll be driving around on trash day looking for treasure
You have made that old table come back to life Tom, beautifully restored. It's always a pleasure watching your videos.
Thank you!
I appreciate your restoration work, of course, but your repurposing of containers and reuse of what many consider disposable tools really speaks to my love of conservation. Thanks for another beautifully restored piece of craftsmanship and a primer on using (and reusing!) what you have.
You're welcome Paula! I wish I could be more optimistic, but it feels good to at least try...
You did a great job. I grew up with this furniture. A coffee table and two matching end tables. Brings back alot of memories.
Thank you! 😊 That's great!
Beautiful! I can't believe someone was sending that to the dump!! So happy you rescued it!
Me too!! Thanks!
I grew up with a table just like that in our living room. I’m 60 something. My mom loved mid century modern. We kids thought it was so old fashioned!!
Same here.
Thanks! That's funny!
A very elegant piece of furniture, well deserving of your competent restoration.
Thank you!
Your lower back can’t feel good during this level of painstaking work, yet you never skip a step necessary to get excellent results. Another excellent restoration,Tom!
Thanks Bill! Luckily my back is in great shape! I've been doing exercises for years
Beautiful!! I appreciate your attention to detail and how well you instruct as you move through the process of saving furniture! Thank you!
You're welcome Mary!
AWESOME, TOM. YOU KEPT THAT TABLE FOR ALL OF THESE YEARS AND LOOK AT THE GREAT PIECE YOU NOW HAVE. BET YOU DIDN'T THINK THAT YOU WOULD DO THIS JOB ON YOUR OWN CHANNEL WAY BACK WHEN!!! ENJOYED THIS VIDEO VERY MUCH.
Thanks! No, I never could have imagined that!
Marvelous workmanship! You have brought it up from dinghy to living room ready. I don't know if I would let someone plop a hot pizza box on it!
Beautiful picture of cats among the dandelions!📚🫖🖖🐈⬛✨️
Thank you very much! The pizza box usually happens when no one is around!
Three things:
1) Thanks for telling how to clean the epoxy from the syringe and how to clean and reuse the foam brushes. I’ll be doing that from now on.
2) If you (or the previous restoration attempt) had sanded through the veneer on the top, how would you have addressed that? New veneer on entire top? Replace just the damaged area with new veneer? Putty/filler the damaged area and then try to colour match? Something else?
3) Did you do anything off camera to repair the ends (gaps, and previous putty repair) before varnishing?
I love your channel and look forward to every new video. You’re a great teacher!
#3 was dealt with before the refinishing started. You might want to review this video again. 😊
@@judithburke1539 Tom pointed out that the corner had previously been repaired with putty and mentioned that he might fill the gaps with wood, but we didn’t see if he did anything about them. Perhaps you shouldn’t delight in telling others what to do.
You're welcome! Thanks for watching. I'm glad those tips are helpful.If I sanded through it would depend on so many factors as to what I would do. As ytou saw in this video I chose to do nothing with the existing sand through. I did fill those gaps with wood putty
This shows that even factory furniture, if well made, is worth spending time on to preserve and restore. p.s. this is the first time I've heard of the "hot pizza box" rule.
Thanks! When you are in the business you learn all about hot pizza boxes!
A superb renewal, as usual, Mr. Johnson. Your skill, your meticulous attention to every detail, earns the highest commendation.
Thank you Sarah!
I sure miss your dog. Enjoying your content.
Thank you! Oh, I miss her so much!
Mr. Johnson,I have learned that my favorite style of furniture is mid-century modern. This table is stunning! I don't remember seeing huge dovetails before.
Thanks Jean! Yes, and if you search on-line you will see a lot of this Acclaim series
I love the contrast between the 2 different woods though the style kind of reminds me of the 60's and the furniture ppl had everywhere in Germany at that time. I wasn't crazy about the style then and not crazy about the style now. Growing up with furniture from the early 1900's and what my grandfather purchased is more my style. More elaborate more decorative (but also more difficult to dust LOL all those carvings we did with a soft make up brush to make sure all the dust is gone). Though what I like about this table is the fact they used 2 contrasting woods to make it stand out and take a simple style and make it more eye popping. It really looks great after you got done with it.
Thanks! Yes, you know I like older furniture too! But I still like a lot of modern pieces too
Mr Jonhnson
you have done the most brilliant job the table looks so beautiful after your hard work I have a lot of beautiful 1960 wooden furniture which I love and would hate to think someone will paint nasty colours when I am gone.I really love watching you work it’s so peaceful most utube programs have such loud horrible music it’s nicer without the noise. Thank you for being you!! Kind regards Christine x
You're welcome Christine!
Thank you for this video, Tom. I really appreciate you detailing that you would wait a few months before putting the wax finish on it to let it cure fully. Sometimes the "magic" of RUclips can make it seem like the process is very compressed in time! Please keep making these videos - I'm sure there are quite a few of us out here in the ether who learn so much from you! Take care.
Thanks! That's the purpose of my entry in the morning with a coffee cup - so people realize how many days are going by
Your videos are the best! They’re educational, relaxing, and positive! Thank you Tom Johnson
You're very welcome!
So glad this piece ended up in your expert hands to get the treatment it deserves rather than ending up on land fill. It looks beautiful now. Loads of character.
Thanks Ian! I agree!
You are a magician with your furniture restoration skills! Always stoked when I watch a new video of yours. Coffee table turned out perfectly
Thanks!
Love the lane mid-century and this one is now amazing! Thank you Mr. Johnson.. We used 6' clamps also when hubby made my pie chest, blanket chest but didn't need it on the side tables. I really miss the woodworking we used to do.
Thanks! You can't do woodworking anymore? That's too bad
Greetings from Finland. Beautiful Vintage table. I really like your videos. Every time I learn something new.
Thank you Anne! I learn something every time I make a video!
I really like the contrast between the light ash and darker walnut, very striking! Also the large dovetails, I hadn’t seen that before! Got a chuckle from the pizza box, thought for sure you were going to say hot cup of coffee! Pretty beautiful imho! 👌👍💕💕
Thanks Bobbie! Yes, there's something about those dovetails...even though they're fake!
You made its beauty come to life. Thanks Mr. Johnson.
You're welcome Mandy!
It's so interesting to see what pieces are coming out of your backstock of furniture, and the nuances of how you treat different styles of furniture.
Thanks! Yes, every job is different!
Don't show the table to the people who discarded it. They will want it back. Thank you for saving this table. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and stay safe.🙂🙂
You are very welcome! I fantasize about them seeing it!
That was half an hour well spent! You sir are a true craftsman. That table looks stunning! I hope you'll revisit it in six months so we can see how it looks after the wax finish.
Thanks once again for the metric measures also, it really helps! And your pizza box line did make me chuckle! Purrs from my two cats to yours!
Thanks! I appreciate it - and so do Orion and Veronica!
Wow Thomas, you really brought that piece back from oblivion. The veneer on the top now is now glorious indeed.
It is! Thanks
That is a beautiful table now. Respect for design and lovely wood contrast.
Thank you!
An awesome job to save the history of humanity, GOD BLESS YOU.
Thank you!
Of all the youtube restorers i enjoy you the most. Your skills with furniture are so obvious. Its a result of years of experience and theres no way to rush that. Thanks for sharing. The table looks gorgeous 😍
Agree 100%!
Thank you Anna! That's nice
Thanks!
Yet another great restoration. I was waiting for you to address that corner that had been repaired by somebody in the past, but all in all it was a joy to watch you do your magic. Thank you for the video.
You're welcome!
Beautiful restauration that took a few pints of elbow grease. The table looks gorgeous. Thank you for sharing.
You're so welcome!
Love me some Thomas Johnson.. incredible workmanship. ❤
Thank you Gail!
A beautiful job and a great video. You show how patience and being gentle with wood results with a great piece of furniture. Thank you.
You're welcome Debbie!
I just LOVE this table! As far as modern furniture goes, this style really suits me! I love the contrast between the dove tail trim and the main table top area! The legs remind me of the legs on my Grandma's old Zenith television set from around 1962! Very "Jetsons" in its taper design! I love that you have other pieces of this style furniture, Tom! I just enjoy the look and functionality of it so much! Very 20th Century vintage, and extremely nostalgic! It's a gem!
Thanks Wallace! Yes the design seems timeless!
@@johnsonrestoration It really is! A great design for sure! You can call me Loston, by the way. It's an unusual first name, but it's my real name. lol.
Regardless, it's always a treasure to see one of your videos. You're so skilled, and I love the way you approach furniture restoration. You're just an amazingly skilled restorer, and a terrific presenter. No doubt you'd be an excellent instructor/teacher. I feel like I've learned a lot of insight from you over the years. Thanks so much for sharing you abilities with us!
I remember those pieces from my teenage years. My aunt and uncle had a set. You put that piece back in action. What a beauty!
Thanks Tom!
I love Mid century Modern my mother had some but my friends mother had a whole dining room that I loved. You brought that table back to life and I love what you did.
Thanks! I love rescuing MCM furniture
The cleanliness and organisation of the workshop and the use of appropriate PPE is the sign of a professional. Very soothing to watch!
Thanks! That's nice
I like watching you work on beautiful classic pieces, but love the rescues as well!
Thanks Bobby! It's always very satisfying to rescue something!
I always like your presentations. Sometimes I watch them in the middle of the night when I'm trying to get back to sleep. They are meditative. A couple of years ago I was doing chemotherapy and although weak, I refinished a chest of drawers for my girlfriend with all of your Recommended solvents and tung oil. Every time I look at it, it is a symbol of recovery!
Thanks Chip! That is so good to hear! I'm glad you've recovered
thanks Thomas for all your advice- it has helped me in my job many times- love the "yankee" in you for reusing things which saves money time and the environment!
You're welcome Tony! Yes, why not reuse things?
And all done without a random orbit sander, buckets of stain or mineral paint… Lovely work 👍
Thanks! My orbital sander spends a lot of time on the shelf!
since I have seen you work on so much Victorian and older furniture; I was surprised to see you working on a piece of Mid-Century modern! TM long time viewer
Thanks! I work on whatever comes through the door! I yell out:"Next!"
Great workmanship. My first bedroom set in the early sixties was Brasilia style in walnut. Sold it when I moved to Florida. Now I wish I kept the set.
Thanks Barbara! There are so many things that we wish we had hung onto!
Hallo Tom, das ist wieder ein sehr interessantes und unterhaltsames Video. Eine sehr schöne Arbeit, der Tisch hat es verdient. Es war wieder ein Erlebnis, Danke 👍👏☺️ . Ich wünsche dir ein schönes Wochenende viele Grüße aus Magdeburg Christel
Danke Christel! Wir haben ein schönes Wochenende, das Wetter war großartig! Und das hoffe ich auch für Sie
Hi Tom, nice to have another fab video of yours to watch it really is a treat when I see you've uploaded something new. I was just two months old when this gorgeous table was made. I can't believe it was just dumped. So glad you saved it. Hope all is well with you both. 😊 take care. Kate x
Thank you Kate!
Awesome Tom! An internet search finds the Lane table to be worth around $1500 ... Nice find!
Not Bad! But this one has that damaged corner so less but still...
Had a hectic day and wanted to watch something to relax. Thomas Johnson’s workshop was the perfect to go .. so peaceful and artistic 💕
That's so nice - thanks!
I had my 7th birthday a day after that piece was made, and I think it's weathered the years better than I have.
😄
Maybe time for an overhaul?
Every wood surface in my house has a coaster under it. And anybody that tries to put a hot pizza box, *wood* get tossed out the door. Excellent job Tom!
A coaster UNDER it?? UNDER every wood surface? English is not my first language so I’m not sure if I understand you right or wrong.
Thanks! Not a bad idea, but it all depends on your "room mates"
Thanks! I feel like he meant every top has coasters available for hot and wet objects
I'm glad Tom Johnson, of Thomas Johnson Antique Furniture Restoration in Gorham, Maine, found this before someone else did.. Classsic MCM piece, and easy to spot if you know a little bit about vintage MCM furniture.
Thanks! Yes, I am glad too
Beautifully done, Mr. Johnson. Thank you for sharing.
You are very welcome!
Murphys before Howards: Every July for 4 years now I routinely wax all wood furniture and fixtures with Howards Feed and Wax. This year for the first time, I cleaned the kitchen cabinets first with Murphys Wood Cleaner, then wax with Howards Feed and Wax. Wow, real silky, beautiful finish that is holding up fine after many months. Replaced the plastic door/draw pulls with black metal pulls and backing plates. They seem to better protect the wood from finger marks. The cabinets are 20 years old, and with this annual treatment they should look good as new for another 20.
Thanks Jerry! That sounds amazing - good job!
We had this model of coffee table in our house growing up - my parents bought it in the early 60s and now I have it and the matching end table. The only difference between this table and ours is that the table is uniformly brown - the edge is not lighter colored as in this model in the video. Thanks for saving this wonderful coffee table.
Thanks Michael! That's interesting! I know that the ash is too light on this one - maybe I should have stained it a bit
Hey Tom
Another "future" project off of the list, turned out great.
Happy Weekend and Take Care😊
Thanks, you too!
I found the same coffee table and two tier end tables on garbage day too. The coffee table is in my living room right now❤
Love it!! I had a 2 tiered End table too! Good find!
Hi Tom. The Lane Acclaim pieces have always been a favorite of mine. I am so glad you brought this piece back to a glorious refinish!! It looks pretty good to me too!!
Thanks! I sure like this line of furniture!
Two end tables and coffee table were in the trash and a mess. After my restoration, a very beautiful pieces of furniture. Love this style now.
Wow! 3 at once? What a find!
Such beautiful furniture
Thanks Jean! Yes, very nice line of furniture
No room on the table of equipment and products for those kings of the clamps 🤣. What a delightful table . Love the clean lines and contrasting timbers. It does look pretty good.
Thanks Alison! Truthfully, I forgot the clamps!
What a great "fix" for this lovely little piece. As always, your skills did the trick.
Thank you very much!
Thomas, when I watch your videos I sometimes spot containers that I haven't seen for years or products that either are no longer around or have had updated advertising. It makes me smile 😉 because at 71 I remember them as I was growing up or early on in young adulthood. Nice memories of simpler times gone by me thinks. Thank you for bringing us along and doing such masterful work. Take care and be blessed. John here, photographing the back-roads of Northeastern Tennessee.
Thanks John! Yes, I love the old cans, they bring back memories
Oh my…we had that exact table when I was a kid! This brings back so many memories. Thanks for saving another beautiful piece!
Edit: Wish I could find one for myself.
Thanks Robin! There seems to be a lot for sale on line!
I’m still a newbie and you made this one approachable that it gives me the confidence to make an attempt at a few pieces I have in the home here.
Appreciate all you do
That's great! Good luck!
Being midcentury modern myself I really like this table. It looks pretty good!
Thanks! No wonder we all like mid-century! I hadn't thought of that myself! I was born in "51, can't get more mid-century than that
i love that line of Lane furniture. One of the channels i watch has been lucky in finding quite a few of them in Wisconsin
Thanks! They must have made a lot of it!
Enjoyed the video Tom. I inherited that same table and an end table from my grandparents in the 90s. The coffee table is my barn. I visited the Lane factory in Altavista Virginia back in the early 2000's. It had already closed and was sad to see. It was like a ghost town. I'm glad you showed how to read the date. The table looks really good. Thank you for the time you take in producing the videos. You all take care and God bless.
Thanks Ron! I hope it's well protected in your barn! It is nice furniture. Lane must have moved their operati0ns overseas I guess
ash and walnut contrast is striking. nice patient work brother
Thanks! They do look good together!
Thanks for this video, Tom! For me it is very interesting because I had never before heard of this maker. I am from Europe and only know the beautiful Danish teak furniture from the mid century.
Thanks Claudia! And this line of furniture was designed by a Dutchman - so definitely a European influence
A true master of his craft.
Thank you!
Another super job, an absolute privilege to watch such craftsmanship and care, many many thanks with best wishes from England
You're welcome Alan!
Such beauty! So glad you gave it a rescue.
Thanks! Me too
A real shame that people throw away furniture like this. Some think everything is disposable. Fortunately Tom found this table and revived it!
Thanks! We'll never know how it ended up on the lawn!
I had this same table for many years, really enjoyed the simple lines//structure. It did have the Lane stamp on the underside. Great find and save Tom, looks beautiful.
Thanks! They are nice!
I love saving old pieces from the trash. If it doesn’t fit your style you can always donate to someone in need. Win win!! 🐝
Exactly! I donate stuff to The Restore (Habitat for Humanity)
I love your attention to detail in all
your projects.
Thank you!
Oh wow!!! What a find. I hadn’t heard this furniture makers name before. Very cool.
It was destined for you to find it, store it and hone your skills to restore it years later. ( I am simplifying your story and legacy)
Once again a magnificent result of your craftsmanship.
Cheers
Thanks so much!
An iconic table and they are a challenge to repair, considering the seeming simplicity of construction. The veneer is literally paper thin on later pieces. I was holding my breath, convinced that you were going to burn through it! In terms of colour, contrast and lustre, that LOOKS like the Lane factory finish, and without a whole lot of toning needed, so that was clearly the right choice for the finish.
Thanks! Yes, that's why I was making a point of being careful. I was hoping the ash would be a little darker but I'm confident that will happen over time
Thank you. Thoroughly enjoy learning from your process. Thank you for sharing your years of experience and your tips. I wondered what worked best for cleaning the glue syringes. Thank you again. You’ve helped me enjoy my hobby of refinishing. It’s very relaxing to me.
Thanks! The epoxy cleans up readily with denatured alcohol, that is, before it's started to set!
Love your knowledge. I've learned so much from watching your videos. Thanks again. Meticulous craftsmanship.
You're so welcome Lynn!