Repairs to the Wheelchair

Things are moving along with the wheelchair refurbishing. There was a wood repair to do and a bit of gluing.

 

We bought some DAP  natural colored wood filler.  There are quite a few colors on the market, but this wood is so faded from drying out, it couldn't be matched.  I have some stain pens and would try to match, or at least disguise it after it dried.   I filled the gap.  I did it again the next morning.  When there is a deep hole to fill, sometimes the filler sinks in and you need to add a bit more.  That is what happened for me and why you should wait over night before you move to the next step.

 

For me the next step was to try to match the color.  It is hard to do, because I am not sure what the color will be after I put on a few coats of Tung Oil.  It will darken and add some golden highlights to the wood.  It looks like oak to me, but I am no expert.  I used the stain pens and the wiped it.  I sanded and added more.  I dipped my finger in some sanding dust and rubbed it in and sanded a bit more. 

 

The repair is in the far right corner.  There is no magic formula.  I just played around with what I had and hoped for the best.  If you get it the wrong color on the stainable filler, you can sand it down to the filler and start over.  Just don't get any stain on the wood.  That is harder to remove.  After the cane goes back in I may even cover the seat with a pillow, so that repair will be invisible anyway!

I didn't fill all the gaps in the wood.  I do not want to make a new and perfect chair.  I want to repair the damage and protect it, but leave the parts that make this an old chair that has been used over the years.

 

The next repair is to a big split in the wood.  Lee and I got out the Gorilla Glue and some C clamps.  Always use a bit of wood to use between the C clamps and the wood you are gluing. 

 

The clamps can leave a dent in the wood you are trying to fix otherwise.

 

At this point I should mention that you need to read the instructions first.  There is a small print mention about wearing rubber gloves while using Gorilla Glue.  It can stain the skin.  And they mean it.  Read the instructions.

 

It's wearing off and I know it isn't permanent, but still...

Now I have to scrape off the dried glue and do a few more reapairy things and then I can start using the Tung Oil. 

 

There is a lot of metal that needs to have the rust sanded or wire brushed off.  That is next on the list.  While the finish dries between the three coats of Tung Oil I plan to use.

Not so far along as I thought.

Great Grandmother's Wheelchair

My cousin moved a few years ago and Lee and I went to help.  She had an old broken wheelchair under her house and she offered it to me.  It seems it was my great grandmother's.  My Aunt was there helping and remembers using it to push other kids up and down the sidewalk in front of their Ashland, Kentucky home.  No mention was made as to whether this was appreciated by the one that needed a wheelchair!

 

On the underside of the foot rest is a name and address.  I believe it is my grandmother's house in Ashland.  I can't read the name.

We brought it home and set it aside.  I can fix a lot in the way of furniture, but this is wicker and cane.  I don't know nothin' about birthin' no...I mean wicker.  Or cane.  I discovered the cane can be purchased in sheets and is kept in place with a wicker spline.  Sort of like replacing a screen.  But I didn't want to attempt it.

 

At one point, to surprise me as a gift, Lee took it to a place that said they could fix it.  Many months later they called and asked him to come get it.  They weren't doing that any more!  The Factory Antique Mall has a lady inside that WILL repair wicker.  We took the chair up there recently for an estimate and discovered it was going to cost a LOT of money. 

 

I have an appreciation of family pieces, so I do want to get it fixed.  But I decided to do some of the work myself to save a bit.  The wood had been painted at some time in the past.  Most of the paint was gone and what was there was either flaky or stubbornly stuck on.  The wood is dry and cracked.  I used a soft brush to get rid of the worst of the flakes on the canes.

 

I removed the broken cane in the seat and leg support.  I used a small screwdriver to pry up an end of the cane and then used needle nose pliers to pull it out.  It was very dry and brittle and everything came out in pieces.  This made it easier to get to the wood behind the seat area and it would have to go anyway. 

 

Notice the pink tools.  This was in self defense when the tools kept in the house for my use ended up out in the shop.  It's a long walk to the shop when I just need to tighten a screw.  So I asked for, and got, pink tools.  No one ever mistakes them for manly, shop type tools.

I used a power sander to get a lot of the paint off.  I started with 150 grit and finished with 220 grit.  Small wire brushes helped me get to the areas close to the wicker that I didn't want to damage.  Then I used the sand paper in my hand.

 

Lee took off the wheels and all the metal holding everything together.  He, or I, will use steel wool or sandpaper to strip off the rust and smooth out the black chipped paint.  But he left these on.  I used a Dremel moto-tool to grind off the rust and will spray all the metal parts with a flat black paint.

 

I am not trying to remove all the patina from years of use.  Just make it strong and preserve it.  There are a few damaged places I will need to fill with a wood filler.  There are some places that are cracked or joints that are coming loose.   I will use glue and clamps.  But I am dirty and tired and it will wait for tomorrow! 

 

My big decision is whether to use Danish Oil on the wood or Tung Oil.  Danish oil will soak in and be good for the wood.  Tung oil will also add a hard surface to protect it.  But chances are it wouldn't have been used back in my great grandmother's day.

 

Any experts out there with a suggestion?