Primas Dry Ice Blasting July 2017 - Capability Statement - Restoring A Water & Acid Damaged Antique Teak Table, Perth, WA.

CONTEXT

​Primas Dry Ice Blasting was instructed by an antique collector to restore a table made from golden teak. The table was over 200 years old and had great personal and historical significance to the owner. 

SITUATION 

​Over the last couple of decades the table had had a number of coats of timber stain applied to it. Recently the table had been exposed to the elements, had suffered significant water damage and was covered with moss and lichen. On discovering the table's poor condition the owner sent it to be repaired by professional antique furniture restorers. The restorers tried to remove the timber stain firstly by sanding the table back. Due to the many crenellations in the teak sanding did not remove much of the stain. Next the restorers tried to remove the stain using a strong acid wash, however, this process was also unsuccessful.

ACTION

​Primas Dry Ice Blasting analysed the golden teak surfaces and identified that according to the Janka hardness test it would withstand dry ice blasting treatment without sustaining damage. Using very mild settings and blasting techniques, Primas Dry Ice Blasting restored the table's surfaces in preparation for the application of a shellac used on antique furniture. 

RESULT 

​The timber stain and acid wash etching was efficiently and effectively removed without causing any damage to the golden teak surfaces. The stain was also removed from the many nooks and crannies in the wood's surface. To remove stain from these areas using hand tools would have been an extremely laborious and time consuming process. Careful use of dry ice blasting successfully restored the damaged table and saved a significant amount of cleaning time and expense.