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  • Shaker Rocking-Chair Kit: Selecting and Applying the Finish
  • From "Woodworking"
    episode DIW-206
    advertisement

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Subtly colored milk paint -- or paint created from natural, organic materials -- were almost always used on authentic Shaker creations.

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Figure A

    Click here to view a larger image.

    Figure B

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    Figure C

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    Figure D

    Historically, the Shakers preferred a natural look and protected wooden furniture with clear linseed oil, although sometimes they used paint. Although the kit Johnson uses comes with a choice of stain color, he chose milk paint for its more authentic patina.

    Complete plans and kit for the Shaker Rocking Chair in Bruce Johnson's demonstration can be purchased from the Shaker Workshops.

    Materials:

    Powdered milk paint
    Water
    Stir stick
    Foam brush
    Clear acrylic latex aerosol spray

    1. Add water to powdered milk paint and stir well (figure A). Mix enough paint to do entire project, as milk paint cannot be stored, and use of a second batch could cause inconsistent color.

    2. Apply the paint mixture with an inexpensive foam brush (figure B). Apply the water-based paint -- which dries very quickly -- indoors or in the shade.

    3. Be sure to cover the entire chair, taking care to coat the undersides of all pieces for protection.

    4. After the paint has dried, use a synthetic pad to buff the surface and create an antique patina (figure C).

    5. Avoid using clear polyurethane to seal the painted, buffed surface -- its amber tint can alter the color of the milk paint. Instead, spray clear acrylic latex over the surface for extra protection (figure D)

    6. Allow piece to dry thoroughly.

    Sponsored Resource
    > Click here to order your tools and materials for this project from Woodcraft!


    RESOURCES :
    Shaker Rocking Chair Kit
    Model: F151
    Shaker Workshops
    Ashburnham, MA 01430-8001
    Fax: (978) 827-6554
    Email: shaker@shakerworkshops.com
    Website: www.shakerworkshops.com

    Making Authentic Shaker Furniture: With Measured Drawings of Museum Classics
    Model: 0486270033
    Author: John G. Shea
    Dover Publications Inc.
    Website: www.doverpublications.com

    How to Build Shaker Furniture
    Model: 080697267X
    Author: Thomas Moser
    Sterling Publishing Co. Inc.
    Website: www.sterlingpub.com

    Shop Drawings of Shaker Furniture and Woodenware: Measured Drawings, Vol. 1
    Model: 0936399171
    Author: Ejner Handberg
    Berkshire House Publishers
    Lee, MA 01238
    Phone: 413-243-0303
    Fax: 413-243-4737
    Email: info@berkshirebooks.com
    Website: www.berkshirebooks.com

    Illustrated Guide to Shaker Furniture
    Model: 0486228193
    Author: Robert F.W. Meader
    Dover Publications Inc.
    Website: www.doverpublications.com

    The Shaker Legacy: Perspectives on an Enduring Furniture Style
    Model: 156158357X
    Author: Christian Becksvoort
    The Taunton Press Inc.
    Website: www.taunton.com

    The Art of Woodworking: Shaker Furniture
    Model: 0809495333
    Author: Kenneth Winchester (Editor) , et al
    Time Life Books
    Website: www.timelife.com

    Building Chairs
    Model: 0809495252
    Author: Time Life Video

    The Woodworker's Guide to Furniture Design: The Complete Reference. . .
    Model: 155870437X
    Author: Garth Graves
    Betterway Books (F & W Publications)
    Website: www.fwpublications.com


    Woodworking Techniques: Best Methods for Building Furniture from Fine Woodworking
    Author: Editors of Fine Woodworking magazine
    Publisher: Taunton Press
    ISBN: 1561583456

    In the Shaker Style: Building Furniture Inspired by the Shaker Tradition
    Model: 1561583960
    Author: Fine Woodworking, Tim Schreiner (Introduction)
    The Taunton Press Inc.
    Website: www.taunton.com

    American Style: Shaker, Mission and Country Projects
    Model: 0783559534
    Author: Editors of Time Life Books
    Time Life Books
    Website: www.timelife.com

    Shaker Style: Form, Function, and Furniture
    Model: 0762407190
    Author: Sharon Duane Koomler
    Running Press
    Philadelphia, PA 19104
    Phone: 215-877-1733
    Fax: 800-453-2884
    Email: support@runningpress.com

    Shaker Museum and Library
    Shaker Museum and Library
    Old Chatham, NY 12136
    Phone: (518) 794-9100
    Website: shakermuseumandlibrary.org

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