Browse Forums Finishing Touch 1 Sep 22, 2009 1:57 pm Our outdoor furniture is looking very neglected, after a year and a half in a rental with inadequate shelter. Now that the warmer weather is approaching (not that you'd know it today! ), and we have plans for lots of BBQs, I need to do something about it. We have a hardwood table and a couple of hardwood armchairs, and those have always had twice-yearly applications of oil - up until we moved the first time anyway. Now, they're looking filthy, faded and generally awful. That's a job for the weekend.... My biggest issue is our director's chairs. The frames are fine - or will be with a bit of cleaning) but the fabric has faded and is so filthy, I wouldn't even sit on it in my oldest clothes. They used to be navy. Now they're ...well, if Dulux had this colour, I think it'd be called Putrid Grey. The seats and backs are padded, and they were a good quality set I bought from Myer some years ago, so I'm not inclined to chuck them and shell out $$ for replacements. Especially when we have so many other things still to spend our cash on. I may get away with washing and reversing the seats, because the fabric underneath is pretty good, but the backs are almost terminal. So.... I'm about to try my hand at fabric dyeing. I have some of this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ ....but the instructions are for a top-loading washing machine and we have a front loader. So thanks to Google, I have this guide: http://www.wikihow.com/Dye-Fabric-Using-a-Front-Loading-Washing-Machine Let's see what happens. I'll post photos when I'm done, which may not be for a few days. Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 2Sep 22, 2009 9:08 pm Just in case anyone else wants to try their hand at dyeing fabric in a front-loader, it works a treat. Only... DO NOT add two cups of bleach to clean the machine afterwards, no matter what the instructions might say. Bleach goes all foamy and oozes out everywhere. A bit less would be a good idea.... So far, so good. Now to let everything dry. Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 3Sep 23, 2009 8:04 pm Hahahaha! Can't wait to see the photos! 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 4Sep 24, 2009 4:55 pm Yeah, the bleach thing was really funny. .....NOT. Oh well, the washing machine is nice and clean and so's the floor. I'm still going.... scrubbed all the chair frames this morning, and I'm waiting for the seats and backs to dry before putting everything back together. I need to get a canvas needle and some thick thread to re-anchor the padding in a few spots. Today I've sanded our table and a couple of armchairs, and applied a coat of oil. Tomorrow I'll do the second coat and hopefully by Saturday everything should be ready to test out with a BBQ. Except the weather looks like being rubbish.... Photos will be forthcoming on the weekend. Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 6Sep 24, 2009 5:13 pm Great idea to rejuvinate the existing setting rather than tossing it out and buying new (which is what a lot of people would do). Looking forward to seeing the pics too Blog: http://bluemistkids.blogspot.com "Never be afraid to try something new. Remember, amateurs built the ark, and professionals built the Titanic." Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 7Sep 24, 2009 7:46 pm Hels Great idea to rejuvinate the existing setting rather than tossing it out and buying new (which is what a lot of people would do). It's more necessity than natural thrift, Hels. I want my rear landscaping done, my Roman blinds on the bifolds, drapes in the lounge, new beds for the kids, and an entire re-do of our lounge, dining and family room furniture. But thanks to the GFC, we're focusing on reducing debt (we're not affected at all really, just ultra-cautious ) rather than spending every cent we have.... and some we don't have. So some things just have to be done on the cheap. Oh well, I get to practice all those skills I learned in the Girl Guides. Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 8Sep 24, 2009 7:55 pm Kek I think it's awesome that you are freshening it up, there needs to be more of this kind of thing, I'm very frustrated by the throw away society we have become. I was reading in the paper today that more people are happier since the GFC came about as they are spending time at home and doing more homely type things as families - if it means that people are happier and spend more quality time together, I think that's a great side effect. 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 9Sep 24, 2009 8:45 pm lisanne Kek I think it's awesome that you are freshening it up, there needs to be more of this kind of thing, I'm very frustrated by the throw away society we have become. I was reading in the paper today that more people are happier since the GFC came about as they are spending time at home and doing more homely type things as families - if it means that people are happier and spend more quality time together, I think that's a great side effect. Yay for me! And you know, all this scrubbing and sanding and so on is very therapeutic. Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 10Sep 26, 2009 7:24 pm It took a bit of mucking around, but I'm pretty happy with the result:
Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ That's a big improvement on this: Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Some of the stitching that anchored the padding to the fabric had disintegrated over the years, and I really should have fixed that first. But being impatient, I just got on with the dyeing.... and of course, the agitating motion of the washing machine caused the loose padding to twist inside the covers. *sigh* So I had to unpick a section of stitching on three of the backs so I could reach in and straighten the padding, then use a canvas needle and strong thread to replace the missing stitches, then get the sewing machine out and stitch up the sections I'd unpicked. It wasn't as bad to do as I thought - it took me about 20 minutes all up. And when I pulled the seats off, I discovered that the underside wasn't faded at all, so those just got a hand wash and I flipped them over. Cost breakdown: One bottle of liquid dye - I bought it two years ago I think it was about $9. One tin of Cabot's Outdoor Furniture Oil - $27.95 One canvas needle - $2.95 (had to buy a packet of assorted needles ) One spool of upholstery thread - $5.95 (ripoff! ) All up: $45.85 Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Definitely worth it - the setting looks close to brand new. Roll on Summer! Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 11Sep 26, 2009 7:35 pm It looks really great Kek, you should be very proud 'A bottle of wine contains more philosophy than all the books in the world.' Louis Pasteur Vegie garden: viewtopic.php?f=19&t=27637&start=0 My Backyard Adventure Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 13Sep 27, 2009 12:12 pm It's a pity we haven't been able to give it a test run yet. The weather is appalling - way too cold and windy and wet to be outdoors. And the cold air temperature is affecting the drying time of the oil too. Normally, it would be usable within 24 hours, but it still hadn't soaked in completely yesterday afternoon. I had big plans for a BBQ last night, and then bacon and eggs cooked on the barbie this morning. Ha! The only thing that I'm not entirely happy with is that Bunnings no longer stock Organoil, which is what I've always used. I love the finish it gives, but more importantly, it actually smells pleasant. It has citrus, eucalypt and pine oils in it, although I think the main ingredient is tung oil. The Cabot's has done a good job, but it stinks. It has that horrible oil-based paint smell to it. Blah. Has anyone seen Organoil around Melbourne? If I can find it, I'll stock up for future needs... Like ⋅ Add a comment ⋅ Pin to Ideaboard ⋅ Re: Reviving old outdoor furniture 14Sep 29, 2009 4:51 pm wow! looks great enjoy the summer in your "new" outdoor setting Thanks for letting us know. The programmer will have a look at this later today. 2 6793 About a year ago, I embarked on a DIY project to construct an outdoor Pergola, which measures approximately 5.2 meters by 4.0… 0 29712 Natural stone tiles like slate, travertine, and limestone add a timeless, elegant look to… 0 26498 |