From a bygone era where durability as well as aesthetic appeal informed the creation of furniture, there may be remnants passed down through the generations that could use repair or an upgraded façade. While a seemingly daunting task, refinishing, refurbishing, and otherwise beautifying antique chairs, tables and the like can be simple, safe (with the proper precautions), and fun. The experts at Morin’s Fine Furniture & Refinishing, 100 years in existence over four generations relay some basic information that could help with restoration projects and offer their services to the community.
About Our Experts
Rowan Morin started Morin’s Furniture and Refinishing in Auburn in 1925, one century ago. Morin passed the company to his son-in-law Jim Betsch in the 1960s, who likewise willed it to his daughter, Cathy Raynor, in the late 1990s. David Muise, an entrepreneur and avid woodworker, found he and Raynor shared a fascination with antique furniture restoration. Muise purchased the business in August of 2024, and Raynor remains on, still doing much of what she has done since she worked beside her previous generations.
DIY!
Anyone that has an interest in refinishing an item, for your own use or to ‘flip’ the item for profit, should try it, according to Muise.
“If you have a piece of furniture that’s broken or you’d like a different finish on it, and you are interested, give it a try!” entreats Muise. “The stopping point will be where you begin to have frustration — if you’ve been at it for a while and you feel like you’ve reached your limit, take it to a professional.”
According to Muise, with solid wood items, there’s nothing one could do that a professional won’t be able to fix. Muise does add the caveat that if it’s a very expensive antique, one should probably leave the work to the experts. Also, with their many joined parts, chairs are more challenging to refinish. Any wide, flat surfaces such as dressers, tables of all sorts, and desks are great to work on on your own.
“There are so few things, like the dirt on the ground, or trees, that have been on this earth so long as these antique pieces,” Muise maintains. “Designing it, shaping it, coloring it, preserving it, having some of your DNA in it — your relationship to it becomes a part of the story of that piece.”
Found Objects
Even simple chairs and tables from the past have innate value and can be restored to their original finery.
“If it’s made of real wood, don’t throw it away,” advises Muise. “To replace a solid wood item costs a fortune, and a newer replacement product has inferior quality than older items.”
Many times, someone’s discarded furniture could be a diamond in the rough, with a bit of elbow grease and the right creative mindset.
“Go to the transfer station, thrift shops, a yard sale, even the side of the road at times,” directs Muise. “If it’s made out of solid wood, you can make it look beautiful.”
Advice
Always forthcoming with guidance for the do-it-yourself’er, Raynor and Muise have some basic information to relate.
“Start a relationship with a trusted provider of products,” says Muise. “Lewiston Paint And Wallpaper have my highest recommendation — they can tell you exactly what you will need.”
The right equipment for restoration work can be somewhat costly, but according to the experts, it will save money in the long run. Muise suggests a budget of four to five hundred dollars.
“You will want water-based stripper, card scrapers, high-grit scotch, clamps, a deadweight hammer, and possibly an orbital sander,” advises Muise. “Using the right kind of sandpaper — 3M, Festool, or Mirka are decent brands — will save you time and money.”
Process
The folks at Morin’s advocate the use of Savogran Strypeeze (TM), a specialty product obtainable at Lewiston Paint and Wallpaper, to remove any old paint or varnish from the project.
“You apply it to your furniture, then wait – you must be patient – until you see the paint bubbling,” Muise instructs. “Then you can use a credit card or a plastic joint compound knife to scrape off the finish.”
Using a water-based stain or urethane enamel is what Morin’s recommends with which to paint furniture, and most can be found in simple spray cans.
“Apply your stain first, then sanding sealer, then your finish coat, often a lacquer,” says Muise. “Using rattle-cans, instead of splurging for an expensive paint sprayer gun, is the most economical solution.”
Some tools and products necessary to refinish furniture require safety precautions. Muise warns of possible hazards from not having a sufficient airflow in the workspace, such as basements.
“The stripping products can cause harm to eyes, skin, and lungs, so you have to have proper ventilation,” says Muise. “A garage with a door you can raise for air passage is a perfect space for it.”
One-of-a-Kind
Morin’s has seen thousands of truly unique projects, with new challenges particular to each.
“About 15 years back, we restored a full grand Steinway piano from 1868,” recalls Raynor. “I was a little stressed out at first, but went to my father for some advice. He guided me in the right direction, and the client was very happy.”
Raynor, Muise, and the other artisans at Morin’s hold a reverence for the history behind the items they repair and enhance.
“We are working on a set of shutters, made from cedar, from the 1800s – completely taking them apart, replacing slats, applying period-appropriate paint and finish, and then they will return to their original house in Bath,” Muise avows. “Over 200 years ago those shutters were getting made by hand, now we get to work on them all over again.”
Information
The folks at Morin’s are always willing to be a resource when projects arise. Their Pepperell Mill space has an area that they plan to use to teach night classes in furniture repurposing and refinishing in the coming years.
“There’s so many directions to go in that could be wrong – there’s a lot of misinformation on the Internet, so many potholes to get into,” Raynor admonishes. “If there’s any part of the process we can advise people on, we will – just give us a call if you have any questions.”
Morin’s Furniture Finishing and Restoration
Lewiston | 207.782.7511
by Michael Krapovicky | photography by Jose Leiva
Michael is a freelance writer and musician from Auburn. He graduated from the University of Maine at Presque Isle in 1999 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts.
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He has submitted stories and articles for various publications, and performs throughout New England as a solo guitarist and bassist. Michael enjoys traveling, hiking, and spending leisure time with family and friends.