Clock Case Care
I am not a wood worker by hobby or trade even though I am a horoligist. I do have some suggestions and tips that will enhance and prolong the finish of your clock. The one basic rule for any antique is do not refinish the piece! Now, this isn't always true because there are some cases of the finish is so too damaged, so the value is next to nothing. Unless a person is experienced in refinishing, I wouldn't suggest a layman to attempt it on their prized clock or any other antique! If in doubt, there are businesses that specialize in refinishing antiques back to its original state.
CLEANING THE FINISH A cleaner should be applied first to remove the years of grime, dust and grease. Clock Wise has tried several different brands and found that some clean certain surfaces well, while others work on a different surface. I have no preference to any certain product since they all work well.
LUBRICATING THE WOOD FINISH Wood will dry out and become brittle with age. An oil should be applied once or twice a year to put moisture and oils back in the wood. There are many products ranging from lemon scented oil to some very pricey oils. The important thing is to oil the wood finish occasionally!
Don't just oil the clock case! All types of wood from furniture to picture frames need to be lubricated!
RESTORING THE SHINE Varnish or some other clear finish product may be too much to apply on an antique finish and devalue the piece. There are several products that can restore a shine to a faded finish. These products leave a thin coating of clear finish that can bring the life back into a faded, scratched wood finish. Just one or two coats, following instructions, and several decades of wear are gone. Consult an expert in refinishing and/or antiques before attempting this! In some cases this can also devalue an antique if done incorrectly.
BLACK FINISHED CLOCK CASES I am unclear as to a proper method to restoring or enhancing black finishes. A cleaner for wood finishes can be applied, and a regular clear oil may be applied to the case. A soft cloth should be used to remove any excess oil after application. I have found that certain black wood stains can hide chips and nicks in the black finish. I neat little trick is to apply black shoe polish and rub gently with a soft cloth to bring to a nice shine. These are just temporary case enhancements and I do not recommend them, but they do work!
NOTE: All customer clocks that come to Clock Wise receive a light coat of Old English wood oil and treatment. I prefer Old English because it is unscented, puts oils and lubrication back into the wood, and also has a color staining in the oil that can hide small scratches and abrasions. Old English comes in two colors, one for dark wood stain and the other in a light wood stain.
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