Reader's Digest Interactive

Jul 7, 2009

Articles

Vintage Revival

Words by Frank Gardner and Main Picture by Sue Ferris

From Australian Handyman Magazine

Bring an old beauty back to life for the cost of a tin of paint.
Download Vintage Revival PDF

This western red cedar sunlounger had been neglected, slowly deteriorating over 30 years of being exposed to the elements. The glue and copper nails had let go so it was literally falling apart, and one hardwood wheel axle was badly worn. Surprisingly, the cedar was still in solid condition, which made it worth putting in the effort of a makeover. It cost just $43 for the paint and another $10 for materials including abrasive paper and screws – much less than the cost of buying a stylish new sunlounger.

Before

Ready for the dump? The sunlounger had definitely seen better days.

STEP 1

Remove the slats
For a thorough restoration it was necessary to remove all the slats, which were prised off with a claw hammer. The flathead copper nails were removed from the slats and the adjustable arms of the back were unbolted from the frame..

STEP 2

Dismantle the wheels
For easier sanding, the timber wheels were removed by tapping out the tapered locking pin on one side of each axle. The drinks tray was removed from its runners and the aluminium support prop for the back unclipped.

STEP 3

Sand the components
Every component of the sunlounger was sanded with 80-grit abrasive paper, then 240-grit. Edges were slightly rounded, holes were filled with putty and a small split in the timber was filled with two-part filler before being sanded.

STEP 4

Undercoat and paint
A white, acrylic sealer was brushed onto all components, then a coat of Taubmans AllWeather Gloss Acrylic went on. Even out-of-the-way places were painted to ensure weatherproofing.

STEP 5

Re-screw the slats
Slats were repositioned, glued and fixed with 50mm x 8g stainless steel square-drive decking screws. On the back, the top and bottom slats were fixed then checked for square.
TIP: Drill clearance holes through the slats to avoid splitting.

STEP 6

Complete the chair
The rebated section of the arm was glued with exterior glue then bolted in place through pre-existing holes. The drinks tray was repositioned, wheels relocated on the axles and pins tapped into place.