A few months ago my BIL's wife picked up a pair at a local antiques dealer and asked me if she should oil them, as they looked "dried out" to her. I explained the traditional soap flakes treatment, but the expression on her face betrayed her intent.
Sure enough, when next I saw them, they appeared much browner with more pronounced grain showing. Not bad, really, but not the same. She seemed quite happy with the results and proudly told me she used tung oil because she had read that other "Danish" oils were toxic. As it turns out, the product she used contains metallic driers, but I kept my mouth shut.
Anyway, she went ahead and oiled the papercord seats, as well. Will this treatment affect the longevity of the material? What is the preferred maintenence protocol, if any, for papercord?
I'd never really looked them over before.
The "Y" chair is remarkable on many levels. Good and comfy over the course of a long dinner. These particular examples are of unknown vintage to me, but have seen some use and have held up amazingly well IMO. I'd guess they're twenty years old, or thereabouts. Joints as good as new.
Perhaps you might know, SDR, are there fox wedges in there?
papercord
I've woven a lot of papercord seats. I've left mine untreated but I've wondered whether I should do something to them. I don't think oil will hurt in the long run---never heard of it being used and maybe there's some reason for that? I dunno.
LuciferSum used the Danish soap method on his to clean it and I think that's probably a good way to go. I read somewhere that one can use shellac or lacquer to seal the paper; I tried this once on a seat that I'd just spent a LOT of time and effort weaving and it got horrifically blotchy and I had to redo the whole damn thing. Still makes me ill to think of it. Why I didn't do a test on some leftover cord, I don't know. Never again!
So, uh...oil? Interesting idea. That's all I got.
hrrrm
I use soap treatment on mine 3-4 times a year and evens things out. I wonder if the Tung oil wouldn't harden and crack, similar to a shellac.
Paper-cord is actually three strands of paper that have been lightly waxed with parafin. The soap flakes contain vegetable oil, which penetrates and restores the wood and papercord.
Papercord on it's own is remarkably strong and sturdy - I've seen vintage chairs that are still solid. I don't think the tung oil will be harmful, but I can't imagine it looks very good.
And if I'm ever trying to be persuasive to people regarding maintenance of their furniture I always use words like "value" and "destroy" and "worthless". Sometimes it keeps them from doing stupid things. 🙂
Less is more.
Dry is better than wet -- on paper, anyway ? I can see trying to "waterproof" it . . .
Wonder what the maker advises.
Interesting question tktoo. I'd want something in those top joints to prevent withdrawal. I've seen only a long production video on some other Wegner chairs -- the classic chair and the Peacock. Simple gluing of dowel ends, there.
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