Repair and restoration of antique wooden items. Do it yourself

The book tells the story of how wood processing developed in Russia, what tools and technologies were used by the old masters, what wooden products were created in their hands over the centuries, what materials were used for this, and how they changed over time. The reader will learn how to determine the age and origin of antique wooden items, how to identify their existing defects, and how to fix them with their own hands. The author, a professional restorer and a candidate of sciences, describes in detail the main techniques and methods of cleaning antique items from dirt, restoring paint coatings, eliminating age-related defects, mechanical damage, dents, cracks, restoring the integrity of fractures, filling in losses, reconstructing missing fragments, imitating various materials, artificially aging wood, and applying finishing coatings. The final part of the book discusses the specifics of restoring soft furniture, chests, cooperage products, household utensils, Russian spinning wheels, musical instruments, icon cases, clock and radio cabinets, and birch bark items. The material is richly illustrated with the author's drawings and photographs. The book is intended for a wide range of readers.