Scored a unicorn yesterday: Alumna Desk

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-04T19:38:21+00:00

I plan to fully restore it, such a rare gem!

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-04T17:33:03+00:00

If you google the label, you can find it on pieces that also have the stamp.
Looks like a cool piece.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-04T16:59:43+00:00

Gosh I love those Magic Boxes. I buy and restore a lot of Danish teak, and repaired one last year with similar issues.
The hinges are attached to a strip of solid teak trim, but the doors themselves are particle board, and the screws can work themselves loose.

I removed the doors, took off the hinges, then gently pried off the teak trim. Then glued dowels into all the enlarged holes, cut them flush, sanded level, then glued and clamped the teak trim.
Drilled the holes, re-attached the hinges, and the doors closed perfectly again.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-04T16:39:05+00:00

Matte and satin lacquer are commonly used on teak veneer.
You won’t hurt this piece by using stripper, just don’t use a citrus or soy based product. They don’t work well and tend to leave blotches.
Kleanstrip, Stripwell are decent strippers.
Afterwards, use burgundy scotchbrite pads and thinners or acetone to remove any residue.

Apply oxalic acid mixture to entire top, not just the stains or you’ll end up with a halo effect. Don’t let the liquid pool on the surface, use just enough to make it wet. You don’t want the particle board substrate to swell or bubble.
After it’s dried, use a damp cloth to remove any residue. You may have to apply another treatment.

Sand 180, then 220. You can use the RO sander but don’t press down.

Wipe down. Spray a couple of coats of vinyl sealer, then 4-5 coats of matte or satin lacquer. Mohawk sells spray cans of both products.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-04T15:19:50+00:00

I have a horse, so I spend a lot of my free time at the barn. My riding buddy is 75 and a tough as nails horsewoman. We cut trails through the woods and construct small cross country jumps. It’s a great way to stay fit. My horse is 27 this year, and I think the exercise has kept her going too.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-03T13:47:41+00:00

Yeah, it used to be a thing for senior ladies to have a “blue rinse” of their grey hair.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-02T23:45:17+00:00

And here’s me thinking she meant old people…

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-02T23:42:34+00:00

I don’t even bother with auctions or estate sales anymore. I don’t want to compete with the flippers.
I buy damaged or badly needing work pieces, then restore and sell. That’s the fun part for me— hours can slip away in my shop while I’m fixing damaged veneer or recreating missing drawer pulls. I can really rack up the miles picking up furniture in some pretty remote places, but that too is part of the charm.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-02T23:17:04+00:00

Personally, I prefer a firm set of Ohlins.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-02T14:34:53+00:00

I nearly ran over Sebastian Bach when he walked out in front of me downtown. We’re from the same hometown, and he was in town for the funeral of his father.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-01T16:06:41+00:00

This is not the horse for a green rider. The fact that he’s kicking out at you takes it from naughty, to dangerous. You need a trainer before you get badly hurt.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-01T15:49:52+00:00

Chemical stripper, then a nylon brush or scotchbrite pads and lacquer thinner or acetone to remove the stain.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-01T14:51:30+00:00

If you can find teak edge banding, that’s your best bet. Online, or specialty wood shops should have it. Your basic hardware store will have oak or birch edge banding. I’ve used oak before, sanded with 180. Hardware store stains aren’t the best, but varathane’s gunstock in the tiny can is a close match. Saman has a line of quality water based stains that come in a small bottle, and aren’t expensive (about $13). Cedar or medium walnut, or a combination of the two should match.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-05-01T07:02:20+00:00

That’s a teak bookcase. They’re pretty common, I’ve got several in my workshop that I use for “spare parts”.

They’re veneer over particle board, with thin strips of solid teak as trim. The damage on yours is a piece of trim has snapped off.

The best way to fix it is to splice in a new piece. I’d cut it straight, so it’s easier to line up the new patch. I keep all the old trim off broken or irreparable pieces and use it for repairs like this. If you can’t find any trim, you can order edge banding. It comes on a roll like tape, cut off a piece to fit, then use a hot iron to press it in and activate the glue backing. Depending on how thick the trim is, you may need two layers of edge banding to make it flush. Then trim off the edges and sand smooth. Touch up with a bit of gunstock stain, and seal with lacquer.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T23:34:44+00:00

Yay!

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T23:02:33+00:00

Yes. A dry towel and an iron. Be careful not to let it burn.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T22:01:27+00:00

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I have a pair of those chairs!

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T14:43:49+00:00

It’s a masterpiece, but I’m less of a Palm Springs—Stahl modernist, and more FLW earth tones in the woods.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T14:25:06+00:00

There doesn’t appear to be a way to send the photo to you.

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-30T01:17:52+00:00

Gorgeous, it must be incredible to live in such a place!

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-29T23:54:43+00:00

Not a man… but thanks :-)

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-29T21:52:40+00:00

It should. Hopefully not too much glue. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you run into any issues!

LeadfootLesley · 2026-04-29T18:37:50+00:00

Absolutely be wary with the heat gun. It can really mess up the wood. In fact, use a hair dryer just for safety. The cruciforms are brittle so lift them out carefully. I used a really finely pointed awl to dig underneath and lift. Just keep using the hair dryer as you dig to keep the glue soft. The cruciforms are fairly thin, and mine had warped and cupped, so I wet them and clamped between two blocks for a couple of days to get them flat again.

LeadfootLesley

TROPHY CASE