The Furniture Doctor (Paperback)

by George Grotz (Author) "Hello, out there! And welcome to the strange but happy world of people who are always fussing around with their furniture..." (more)
Key Phrases: shellac stick, planer blade, shellac finish, Queen Anne, Uncle George, Early American (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
The best known book in its field, The Furniture Doctor has sold more than a quarter million copies and is now available for the first time in paperback. 141 illustrations.

From the Publisher
The best-selling guide to keeping furniture in the finest and most beautiful condition, with complete information on proper repair and refinishing techniques from the legendary expert on antiques and their restoration.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 384 pages
• Publisher: Broadway; Rev Exp edition (December 1, 1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0385266707
• ISBN-13: 978-0385266703
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #148,781 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great for do-it-yourselfers, December 4, 2001

By	I. C. Henderson (San Francisco, Ca USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a 'bible' for the average amateur and full of good tips for both the experienced and fussy wood worker. I've used it for more than 30 years. Whenever I have a problem I start my research with this book, and I usually come back to it again after looking at a number of other sources. There are suggestions that you'll not find anywhere else. The humor is a delight. However Grotz wrote most of this before the development of many current ideas about how to preserve antiques. I imagine that employing some of his suggestions might lead to a reduction in the market value of an item. However, I don't think it will ever lead to a reduction in your personal enjoyment of the piece.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars An interesting read but not a brilliant resource., August 14, 1999

By	[e-mail] (Nannup, Western Australia) - See all my reviews

I found the book to be a reasonably interesting read, if not a little too cynical at times. The tips and tricks could be useful but I would be reluctant to let the author anywhere near a half decent piece of furniture. His apparent disdain for the use of hand tools devalued the whole book in my eyes, and made me shudder to think what people might do to fine tools if they followed his advice on sharpening and tuning. If you are in the market for useful, cheap pointers and are not overly concerned about potentially messing something up, then its not a bad book.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A manual for buying and restoring antiques. Wonderful find!, January 11, 1999

By A Customer

This book is *very* practical for anyone interested in refinishing their own furniture or just shopping for antiques. It covers everything from acquisition to restoration to how to recognize fakes to identifying period styles. It is full of practical advice and technical "how-tos" , recommended waxes, where to find suppliers for special tools, and so on. I flipped through several books at the bookstore before buying this one. It stands out as an encyclopedia of information on refinishing antiques and it is very readable. I was glad to have it to refer to when I redid some of my family heirlooms. It is well organized and *full* of good information.