BITS & PIECES
REFINISHING FURNITURE :
Use Shellac, It’s A Natural, Non-Toxic Resin
Unlike polyurethane, shellac is natural and nontoxic. It is produced by insects which are harvested from trees in Southeast Asia. And unlike other finishes, the finish will remain true to the color of the wood; it will not yellow or darken with age. You can either brush or wipe shellac onto the wood. If brushes are used, select natural bristles only and apply a very thin layer using even strokes. If you prefer the "wipe on" effect, use 100% cotton pads (old, clean T-shirts are good) folded into small pads. Wear protective gloves while applying the shellac and be sure to use straight, even strokes (avoid rubbing-any kind of pressure will result in an uneven finish.)
What To Do
1. Obtain denatured alcohol beforehand for cleaning brushes. Use it for thinning the shellac to make application easier (five parts shellac to two parts alcohol.)
2. Check to be sure the can you purchase is less than six months old. If you need a transparent finish, select clear; for a golden, warm tone, select amber.
3. Use another container to apply the shellac; do not use the original can.
4. Two to three coats may be required for wooden items such as furniture, cabinets etc. Allow forty- five minutes between each application.
5. Shellac is safe for use on baby furniture and toys (due to its non-toxicity, it is safe for kids and pets).
San Diego THRIFT STORE FACTS:
TEN BITS OF INFORMATION YOU MAY NOT KNOW ABOUT
1. There are fifty-five different thrift store businesses in San Diego County totalling ninety-five locations: twenty-eight are charitable, social organizations, twenty are church-related, two are privately owned, one benefits animal causes, three are military related and one benefits kids’ causes. (For a complete listing of San Diego thrift stores, go to www.bargainlink.com and click on thrift stores.)
2. The largest concentration of thrift stores in San Diego County is the Central/Hillcrest/Mid-City/Clairemont area with twenty-three stores followed by nineteen in the North Coastal area with fifteen in North County Inland plus fourteen each in East County and South County. Ten stores are located in the Beaches (includes Midway-Rosecrans.)
3. There are five thrift store antiques and collectibles boutiques in San Diego, four are owned by the Salvation Army and one by Goodwill Industries. While several other medium-sized thrifts come close to a boutique label (such as My Sister’s Closet in Hillcrest, St. Paul’s, Mission Outreach, Potpourri and Alternatives Hospice), they do not have the quantity of collectibles and antiques sold by Goodwill and the Salvation Army.
4. Honors for the oldest thrift store goes to Goodwill Industries which opened its first thrift store in downtown San Diego in 1930. Although the Salvation Army has been in town since 1887, the Army did not open its first thrift store here until the 1940’s
5. The Salvation Army has the largest number of thrift store locations with ten stores plus an auction site, followed by Goodwill with eight stores and one auction site. The Baras Foundation which opened its first thrift in Hillcrest in July of 1993 is in third place with seven stores, followed by St. Vincent de Paul’s Thrifts with five locations and an auction site.
6. The largest San Diego thrift store is probably the Skill Center Thrift at 6195 University Ave. with 20,000 square feet, followed by the Salvation Army in Poway (14,000 square feet) and the D.A.V. Veteran’s Thrifts, Chula Vista (12,000 square feet). One of the Baras Foundation Thrifts is around 10,000 square feet and the Pacific Beach Salvation Army store is also around 10,000 square feet. Am Vet stores are also traditionally large, especially the Spring Valley location.
7. Goodwill Industries is the only thrift store in town with a drive-through donation window (Midway and Rosecrans store), while the D.A.V. Veteran’s Thrift in Chula Vista allows customers to buy off arriving trucks as they unload.
8. Poway , CA has the most accessible-by-walking thrift stores; there are four thrifts in a row off of Poway Road: St. Michael’s/ St. Vincent’s; St. Bart’s, R.B. Presbyterian and Fabulous Finds (the boutique operated by R.B. Presbyterian.) In addition, the Salvation Army’s Poway store is just across the street, about half a block away.
9. Never shop thrift stores on a Monday or on weekends if at all possible. Stores need time to process donations and on weekends, you’ll be competing with more shoppers. Your best bet? Thursdays or Fridays.
10. If saving more money is important to you, thrifts have sale and discount days; contact your favorite thrift . Become known with sales people; ask how often stock changes. And don’t be afraid to buy something needing minor repairs; the value of the item can exceed the cost of the repair.
San Diego RUMMAGE SALE FACTS:
1. There are probably seventy or more annual rummage sales in San Diego County.
2. The "Rummage Sale Season" begins every March with the largest sale of the year, the Thursday Club Rummage Sale, held annually in Balboa Park. The Thursday Club also has the honor of being San Diego County’s oldest rummage sale, as it was founded in 1926. The sale raises well over $50,000 or more annually. It is the largest sale as well, featuring huge quantities of everything imaginable including fine antiques and collectibles.
3. The second oldest sale is held in La Jolla, CA. St. James-By-The-Sea Rummage Sale earns an average of $40,000 annually. It began in 1933. The sale is housed in two buildings and it, too, features wonderful antiques and collectibles. It is only one of two sales hosting a "pre-sale" several days before the actual sale, for a fee (Mission Hills Congregational Church is the other one.)
4. Most of the other sales earn between $2-14,000 and they are spread throughout San Diego County.
5. While the season begins in March, it runs through May, slows down for the summer and picks up again in the fall.
6. St. James By-The-Sea is the only sale we know of where clothing is color-sorted (we’re not certain about some of the others; they may be doing that as well.)
7. Because many of these Rummage Sales are operated by church or social organizations and run by volunteers, overhead is low. This indicates to us that most of the monies raised are indeed distributed to worthy causes -- from helping needy church members to programs in Africa. Beneficiaries are varied but serve the most immediate needs of the community.
8. Some of the best books can be found at St. Dunstan’s Rummage Sale and at St. James Rummage Sale.
9. Because a rummage sale may be low in quantities one year doesn’t mean the same will occur the next year. The success of these sales depends upon donations.
10. Rummage sales remain our number one pick for finding bargains in San Diego County. Nothing compares to the amounts of goods sold, including the antiques and collectibles, and perhaps most important, the low prices!
JUST HOW LONG WILL YOUR HOUSEHOLD FURNISHINGS LAST?
Interested in knowing how long your dishwasher or your $6,000 new roof you recently installed will last? HouseMaster Home Inspection collects this kind of information for its inspectors throughout the U.S. and in Canada. Here are some of those stats:
- Asphalt Shingle Roof -- 15 to 18 years
- Bathroom Sink -- 10+ years
- Central Air Unit -- 6 to 10 years
- Dishwasher -- 7 to 12 years
- Dryer -- 10 to 15 years
- Faucets -- 8 to 12 years
- Garbage Disposal -- 5 to 10 years
- Paint -- 4 to 7 years
- Plumbing -- 30 to 60 years
- Refrigerator -- 10 to 18 years
- Septic System -- 20+ years
- Stove -- 15 to 25 years
- Stucco Siding -- 40+ years
- Tile Roof -- 40+ years
- Toilet Mechanism -- 5 to 10 years
- Trash Compactor -- 7 to 12 years
- Washer -- 10 to 12 years
- Water Heater -- 8 to 15 years
- Wood Roof -- 15 to 20 years
