3 Tips To Successfully Installing Clavos On A Vintage Furniture Piece
Clavos, which are basically short nails, are an awesome way to add a touch of flair to a wooden furniture piece. Clavos come in all kinds of different styles to accent furniture pieces or even to attach other elements, such as patches of cloth or padding. However, if you have a vintage wooden piece that is quite old, you really do have to be careful with how you hammer in the clavos into the furniture. Pushing clavos through a piece of old wood can cause more harm than good if you don't go at the task in the proper way. Here is a look at some of the tips you can use to successfully install clavos on a vintage furniture piece.
Clean the area of installation with a tiny bit of rubbing alcohol.
Use a cotton swab or small cotton pad soaked with rubbing alcohol to gently wipe away any residue on the surface of the wood before you get started. Make sure you contain the alcohol to only the area where the clavos will be inserted. This will help get any residue out of the way so it is not pushed into the wood when the clavos are hammered into the wood.
Use a small template to ensure the clavos are installed in the right place.
Before you get started hammering the clavos into place, create a template from a piece of posterboard to go by as you install the pieces. The last thing you want to do is to create extra holes in the wood because you accidentally install the clavos in the wrong places. If you don't have materials to make a template, use a brightly colored wax crayon to mark the exact spots for insertion before you get to work.
Make sure you hammer gently with slight taps until the clavo is inserted.
Use a hammer that is small, lightweight, and easy enough to handle that you can gently tap the clavo into place. Striking the piece too hard can push the clavo in at an angle and cause an awkward setting or damage to areas inside of the wood. Removing a clavo once it is in the wood at an awkward angle can be almost impossible without causing damage to the wood's surface. So just remember to go easy when hammering the pieces into place and don't get in a hurry. The process can take some time and patience, but is well worth it to avoid damaging your vintage furniture piece.
