This was Kind of... a MESS 

Whenever I am out of sorts, I watch Tom's calm, steady approach to a basket case of a piece and the world just seems to be alright again.

Watching Tom working on repairs always makes me think of the old saying "You can never have too many clamps!".

What goes better with a cup of coffee on a Saturday morning? Thomas Johnson, of course.

Grandma would be thrilled to see her vanity like this one turned out. Beautiful job Tom. Cheers John.

Your last comments are so very true. To keep a piece looking true to what it was with minimal work adds so much more to the piece. Thank you as always for sharing your knowledge 😊

Welcome back, Thomas. We've missed you.

Watching a tatty piece of furniture transformed into a thing of real beauty, makes me heart feel fuller. What a joy.

It’s a pleasure to watch you work. Nice to watch people work with their hands especially when they are as knowledgeable as you are.

As soon as you said the smell of grandmother's vanity I had a flood of memories and emotions about my grandmother. Such good stuff!!!!! THANK YOU TOM!!!

"This will never be an antique." Oh Tom, It is an antique already, as in 1920 to 2020. That's a hundred years you know. Heaven help me I'm almost an antique myself. That little vanity/desk is so sweet I could cry. Yes, Grandma thinks it looks "pretty good," beautiful in fact!

I almost always speed through diy or reno videos, but I never do for your videos.. I love watching you in real time meticulously bringing back the beauty of these old pieces.

It is always a pleasure to watch you bring a piece back from the brink but keeping the illusion that nothing was really done to it other than a quick dusting. Marvelous.

Your camera work is astounding. Love the tight angles providing close-up tutorial views. The end user of the vanity will have a prized T.J. restoration, Gorham, Maine. 👍👍👍

There would be a tear in Grandma’s eye upon seeing how pretty her vanity is now. Well done, Mr Johnson.

Nothing like spending time watching Mr. Johnson work his magic! A true craftsman!

Grandma would be chuffed to bits with her vanity, Thomas! Thank you for another rescue, needing all of your expertise.

I love your approach to restoration opposed to refinishing…probably because I’ve been an old soul since birth and my Grandma & Grandpa were my best friends! I grew up surrounded by their wonderful furniture each time I visited and was blessed to receive it upon their passing far too soon for my heart. I’ve left every scratch and stain but watching how beautifully you restore these pieces makes me think twice. Thank you so much for sharing videos of your talent with us!

The chicks are back! Hope the barn is okay. Grandmas vanity looks very good. Another masterpiece.

That little vanity turned out beautifully. Another piece saved from the landfill or burn pile, great job

Tom Johnson, you truly are the Lord of Clamps and Clamping, the King of Veneer Restoration and the Emperor of Finishing/Colour-matching. I've learned so much from this video. E.g., To list just a few: Three-way clamps, "Wacky wood", the angle of the replacement veneer cut needs to match the plane of the surrounds of the original, and how to colour-patch and hand draw to ensure even-ness and continuity of the finish. Once again, 50 minutes of really well spent RU-vid viewing. Sir, I salute you! Can't wait until your next instalment!

When you do that "I used these tools and materials" at the end of the project, I think you should have two big boxes on the workbench labeled "calm" and "patience", and a refrigerator box beside the bench labeled "experience". :)

I recently restored an Edwardian dressing table (vanity) and I was very conscious of the history behind the piece. I think that dressing tables are one of the most intimate items of furniture in a house. All the time spent in front of the mirror, to become ready for the day, the wedding, the christening, the funerals. A life story in a piece of furniture.

I always forget that you also have to film!!! Thank you for the video 👍 😊

Great start to my Saturday. Tom and grandma's vanity, lil chicks in the workshop, round corners, Waterlox varnish followed up with orange oil beeswax. Thanks for bringing us along Tom.

👏👏👏👏🇦🇺🙏😁 Still love watching you at work. I learn something each time seeing things I might have missed before. Thanks Thomas.

You did a wonderful job bring the vanity back to her old glory. I appreciate the little detail about adhering sandpaper to the back of a ruler. My dad and uncle owned a Art store in the 60's and 70's. I would watch my dad make picture frames. Every now and then while assembling the frame he would rub his hammer on a piece of sandpaper he had stapled to his work bench. When I ask why he did it he said sometime glue would ooze out of the joint oand get on the hammer. Rubbing the hammer on the sandpaper remover the glue so it wouldn't get on the frame.

Every piece I've watched you work on has your professional touch, and your love for the pieces shows!

😂 It's always a good day when a new Thom video drops

Great content always! Keep it coming. Thanks! Nice work on saving “ real furniture “ for years to come. Likewise, nice camera and video work! There is always something to learn from your content. Appreciate it.

Great job Tom, your work is always a joy to watch!

Always a treat to watch a craftsman at work! Boy your shop chickens are sure bossy!😂

Grandma would have been thrilled. Your work is so inspiring to see. I've been watching your videos for years now and I can't thank you enough for sharing your knowledge with the world. Your preservation work and attention to detail is truly an inspiration and you've given me the courage to save other pieces of history from going to the skip and not shying away from a project when something really wonderful comes along. Thank you for all your hard work and dedication to keeping these practices alive. It's truly an art, and you an artist.

Thomas, you are the Sultan of Scraping, the Viceroy of Veneering and the Duke of Drawer Repair!

Grandma would be very pleased and brought to tears, that after all the years someone cared enough to keep it better than she remembered! Outstanding job, Tom!

I enjoy watching your process. I like that it is a gentle restoration not a rebuild. Grandma would be proud of her vanity.

I'm glad you reiterated what you've said many times about restorations. I came across another RU-vid channel about restoring a 300 year old cabinet. I was insulted. They just started ripping and replacing parts that looked in poor conditions. I wanted to leave a comment, but decided to just flip to another channel, rather than leaving a nasty comment. I'm glad for people like you and your peers. I wish channels like yours would have a different type of disclamer like " Musium standard furniture Restoration" to separate yourselves from carpenters, albeit good, that just rebuild an old furniture.

I always enjoy watching someone who is a master of their craft ! Your attention to detail and slow and relaxing approach is a pleasure to watch .

You are a treasure! You do such fine work and are passionate about what you do. You are a master of furniture restoration!

Couldn’t agree more with the sentimental value of grandma’s vanity to be preserved without refinishing

Looks great Tom. Perfect explanation of why you chose to treat the vanity as you did. I think “grandma” would have recognized it at first glance.

I wish Tom was my age so I could watch his videos for the rest of my life. Great work once again!

Another great and sensitive repair Tom. Well done 👏 👏👍

I very much enjoy Tom's gentle patience when cleaning off the grime of decades, and replacing blemished or missing veneer. You are very theropeutic for us armchair woodworkers to watch..

Just a small reflection, but first a big thanks for another great episode, you really show how to save a roadside find and bring it back to life with minimally invasive methods. This is great inspiration and most likely will lead to many of us trying to do the same! Thanks Tom!

Nicely done Thomas. Grandma would be pretty happy with this sympathetic restoration. Looks great.

Thank you for allowing the vanity to maintain her graceful age, character and beauty. She looks just lovely! ❤❤❤😊

Beautiful restoration. The birds singing was exceptional background music. ❤ thank you for sharing

Tom, I never get tired of watching you. You are amazing. You are truly the best I've ever seen at Antique Restoration! I've learned so much from you, I hope you keep posting videos! Much love and respect sir.... from Pennsylvania. 😊

Another respectfully done restoration. You did just what the piece needed to make it look beautiful, while not overdoing it. That restraint comes with having a good eye and a sensitivity to the age and character of the piece. Well done as usual!

Regarding the "backsplash": There are a number of things that like to roll off the back of a vanity. Round lipstick cases, eyebrow pencils, brushes and jewelry, etc. It's nice to have something there to prevent that.

I’ve been watching your videos for about 10 years, I love your channel. It makes me want to try.

I like how you chill in your socks.

Tom there's no "thinking so" about it, Grandma WOULD think this looks pretty good, dare I say she'd be blown away. This is easily one of my favourite pieces you've restored, it looks absolutely beautiful! Cheers!

Thanks Thomas! Another good job on a piece begging for your attention. As always many useful tips, techniques and supply references for us wannabes. Keep these videos coming please, they provide not only information but satisfying entertainment on a very hot and humid Saturday morning.

Such a beautiful repair on this beautiful piece of furniture.

That looks stunning. Your patience and expertise is a pleasure to watch. Another nice piece rescued from landfill.

I think it would be safe to say Grandma would approve. I totally agree with your philosophy of keeping a piece as original as possible. You have some mad skills and every piece shows it.

I'm a Grandma, and I approve of this beautiful work. It's a rare woodworker who spends his days with the chicks like you do- much nicer than most background music, for sure.

Mr Johnson you are most definitely the master of furniture work. Grandma (someone's grandma 😊) would be very pleased with how beautiful the dressing table is now. I love that you try to keep the original look. Personally I think like you about that! Your videos are amazing as your work is! Thank you for sharing your talents with us! Fabulous job!😊❤

Another fine restoration done by a master of his trade! Always an excellent video to watch. Never disappoints!

Totally agree with your philosophy on refinishing. i heard so many stories of truly valuable antiques, as well as just beautiful younger pieces being strip bathed for a 2 - 3 inch stain on the top that made my heart drop ! This here vanity is a great example of just softly given "touch ups" to give the overall look, one of refreshness & renewal. Another beautiful job ❣

I know exactly the smell you were talking about Tom...as soon as you mentioned it I thought of my Nona's dressing table and remembered her applying her makeup there🥰 I think grandma would definitely approve🤗

Glad to see you refinishing Grandma's Vanity with the minimal sanding. My sister-in-law refinished a good, beautiful mahogany dresser with milk paint. What a Traviisy

I love how you treat each piece of furniture with love and respect. I think grandma would be very chuffed to see her vanity in this beautiful condition and to the sound of lovely tweety birds 😂❤

I've been watching your channel for about three years. EVERY piece of furniture that you have restored has turned out awesome. I love your videos. I would have to call you the KING of furniture restoration. Antique or otherwise. Great work and great videos. Thank you for bringing to us.

Tom your restoration of this vanity is so beautifully done. I so enjoy watching you work

Hope you had a good holiday Tom. Another great piece of work. Thanks.

Along with many other commenters here, I want to fully agree with your Grandma's vanity discussion. Very well said. Thank you again for another outstanding video.

"I love the smell of workshop coffee in the morning. It smells like... victory" - Thomas Johnson, probably :-) Great work, turned out really nicely. Always impessed with how well your attention to detail and precision is rewarded in the final result.

Gosh...I would love to have this vanity piece somewhere in my house, and restored with so much care, it is a joy to watch :)

I adore that birds are twittering in the background, so rustic.

I love the birdsong accompanying your restoration. Very cheerful.

I'm always impressed by your repair skills (especially recreating broken Queen Anne legs), and envious of your color-matching, but I just realized I'm also jealous of all your work tables. You always seem to have one just the right size.

Another great restoration from Tom. I've always liked 'brown furniture' - as many call it. However in the UK, it's not popular. In fact you couldn't even give it away. Pity. BTW, Tom's advice for renovating my wooden drawing board surface meant it turned out great! Many thanks.

Were you using wackywood or kerfed pieces for clamping? What I most enjoy about Tom's videos, is that there are never new fancy tools, gadgets or gizmos. Just skill and ability to use the normal tools properly. An artist and tradesman! Bravo Tom.

Gorgeous!~ You saved it and made it beautiful again.

Hi Mr. Johnson, hope all is well with you and yours and as always I’m looking forward to this current video of yours so thank you in advance for sharing 🌹

I am simply over the moon for this beauty. I have a serious case of vanity-envy, haha. Thank you for the great video!

Yet another understated, beautiful restoration from a true master of his craft. "I think it looks quite good,too" .

Absolutely beautiful job Thomas! I learn so much from watching you, thank you.

Thomas, it is always such a pleasure to see you, a Master Craftsman at your work. Thank you for taking us along and showing us just how a tattered piece of furniture can be restored and how beautiful it can be once again. May you continue to be abundantly blessed my friend. John here, photographing the back-roads of Northeastern Tennessee, y'all. I wish you the very best.

Thanks for sharing this awesome restoration, your craftsmanship is a joy to watch and learn.

Again, a simple, time-worn piece finds a new beginning from under your disciplined hands. It's regained beauty makes it a showpiece that will be used. And with you, process and attention to detail is everything. Thanks!

A pleasure to watch as always, Tom. Beautiful work 👍🏾🌈

What an inspiration you are to me!

That was amazing. I love hearing you explain why you make the choices for the piece. You really restored the vanity and will surely be loved for years to come.

I always enjoy watching your restorations. This one was no exception.

Grandma would shed a tear and give you a huge hug for restoring her dressing table (ok, vanity!) so sensitively. Bravo Tom, again! 😊😊😊

Excellent work, as always. Those burn-in knives you use remind me of ones my father had. He too was a furniture repairman.

The master at work

I am so glad you got this piece. You did an amazing job, as usual.

Hi Tom, beautiful work as always! I couldn’t agree more with keeping the piece recognizable. As you’ve said before, it’s only original once. And I too think “it looks pretty good!” 😊

Hope you had a relaxing holiday. Good to see you back.

Thanks so much. I learn something from you each video.

Thomas: I agree with you whole heartily. Grandma would be excited about her restored vanity. And so am I. Carol from California

Simply the best ! Tom your skills are amazing! Helps us guys tremendously .Thanks a ton for all that you do. Greetings again for Canada.

Hi Tom. I love your gentle touch with furniture 😊 P.S. I had a good laugh when you spoke about it being hot. It’s winter here (in Skukuza South Africa and it reached 90 today 😂).

It might be a reproduction but sentimental value is priceless. I think Grandma would be very happy that her vanity and her memory is held in such regard.

Holy Mac and cheese! Tom, you never cease to amaze me. Fantastic. 👍

I love your ethos that informs your decision making. The results you achieve attest to its veracity. A beautiful little table.