Furniture Restoration

A few questions on restoration...
Is there a forum dedicated to it somewhere?
What are the must have books for the library?
I have some experience as a woodworker, but I'd like to learn more about working on 18th and early 19th c. pieces including marquetry and gilding. Also, for flipping the lesser pieces, if there might be some kind of guide for quick fixes with modern fillers and colorants considering the large selection of materials available from mohawk and such.
I have a set of dutch marquetry chairs with considerable cracks that I'd like to tackle first.

 

My experience is that fillers never quite live up to expectations. You are best to painstakingly piece wood in, glue, and clamp. Epoxys work well but you must meticulously paint with a faux finish to match the wood. Real wood is a better option IMHO.

 

I have had good sucess using fibreglass resin mixed with talc powder as a wood filler. Form a thick paste and work fast with GOOD ventilation. It shows of course but if you are overlaying veneer marquetry it should be covered. Painstaking process so you have to decide how much time to spend.