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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Old woodwork trim and quarter round finish

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Expert: - 11/15/2008


Question
I recently helped to make my elderly aunt's home safer since a illness has made walking very difficult.  In doing so, we removed the quarter round and installed new wall to wall carpet.  Now she is insisting that we reinstall the quarter round but it is nicked and has nails holes.  My question is how to "finish" the quarter round  which has a very dark finish due to years and layers of varnish.  I was hoping for a quick fix like a watered down mixture of paint.  Any other suggestions?

Answer
Hi John, a stain is probably better, but not a typical oil stain...you'd need an alcohol/methanol type dye stain, known as an NGR stain,not something easy to get from any local store. You'd probably be farther ahead to use new quarter round rather than reusing damaged molding and having to repair it all.....but that depends on how damaged it is....and of course that means finishing it all instead of just touching up the damage. You could use a touch up marker, in like a Dark Walnut color if it's just nail holes and nicks, use a latex wood filler, (like Elmers),lightly sand it smooth when dry, then you can just touch up the spots with the marker.Hope that helps a little- regards- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.) Sold, built, serviced, setup Home, Industrial, and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how")

Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT. (the Antiques capital of CT.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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