Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Rosewood Furniture

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Expert: - 11/24/2008


Question
We have a dining room set - table, chairs, sideboard and drinks cabinet which we purchased in Hong Kong 15 years ago.  It has moved round the world with us since and been exposed to some direct light and latterly over polishing with a damp chamois leather by an over zealous house helper.  The result is some fading which we could live with but a loss in the high shine lacquer finish - particularly on chair backs - they feel slighty rough too.  Can we do anything ourselves to remedy this problem, would French polishing help or do we need to totally refurbish?

Answer
Hi Nicola, French polishing is done with shellac, and being the wonder finish, might blend ok to your sets finish. But if it's lacquer, a padding lacquer like Qualasole might be a better choice. It's appkied the same way, with a pad dampened with the finish. The set may be finished with an oil finish, and you can get a Tung oil finish in a gloss, that might also work. Formby's makes a good product available in small containers at most Ace hardware stores. With an oil finish you can actually wet sand with the finish and some 600 grit wet/dry sandpaper, then wipe off the slurry and let dry. Then you can apply successive coats to achieve more gloss and protection. The oil finishes are goof proof to apply, not so with lacquers and other rapidly drying solvent based finishes, and it's tough for me to advise you without more info. You can test the finish with some lacquer thinner to see if the thinner will soften the finish or make it sticky. Obviously, you'll need to do this in an out of the way area, an oil finish won't be softened by the thinner. Hope that helps a little -post back if need be..
http://www.acehardwareoutlet.com/(ncim133lkf0lid34x1vez4nf)/productdetails.aspx?sku=11134&source=GoogleBase
http://www.constantines.com/browseproducts/Qualasole.html

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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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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