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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing walnut entry doors

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Expert: - 12/27/2008


Question
QUESTION: My parents have asked us to refinish their custom walnut entry doors on the exterior side. They live in South AL where it is extremely humid. We have worked with Oak before but not walnut. Are there any special instructions/ precautions we should be aware of? Is the humidity going to cause a problem? We don't want to mess this up.

ANSWER: Hi Shellie, no real special precautions....what is your proposed finish schedule?....and how badly weathered are the doors? Any idea of the finish that's on there now?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Thank you for your quick response. We are here visiting thru Monday and wanted to complete the majority by then with my brother finishing the job. They are black walnut with clear jack tar finish.

Answer
It really will depend on how badly weathered the finish is, as the Jack Tar is an exterior Phenolic Varnish, and it will need to come off if it is badly weathered. Also each coat will need at least 16-24 hours to dry before the next, and the doors should have at least 3-4 coats. Especially important is the end grain under and on top of the door edges, too, and in order to get to that the doors might need to be removed, so all that will determine the course of action. If the majority of the finish is in good condition, you can just spot repair and spot coat the bad areas, clean the surface, scuff sand the gloss off the well bonded areas and recoat the whole door... Walnut strips and holds finishes well, and it should not suffer from too much graying or discoloration unless allowed to weather too much between refinishings.....hope I've helped a little- post back if you need to- 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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