Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Dinning room table

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Expert: - 9/25/2008


Question
Sir ,I am going to refinish dinning room table (cherry wood,about 50yrs.old)i am going to use watco wipe on poly varnish.My question is how many coats do you recomend -mfg. says 3 coats,also how long after final coat do you think it would be safe to use table.
Thanks  

Answer
Hi Ray, I would first make sure the surface is well sanded begin using a three step process with the first being 220-250 grit, second roughly 400 and the last being 600 or higher. I would try to do the varnishing in an area as dust free as possible and with little to no foot traffic around it. Also keep the table from humid areas and out of direct sunlight till completely cured. I would follow the manufacturers direction for the varnish. Doing the 600 grit sanding between each coat, not heavy enough to sand through the varnish but lightly, just enough to smooth out any air bubbles and dust that has landed on its surface while drying.  Then wipe with a damp rag after sanding to completely remove the dust the sanding creates. Allow 12-24 hrs between each coat.  After the third coat fully cures in about 24 hours, it will be safe to handle it but I advise giving 48 to 72 hours before placing any items on the table top. Also keep heat or cold items away till it completely cures.  Thanks for the question and good luck with your project.

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maura macaluso

Expertise

I can answer most questions, regarding, wood sculpture, wood carving, carving tools and accessories and different types of woods.I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.

Experience

I do full design work, custom carving, restoration, fabrication, repair and refinishing. I can take a piece of raw wood and turn it into a work of art and I can help you do the same. I am "the" carving instructor for the new york city parks dept. I am heavily involved in carving on the internet and belong to many, many mail lists which are quite active. I am also an international promoter of woodcarving and am affiliated with many master carvers, notably nora hall, originally from holland, now in the U.S. and kalina pavlova, a bulgarian master carver. I routinely communicate with the top names in professional woodcarving nationally and internationally.

Organizations
the national association of woodcarvers. the woodcarvers of queens NY, the staten island woodcarvers. the northeast woodcarving association. the world wide carving internet list

Publications
chip chats-the national magazine of woodcarving. also at www.carvinginnyc.com

Education/Credentials
Self taught artist and sculptor, 40 years of drawing and painting as a hobby, 5 years of serious woodsculpting. I have my own website and have written a 300 pg book on carving. I have published online tutorials and pictorial projects

Awards and Honors
many first place awards

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