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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/15 year old Scan design teak dresser

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Expert: - 12/14/2009


Question
How can I tell if our teak dresser has an oil seal on it? The top of the dresser is a teak veneer but I believe the front of the drawers are solid teak (however, I am not sure). I have used Old English lemon oil on it 2-3 times every year as the wood seems to get very dry. I would like to darken the color of the wood, so how do I go about doing that?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Donna, these are almost universally done with an oil finish. you can get Watco Danish oil finish in colors, and the Medium or Dark Walnut are usually a good color to revive Teak from this era.What worries me is the lemon  oil because these are basically white mineral oil and fragrances, which is a non drying oil, and can contaminate a dry surface where the oil finish has dissipated...I would suggest you clean the surfaces with mineral spirits, washing them down a few times and drying with clean rags in an effort to remove as much of the lemon oil as possible. If the surfaces look even and good while wet with the mineral spirits, then  simply applying a few coats of the Watco will do a good job of reviving the finish. If on the other hand, there are dark or uneven areas, stains, etc., you'll have to resort to much more invasive techniques to revive this finish.......meaning stripping and light sanding.... hope that helps- post back if need be- 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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