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Question
i have made wainscoting for my living room out of antique doors....The layers of old paint easily scraped off. The surface is now covered with remnants of unknown finish. Is there some way i can finish without using stripper and endless sanding...i have heard of products that dissolve old finishes and incorporate them into a new finish. Sounds too good to be true...would appreciate some direction...The wood is oak. Thanks, rich
Hey Richard, I wouldn't trust such a product if it existed...if the paint scraped off easily, there may be an underlying finish like wax, shellac with wax,(hardware store Orange Shellac) etc. and the first layer is the layer where adhesion is the most critical. My vote, if you want all your hard work to look it's best and last, is to strip the old finish chemically down the the bare wood. Since you've eliminated the paint for the most part, stripping should really be easy to accomplish, and it's the best bit of insurance you can get....best of luck- regards- Greg
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| Rating(1-10) | Knowledgeability = 10 | Clarity of Response = 10 | Politeness = 10 |
| Comment | Greg,Thanks for the speedy answer and i will take your advise as i have put a lot of work into this project already. | ||
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Answers by Expert:
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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