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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Kitchen cabinets refinishing

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Expert: - 2/3/2009


Question
The kitchen cupboards in our house are about 35 yr. old. They are a wood grain veneer on particle board. Its a flat surface. Could one just paint over it, or remove veneer, and replace the veneer?  How does one remove the veneer? Is it a big task?

Answer
Hi Bert, I wouldn't recommend putting a whole lot of effort into doing anything to these cabinets, while you might be successful getting paint to stick, it's not an ideal substrate for a few reasons, and removing the vinyl or paper veneer would be a huge and near impossible task. If you were to succeed, you would be left with a particle board surface with adhesive stuck all over it. You'd be much better off putting that effort into a little overtime to help replace or MAYBE reface your cabinets........if the cabinet boxes are of any decent quality...but they probably aren't.Brutally honest, I know....but my best answer in your situation...hope it helps a little- 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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