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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/blonde mahogany dinging room set

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Expert: - 2/25/2009


Question
Hi,
I have a 40 year old  American of Martinsville blonde mahogany dining room set that is in need of repair. the chairs are a lost cause but the table and chests are jsut old. Can this be stained to modernize it? And or stained so I don't need a table cloth to protect the table?
thanks

Answer
Hi Barbara, your pieces probably were not blonde originally, mahogany turns from reddish-brown to yellow with exposure to UV light, but restoring the original color is quite a big undertaking. They would have most likely been finished with a lacquer finish. They will need to be stripped and refinished to restore the original, beautiful color. Why are the chairs a lost cause? Most well made furniture can be restored and saved, unless pieces are lost, or the monetary investment is too much. A good restorer should be able to give you a free quote,  and I would contact a good Antique store for a recommendation.....they'll know who is good. Hope that helps a little- a job like this can get expensive, but it's usually cost effective when weighed against replacing it...and the beauty and craftsmanship of the older furniture is worth restoring in most cases....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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