Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/peeling varnish

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Expert: - 2/24/2009


Question
I am refinishing my kitchen cupboards.  They are cherry wood stained walnut, about 30 plus years old.  Have never done a thing to them except wipe them down with murphys soap to clean them.  They are really in good shape except where they are handled to open the doors.  I washed them with tsp, dried them, sanded them lightly and put 2 coats of minwax semi-gloss varnish on the fronts and 1 coat on the back.  My varnish bubbled when I put it on an has left the finish a little rough.  I left the fronts of the doors cure for 48 hours before putting on the second coat. My question is this:  I am getting some peeling of the varnish.  I tried to remove a small amount of food spill and it is peeling the varnish.  What have I done wrong and how can I fix it?  I can't tell if just the top coat is peeling or both coats.  I have the cabinets proper done but need to do an island, desk and buffet and really don't want to continue until I know it going to work. I appreciate any help you can give me.  Thanks.

Answer
Hi Dee, you're probably putting Varnish over a lacquer finish which is a big no-no...but it sounds like there is still contamination on the surface as well if it's not sticking....the Murphy's MSDS lists the main ingredients as "potassium soap of vegetable oil" and "Propylene Glycol", both of which could have built up on the cabinet surfaces, and may not have been removed with the TSP wash, thoroughly. The main problem is the lacquer- varnish incompatibility....one should not be used over the other.Hope that helps- post back if need be-Greg

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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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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