Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/KITCHEN CABINETS

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Expert: - 3/4/2009


Question
gREGG, I've read your answer to my previous question on my kitchen cabinets now peeling after refinishing.  I have never used a lacquer finish so I know that is not the problem. However, the murphys soap or could there be a residue from the tsp since I did not rinse after the tsp washing on the portions that are giving me peeling problems?  If that is the case, what is the best way to refinish those areas?  Do I need to strip off all of the new finish?  So far there are just small areas peeling when I try to like flick off a small amount of something sticking to the surface. It is just in a couple of places.  Do you have any answer for the bubbly varnish?  It is a fast dry varnish and seems to dry before all the bubbles have flowed out and leave me with a rougher surface than I would like.  We did all the finsihing when we built 35 years ago and do not remember bubbles ever being a problem.  I did not shake the varnish. I am going to continue making sure I wash better and rinse more.

Thanks, Dee Ann

Answer
Did you finish the cabinets originally? If so I would be using the same finish to recoat them...it is probably contamination from the TSP and/or the oil soap and grease, grime, etc., that's causing the bulk of your problems...unfortunately, you'll probably have to strip the finish off now, and that means the old finish will come off too..leaving you back at square one...but that's probably the best place to be...you can't hope to blend areas of good and bad with a varnish, as each coat just sits on top of the previous, unlike lacquer or shellac, which chemically bonds to each other into one film layer. A fast drying varnish is not a good choice for the reasons you stated...a slower drying finish will flow out better and give you time to apply it evenly before it gets tacky..I think you've answered most of your own questions, but I have no magic bullet for you...you're going to have to stick to proper finishing practices... and that means you may have to go backwards to go forwards....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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