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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Painting and waterproofing birdhouses

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Expert: - 3/2/2009


Question
I bought some bird houses that I would like to  paint with acrylic paint--but what kind of waterproofing or varnish do I use on them to keep them dry for the birds?

Janet

Answer
Hi Janet, a high quality Exterior paint is probably good enough, as long as you put on 2-3 coats and are careful about sealing up end grain, etc. If you mean that you want to paint them with Artist type Acrylics in multiple colors or something, then you could use a few coats of an Exterior or "Spar" Urethane to coat them. An exterior primer is also a good idea if possible before painting with the Acrylics. Some Exterior clear coats will be quite amber in color, so keep that in mind. Waterborne Urethanes are the clearest of all, again, just make sure to use products that are Exterior grade. Hope that helps

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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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