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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Stripping 1920's Built in Hutch

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Expert: - 4/14/2009


Question
Hello,
My house was built in the 1920's and I have a large original built in hutch (14
cabinets and 14 drawers). Unfortunately the previous owner put more than
one coat of white paint on it ( hinges, pulls and all). It looks dirty and is
chipping in places. Would it be possible to strip the paint off or is this an
unrealistic venture? If it would be, do you have any suggestions on how to go
about it? Thank you for your time.

Answer
Hi Cindy, I'm sure it could be stripped, but it would be a huge job, and you will be attacking many layers of different types of paint as well, the bottom layers being lead based. In 90 years it could easily have 12 or more layers. You'd want to use a Methylene Chloride stripper, most likely, as these type are the most aggressive. Unfortunately, they are also quite toxic, so one needs to use common sense to protect themselves, and read,understand, and follow all the directions AND precautions on the product. There are other, safer strippers on the market, and many of them work, but nothing works like the gnarliest stripper of them all...the Methylene Chloride type. You may want to remove all the doors and drawers and have them stripped commercially. There's no easy path to stripping something like this, perseverance, Lots of time to put into it, and letting the stripper do the bulk of the work are key, but be warned,it is a huge job, and the methods and materials are messy, smelly, potentially dangerous, and require the necessary commitment to pull off. If you're keen on plowing ahead, I suggest starting with a single drawer front, and take the process through to the finish to see what you're getting into. Hope that helps a little...I'll be here- 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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