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Question
Recently purchased a house, which has rough-finished wooden beams along ceiling, walls and even a freestanding column, as well as rough finish floor molding. This is a very large room, (about 35' x 28') so there is a lot of wood that needs cleaning and refinishing. Is there a good way to clean and refinish the rough beams so that they are not dust traps, less likely to shed splinters if brushed against or touched, are easy (or easier) to clean, and still be attractive? The house (and beams) are 36 years old.
Hi Cynthia, in a word.....No. There isn't an easy way to deal with this type of beam, a lot of people would have them boxed in with something easier to deal with, like clear pine, etc. All you can do is to use something like a scrub brush, and/or a vacuum with a brush attachment, to clean them of surface dust and dirt....then you can coat them with something like a stain, an oil product,(Watco, Waterlox, Thompson's, etc),all of which will darken them to a degree.... or just live with them the way they are.Wish I had a better answer for you- regards- Greg
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Answers by Expert:
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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