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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/wooden inlaid games table

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Expert: - 4/7/2009


Question

game table
I have an antique backgammon board which is completely wood and ivory inlay. Some of the inlay has fallen off leaving spaces where the remaining pieces tend to loosen. Can you recommend a finishing sealer which might fill in the spaces as well as hold together the surface.

Answer
Hi Beth, what a beautiful thing....I'm afraid it really doesn't work that way, a finish won't hold the pieces together, (short of a poured on epoxy), the proper way to repair it is to reglue all the loose pieces, fill in the missing ones with the appropriate material, (or a matching material), and restore the original finish. There's really no viable shortcut for good restoration techniques, especially if you want the piece to endure. Anything that was thick and sticky enough to do what you want would look terrible...conceivably, padding on a shellac finish might help a bit, but this has to be done right, and that takes some experience. I wouldn't hesitate to contact a Pro restorer to evaluate it with you. It would be worth the investment. Hope that helps- post back if need be- Greg
    Questioner's Rating
    Rating(1-10)Knowledgeability = 10Clarity of Response = 10Politeness = 10
    CommentThank you for your help. I'm glad I didn't try the repair myself. I appreciate your honesty and quick response.


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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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