Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Fir interior doors

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Expert: - 5/5/2009


Question
We had solid Fir (unfinished)doors installed along with the hardware.  I have two questions:
1. The lubricant from the hardware steeped into the wood.  What prep work must I do before staining?

2. I have read on line how to prep the doors with a sealer, stain and final coat are there any other recommendations regarding sealer, stain selection?

Thank you!

vr/cw

Answer
How much lubricant are we talking about? Any oil based lube will be tough to completely remove in a spot area...stripper might be a good way to remove it. Trying to use a solvent or degreasing agent on it will likely drive the stuff deeper into the wood. You can try a Gel stain. They are easy to work with, have good color depth, and are in a thick polyurethane base making them less prone to blotching, and they act as their own sealer as well, cutting down the number of steps in your finish schedule....also, stay away from Minwax if possible, (although their Gel stains and Poly are fine). Use more professional products like the General line which can be found online or at retail outlets like WoodCraft.

http://www.woodcraft.com/family.aspx?FamilyID=5555

Hope that helps, and best of luck- 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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