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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/clear coating on maple veneer

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Expert: - 5/16/2009


Question

HS Front Reception Des
Hi, Greg. The large reception desk in the office was custom made of "figured maple veneer with clear protective coating".  Now 3.5 years later, the front of it looks like the clear protective coat is detaching from the veneer all across the front of the desk. Why did this do this & how can we repair it?  Was the coating of poor quality or was the wood not dry when they built the desk, or what in your professional opinion could have possibly caused this?  Or maybe someone has been putting Pledge or another solvent on it that is not the appropriate cleaner?  Can it be sanded off & re-coated with new clear protective coating, or does the entire front wood veneer of the desk have to be replaced?  Does the wood typically come coated already from the manufacturer & could this be under warranty, or does the woodworker apply the coating at his shop?  But regardless if it is a manufacturer issue, a retailer issue or incorrect cleaning issue, we just want to have it repaired and not have this re-occur. Thanks in advance for your diagnosis and time, Best Regards, Lissa

Answer
Hi Lissa, I wish the picture was a little better...it looks like a typical cell phone pic...there are a number of reasons a finish can fail.Certain cleaning products will attack a finish like this, so a cleaning crew could be suspect. Harsh cleaners with Chlorine bleach, and other strong alkalies can damage a clear coat..typically office type furniture has a very tough catalyzed type clear coat on it though, and it shouldn't fail this soon. If you bought the desk new, I would contact the manufacturer and see if they'll stand behind the finish...some offer a warranty, some don't....if one was to try to fix this themselves, it will need to be stripped and then refinished....typically a job for a Pro. Post back if need be- regards- Greg

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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