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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/fixing finish on "pickled "finish maple kitchen cabinets

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Expert: - 5/5/2009


Question
My kitchen cabinets are about 15 years old and have a finish called "pickled," but they are not really pickled. The finish is applied over the wood and there seems to be a glaze on the outside. Places around the hardware and along the edges are worn and faded, but the cabinets are still strong. The company (Wellborn)doesn't make the finish anymore and can't help me. Do you have any suggestions for how I can repair the worn places and match the existing finish? Thanks.

Answer
I get this question very often, and this type of repair is almost impossible to do. These finishes are done in several steps, and they aren't the stuff of the novice...a Pro may be able to do a fair job of blending a repair, but it requires skill and knowledge of the techniques and access to the proper materials, along with spray equipment and good color matching skills. I would call in a Pro to evaluate it with you. 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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