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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Cat Claws Corner of Cabinets

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Expert: - 6/14/2009


Question
I'm moving out of an apartment and want to repair scratches left behind by my cat. It appears to be thinned splinter clusters on several doors (near the door jams) and corner of cabinets. The kitchen cabinet has what it appears to be fake wall paper that appears to be wood but a softer plywood underneath.. Any recommendations on how I can repair to reduce or eliminate the appearance.

Answer
Hi Amy, unfortunately these vinyl veneers with particle board underneath are really impossible to repair, or even really touch up. This stuff is cheap, cheap, cheap, and once damaged presents a real problem.If the door jambs are painted, they can be sanded smooth, perhaps filled with some wood filler, and then primed and repainted....the cabinets are a bigger problem though. The only thing you can really do yourself would be to try to stain the damaged areas, but the typical oil stain is not the ideal thing for this type of touch up. A dye stain would be a better choice, but again, I don't hold much hope for you to pull off a real repair....it's just the nature of the construction of these. You could call in a Pro to evaluate it, and they should offer you that for free....perhaps for a few $ they can do a better repair that would satisfy the landlord......wish I had more positive news, but post back if need be- 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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