Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/painting oak cabinets

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Expert: - 6/9/2009


Question
QUESTION: We have a golden oak kitchen and are interested in painting them for a more modern look What is your recommendation for this?

ANSWER: Hey Tom it's a huge job, but can be done....clean the cabinets well with a degreaser, depending on the primer you choose you may not want to use TSP...some don't recommend it. Scuff sand with some 220-180 grit, then prime and paint. Use good quality brushes,small foam touch up rollers, and the best paint you can find...like Benjamin Moore Acrylic enamels. Paint carefully and you should be able to get professional results.....post back if need be- Greg

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: What's your thought on using an oil based paint ?

Answer
Oil Paint is fine, and will likely give even better results....but it's very susceptible to dust contamination while drying because of the much longer drying time, and of course it will lengthen the whole job considerably, as you'll need to wait till each coat is thoroughly dry before recoating....12- 24hrs vs. 6 or so for the waterbornes...then there's the issue of solvents and cleaning brushes, etc., etc. Also, be aware that all paints and stains have had to be recently reformulated to comply with new VOC (volatile organic compound) regulations, and this has changed the way many products apply, act, and dry...mostly for the negative in my recent experience, it's a relatively inexpensive exercise to buy a quart of each and compare side by side on two drawers or similar......hope that helps.

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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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