Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/red oak cabinets

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Expert: - 6/13/2009


Question
QUESTION: Hi Greg, I read your response to someone who had sanded down their staircase railings and wanted to preserve the natural light color of the wood.  I have newly constructed red oak cabinets and feel the same way.  I want to preserve the natural color of the wood.  Would your advice for the
railings (water borne urethane with a catalyst-not sure what you mean by catalyst) work for kitchen cabinets as well or should use something else?  Thank you for your assistance and advice!

ANSWER: Are these cabinets unfinished?

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

QUESTION: yes, raw wood, newly constructed cabinets.

Answer
An Acrylic urethane or a lacquer would leave the cabinets the lightest. Catalyzed finishes (lacquers, Varnishes, urethanes),are a two part finish that excel in durability and toughness. Cabinet manufacturers use these finishes almost exclusively, and they produce a deep, rich, durable, finish that can stand up to the rigors of a kitchen environment with little to no maintenance for 20+ years. These are NOT finishes for the novice or "do it yourselfer", however.If you take some mineral spirits on a rag and wipe down your Red Oak, that will approximate the color of the finished cabinet. If that's not light enough, you've picked the wrong wood. Have these cabinets been installed unfinished??( hopefully not) Trying to finish installed cabinets is a nightmare and, it will be very difficult to impossible find a Pro to finish these onsite as well. Typically, kitchen cabinet finishing is serious finishing, requiring experience, knowledge, KCMA rated materials and spray equipment, to produce a durable, furniture grade finish that will stand up for years. 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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