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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/refinishing oak andorandack chairs

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Expert: - 6/16/2009


Question
these chairs are beautiful custom made but made of oak and then varnished or urethaned. As you might guess they are now somewhat weathered and in need of refinishing. Ideally I'd like to keep them natural in color but I'm concerned that will be a constant maintenance issue. Should I use a deck stripper and then finish w/ multiple layers of spar, paint over a sealer of some sort or just paint, etc.,etc. Any and all comments will be appreciated!

Answer
Hey Bill, I would strip them with a furniture stripper first, because I don't think a deck stripper will strip Varnish. It will help with any discoloration and/or mildew though, as it contains Oxalic acid. Then I would choose (after thorough drying) a penetrating finish like Flood CWF or Cabots Australian Timber oil. I would stay away from any pigmented film finish like semi solid or solid stains or paints, as they will flake and degrade....the penetrating finishes don't sit on top of the wood, and can be recoated every year or so....hope that helps- Greg

http://www.flood.com/Flood/Products/Exterior/WoodCare/CWUV_Woodcare.htm

http://www.cabotstain.com/products/product/Australian-Timber-Oil.html

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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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