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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/stripping pickled oak chairs
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QUESTION: Hi,
I have started a project of stripping 6 oak chairs that have a whitewash and lacquer finish on them. The problem is getting all the paint out of the grain. I've stripped an old old table that did not have that "pickled" finish on it and was able to easily get it down to bare wood ready to put a finish on. But if I don't get the chairs down to bare wood no finish will match...the idea is to make the table and chairs a set. Any suggestions on my dilemma? Oh and would you please recommend a finish to use, I'd like something antique oak looking not dark though. Thank-you
ANSWER: Hi Mary, yes Oak has deep pores, and trying to get all of the pigment out of them can be challenging. Buy a fine Brass bristle brush, and use that when cleaning off the last bit of stripper to help open the pores up again. Then you can use a Gel stain to stain the chairs, and because of it's uniquely thick formula, it will help to fill the pores slightly and camouflage any left over paint...follow that with a few coats of a wipe on urethane like Generals Satin Gel Topcoat or a wipe on Tung oil varnish like Waterlox or Minwax's wipe on .Hope that helps- post back if need be......Greg
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Greg,
One more question. I found the leaves to the oak table out in the barn, they are very weathered and dark. I stripped and sanded them but they are still very dark. Would you think that using oxalic acid on them would help?
look forward to hearing from you, Mary
You could try that, yes....and if that doesn't work then a two part wood bleach, but It's kind of suspect if they didn't act like the table when stripped and sanded the same way....something else may have been used on them........and even if they do bleach out, it may be challenging to match them to the table, but there's only one way to find out. Best of luck- Greg
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Answers by Expert:
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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