AboutGreg 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.
Question What is the best way to clear coat cabinets after they have been stained, ie: polyurethane vs. wood lacquer?? and can they be applied via spraying or hand brushing?? Thanks.
Answer Hey Tony, what a loaded question.....it really depends on several variables....like: what's your equipment and finishing environment? Whats your skill level and finishing experience? What look, color scheme,(toning, glazing,etc) and final gloss level are you after? A sprayed on catalyzed finish (lacquer, Urethane,or varnish, {solvent or waterborne}) that meets KCMA standards is the most common and durable finish one can apply, and spraying is really the only choice for those type of finishes. They offer high tech chemistry, deep color and clarity, and extreme durability to be able to stand up to a harsh environment with little to no maintenance for 20+ years. Trying to get an even, deep,uniformly smooth, furniture grade finish with a brush on the typical cabinet doors that has raised panels, and the typical edge details found on most cabinets is really almost impossible, unless you have a lot of experience doing so. Consumer grade polyurethane and/or conventional lacquers are not the best choice for kitchen cabinets. They just don't offer the durability or toughness/water resistance to stand up in the harsh environment when compared to the previous mentioned finishes. I have seen alternately finished cabinets like a Cherry kitchen done with a Tung oil/varnish blend like WaterLox, which can be "padded" on, and I have also seen natural Oak cabinets done with a wipe on Gel Urethane topcoat. Again, some skill is required to produce a professional looking, durable finish with any of these methods and materials, but typically kitchen cabinet finishing is not a "DIY" project for the typical homeowner. Hope that doesn't confuse you more...post back if need be- regards- Greg
