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 QUESTION: I have a Lane bedroom set manufactured in the 80's that is finished in a light ash veneer. I remember the finish as blonde/gray. It has held up well but the finish has turned very yellow either from the sun exposure or gas heat. This is evident because the wood under where accessories once were placed is lighter than the wood exposed to the air/light. You can see the vague outline of a a flat hand mirror on the top of the dresser surface. I love this furniture. What can I do to restore it to its original blond/gray tones?
ANSWER: Hi Peggy, are there/were there smokers in the house?
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QUESTION: Yes, there were although the smoker was upstairs; the bedroom suite was downstairs where he didn't spend much time.
Answer Hi Peggy, if the finish is yellowing all over the piece, then it's likely the lacquer aging and yellowing due to UV exposure, as nitrocellulose lacquers do yellow with age in some cases. If it's only the horizontal surfaces, or they seem to be worse, then a thorough cleaning might restore them to a cleaner, less yellow state. But because of the age of the piece, it's likely that the finish is just suffering the ravages of time, and the only way to stop that is to refinish the pieces. Properly cleaning a whole bedroom set of lacquered furniture is a large, labor intensive job, involving solvents, and then vigorous hand buffing with various buffing/polishing compounds....but the finish may not respond to the treatment if it is in fact suffering from breakdown as I suspect. I would seek the help of a Pro Restorer to come in and evaluate it, or you could bring a smaller piece to them (like a bedside stand, etc.), they should offer a free evaluation, and even an estimate for restoring the pieces, and a clear explanation of what that would involve.Hope that helps- regards- Greg
