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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Changing Whitewash Cabinets

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Expert: - 8/7/2009


Question
Hello, We have whitewash ash cabinets in our kitchen and bathrooms.  We would like to go to a darker chocolate color.  What are the steps to take off the whitewash, add gel or glaze or just restain, and then seal the cabinets.  Thank you, Kathleen

Answer
Hi Kathleen, you would need to completely strip the cabinets of the existing finish, a large job, and then they would need to be sanded, prepped, stained, and finished, and to get a "chocolate" look, they would likely need to be dye stained and toned with a colored clear, followed by a clear coat finish. These are typically not DIY finishes, and need to be applied in multiple steps, utilizing spray equipment and a wealth of knowledge and techniques.It's not something you can achieve with just stain and poly from a can. Typically it will cost very close to replacing the cabinets, and this is why it's very seldom attempted.Stripping a modern, catalyzed finish can be an exercise in frustration alone, not to mention then having to produce a furniture grade, durable finish on cabinets that are already installed....post back if need be- 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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