Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/repairing door trim

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Expert: - 8/13/2009


Question
Hi Greg, there are several door trims in the house where either the paint has chipped, or the wood is damaged. Can this be fixed or do I have to change all the door trims?

Answer
Hi Elsa, typically painted trim can be filled, repaired, and then just spot primed and repainted. Only if the damage is really bad will you have to replace it.....in most cases a good latex filler ( like Elmers Wood Filler) will suffice to fill holes, gouges, ets, and for really bad areas, or larger areas that have to be rebuilt,and probably recarved or recontoured, you can use a two part filler like the Minwax "High Performance" product.The only caveat to that stuff is that it hardens in stages to become as hard as rock, so any shaping, carving, etc.,has to be done during the hardening phase when the product has the consistency of hard cheese, and that only lasts about 15 minutes before it starts to get very hard. After that, it's very difficult to work. Hope that helps a little- post back if need be- 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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