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QUESTION: Dear Greg,
I had two cabinet doors made approximately 27x40. Typical tongue and groove construction, wood. Designed for indoor use. I wanted to use them outdoors. The humidity sprung them apart. I have re-glued after storing them in a warm dry place and now want to put in large air vents as the cabinet houses a refrigerator. Will I be able to seal the well enough to prevent a recurrence? It was obviously the center panel. If I cut a large enough hole in it for the vent and seal it with, say, marine varnish. Your thoughts please, Thanks, Dick Schlueter
Richard Schlueter
Senior R & D Engineer
Ikonisys, Inc.
Five Science Park
New Haven, CT 06511
Ph: (203) 776-0791 ext. 210
Fax: (203) 776-0795
http://www.ikonisys.com
ANSWER: Hi Dick, tell me a little more please. What type of wood are the doors made from? Are they stile and rail with just a large single center panel? Are they 3/4" thick? Vents would help, but as you know a refrigerator puts out a lot of warm air, inside the enclosed area, and the humidity would be fluctuating wildly outside the enclosure, so this would take a toll on any multi part door of 3/4" thickness......
---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------
QUESTION: Greg, it is a 3/4 inch door w/ one center panel. the thermal expansion of the wood is close to pine i believe, and stile and rail. thanks ds
There's no way you'll be able to stop any wood movement with a finish alone. These are really tall doors to make from 3/4" material, and a single, large center panel doesn't help. Also, a soft wood like Pine is not the best choice. Will these doors see weather? If so, they will not stand up I'm afraid.....
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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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