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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing painted oak

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Expert: - 9/21/2009


Question
I have some oak crown molding that has been painted white.  I've stripped the paint off and sanded.  I then applied a stain on the stripped oak.  Some of the white paint is still showing in the crevices of the grain.  When I had done this before with a dark stain it covered up the white in the grain.  Is there a way to get the white paint out of the grain?

Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Gene, this is always difficult to do, I find that scrubbing with a fine, small Brass "scratch" brush with the final coat of stripper will allow you to scrape out the grain the best, but you have to be thorough. Then while staining, keep a sharp cabinet scraper with you, and you can scrape any areas along details and crevices while wet with the stain to remove it as you go....a Gel stain may help too, due to it's thick nature, it has a tendency to settle in the pores and can work like a pore filler for you, and cover the light residue in them....hope that helps- 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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