Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Revitalize cherry

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Expert: - 9/20/2009


Question
Hi, I recently bought a cherry sideboard, used. It's in beautiful condition with the exception that it seems to have lost its' reddish color. It stands in contrast to the rest of our cherry dinning room furniture. If I strip off the old wax & polish is there a product I can use to bring back the color? I don't really want to completely strip it down to bare wood and re-stain it.  Thanks

Answer
Hey Mark, there's no way to change the color of the wood without getting down to the wood. It would very likely regain it's natural color if stripped with a methylene chloride stripper, as there is a chemical reaction with the wood, but because the change is in the surface layer of the wood itself, there's no way to change it over the finish. You'll have to get to the wood itself to effect a change. Many people want these subtle changes to show in furniture such as this, as proof of it's age, it's almost impossible to fake, and it's part of the overall patina of a true Antique. But if it's undesirable to you, then it can be changed back, but there's no easy way. 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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