Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/furniture refinishing

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Expert: - 9/22/2009


Question
I am refinishing a desk, I am in the process of stripping it using Formby's furniture refinisher.  The desk is stained a brown color and I would like to stain it pickling white.  Do I have to get the brown stain completely out or can I use the refinisher to get the build up and finish off, then lightly sand and put the white pickle stain?  Will the original stain show through the whit pickling?
Thanks

Answer
Hi Carol, I would recommend trying to get all the old finish off as best as possible. The Formby's product is quite thin if it's the one I think it is, and evaporates rather quickly. A paste type stripper might be a better choice, like Citristrip, or a Methylene chloride stripper. Depending on what type of wood it is, the brown coloration may be the natural color of the wood, (Walnut, Cherry, Mahogany, etc.), so you may not be able to remove it all....but yes, whatever's under the pickling stain will show through usually, so it's imperative to end up with a uniform, clean surface, but a little brown coloration will probably be ok. You'll have to see how the pickling goes on when you get to that step, and what it dries like....only then will you be able to evaluate the look, and decide if it's what you're trying to get....Post back if need be- regards- Greg.

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

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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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