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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/treating a mahogany slab

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Expert: - 9/15/2009


Question
Hi,
We have got a beautiful mahogany slab that we are going to be using for our servery window in the kitchen.  We want to be able to keep it looking as natural as possible, but we realise that it needs to be protected, apart from staining and varnishing what other options do we have?  Looking forward to what you have to suggest.
Cheers
Lorraine

Answer
Hi Lorraine, I would suggest a penetrating oil finish like WaterLox.It is a modified Tung oil finish that will soak into the wood and harden from within, not sit ON the wood like a surface finish.(varnishes, lacquers, etc) It won't chip, peel, flake, and leaves the natural look of the wood,(until you've applied 5-6 or more coats...then it will start to build like a surface finish.)It can be reapplied down the road as well, with just a good cleaning of the surface. You'll want to finish the entire slab with several coats with proper dry time between them to let each coat cure. Hopefully this slab is dry? ( to about 8-10% moisture content) Check it out here:

http://www.waterlox.com/desktopmodules/fathomecom/catalog/category.aspx?tabid=42...

Poke around on their site, (especially the gallery)....I would suggest the "Original Satin" product, which will leave the wood a low sheen, yet protect it ....Hope that helps- regards- Greg

http://www.waterlox.com/desktopmodules/fathomecom/Catalog/ProductDetail.aspx?ct=...

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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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