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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Oak Wainscotting looks faded - what product should we use?

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Expert: - 1/4/2010


Question

Oak panelling
Hi Greg,

We have a 1900 vintage home with oak wainscotting that is really beautiful and well preserved.  It seems as if it could use a little conditioning because it looks dry.  I tested a little boiled linseed oil on an inconspicuous area and it really looks good...I just want to make sure that I'm using the correct product before I apply this throughout.  Any suggestions?

Thanks kindly,

Natasha

Answer
Hi Natasha, I wouldn't use Boiled Linseed oil anymore, it has a habit of darkening over time and breaking down on a surface...I would steer you towards a Tung oil finish or a Danish oil product like Watco. It's available in colors too to add a bit of richness to the wood...(medium Brown is a good color usually)....but my fave is WaterLox "Original". This is a modified Tung oil/varnish product that's easy to apply and will revive your paneling beautifully. The only caveat here is if someone has waxed it in the past...wax will interfere with drying of any of these types of products, so I would wash down the paneling with some rags and mineral spirits, drying with clean rags as you go. This will likely make the paneling look nice while wet, and it will also allow you to see if there are any problem areas. After the mineral spirits dries off the paneling will likely look even drier, but that will be fixed with the very first coat of the WaterLox or Watco.....follow the directions on the product, and especially the cautions, as these products can spontaneously combust on rags and the like.....applying a few thin coats,  wiping them off well and evenly after a few minutes is the key. 2-3 coats with 24hrs. dry time in between each coat will give a soft luster and revive and protect the paneling for years to come....feel free to post back- regards- Greg

http://www.waterlox.com/


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

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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