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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Staining: How the Pros Do It?

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Expert: - 1/2/2010


Question
Greg,
I've read some of your past posts on how to get a professional look for staining cabinets and furniture.  I have conceded that I will never get a similar result as a professional furniture factory or cabinet maker.  That said, I have several unfinished cabinets that I would like to contract out for staining. Two questions: 1. Do I contact painting contractors for this type of service? 2. What is the process for commercial cabinet finishes - am I looking for someone with experience with dye stains? I want to be somewhat educated on the process before I start talking to contractors.  Thanks again for help.  

Answer
Hi Doug, it depends on a few variables...what type of wood, and what type and color finish you're looking to achieve.Typically, painting contractors are not capable of much more than stain and polyurethane.This is a consumer grade finish, and one would be lucky to get 5 years of durability from such a finish (same with paint) Modern Cabinet finishes are catalyzed Urethanes or catalyzed lacquers/varnish, sprayed on over high quality stains, (sometimes dye based, sometimes pigmented, sometimes both), and often the use of "toning" as well, which is the process of spraying colored clears over the stain/sealer coats to even grain, slightly blend other imperfections, and deepen color, or shift hues.Then clear coated over that.These finishes meet or exceed KCMA standards and will provide a durable, furniture grade finish for 20+ years. I would be looking for a Kitchen cabinet shop,or Professional finisher, someone who knows these terms that I've just outlined, and can provide you with samples or references of work they've actually done... Hope that helps- 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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