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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/refinishing kitchen cabinets

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Expert: - 1/20/2010


Question
Dear Sir,

I have white washed Lafata kitchen cabinets.They are 20 years old. Stain and urethane have worn down under the sink area. It seems a sin to paint them. Is it possible to stain a darker finish? Any tips on stripper, stain and urethane brands that work best? I would love to stain them a reddish brown.

Answer
Hi Gayle, your cabinets likely have a commercial catalyzed lacquer or varnish finish, and not a urethane...and the only way you could attempt to darken them would be to chemically strip down to bare wood and then stain and refinish. This is a HUGE job, and not one I would recommend for a novice. It will also depend on what type of wood you're dealing with, as to how you would go about getting the color you desire...what's your finishing experience level?....and do you know what kind of wood they are, or could you post a picture?

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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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