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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Finishing a cedar chest.

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Expert: - 11/23/2010


Question
I have purchased an Amish made unfinished cedar chest, (All Cedar) for a Christmas present. We are wanting to paint a design on the front and polyurethane the outside of the chest. There are small staples stapled around the chest. We where going to fill the holes with a stained wood putty,  paint the design, then polyurethane the chest. My question is this.  Do we polyurethane first, putty, paint then re-poly? Or, putty, paint, then polyurethane? We have to many people telling us different ways.  Please help.  

Answer
Hey Cynthia, you could do either, but I would fill the holes first, as you'll likely need to color the wood filler with an artists brush to make a better color match before sealing it with the first coat of poly, seal it with a first coat, and then do your painting. I would caution you, though, if this is a new piece of furniture, Cedar has a lot of natural resin that could cause your paint job to fail prematurely. If this is the case, a coat or two of Shellac (dewaxed), like Zinnsers Sealcoat, would be a wise decision to help seal the Cedar oils in.then do your painting, and after thorough drying, apply your final finish...hope that helps a little- post back if need be- regards- Greg

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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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