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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Sun marks on wooden furniture

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Expert: - 11/26/2010


Question
Foolishly I left an ornament on a wooden piece of furniture (light wood - not sure what type of wood, though) that is in the sun for some of the morning of each day and I have now discovered that the area beneath the ornament is a shade or two lighter that the rest of the surface of the piece of furniture.  Is there any cure?  Is it wishful thinking that if I now remove the ornament, given time, the "stain" area will get darker again as the sun gets on that spot?  I don't actually understand how the bit covered by the ornament gets lighter anyhow - I would have thought that the bit protected by the ornament would have stayed darker and the rest of the piece of furniture would have lightened in the sun - but, hey , what do I know?! Thanks for any help and advice offered.

Answer
Hi Paulette, it depends on the species of wood...Maple, Cherry and some other Fruitwoods, and others will typically darken with UV exposure, Mahoganies, Walnut,Apple, Pear and others will bleach lighter...over time, it will blend with exposure, but whether it will 'catch up' is really not possible to guess...the top could be always refinished, but this would lose all the patina and subtle differences...but yield an even color to the surface...just remember, as soon as you put the table back in the same spot, the sun will start to work it's magic again....for better or worse.....please 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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