Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Furniture finishes

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Expert: - 12/8/2010


Question
QUESTION: Hi Greg,
How can I tell what finish is on my new coffee and end table set?
The retailer is unable to give any advise whatever

ANSWER: Hi Lorne...the best way is to contact the manufacturer nowadays...there should be some type of mark on the piece, inside a drawer, on the back or bottom....it used to be a fairly easy question to answer, but now it's not...many companies have moved to waterborne Acrylic Urethane and Catalyzed finishes based on the newer,low VOC technologies....some still use conventional finish technology.....post back - Greg

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Is it safe to assume that overseas manufacturers are less
regulated RE: VOC's ?

Answer
No, it's not safe to say, infact many European countries are even more regulated and environmentally conscious...many of the newer, high tech waterborne finishes used in the kitchen cabinet and furniture industry, were developed in places like Italy, Germany, Scandinavia, etc. In Places like China and Asia, regulations are probably more lax or possibly even non existent..so it's a crapshoot. The problem is there are SO many more finish choices nowadays,and the chemistry and technology has been changing over the past few years, in a direction that's encouraging and more environmentally friendly, but it does make it difficult to guess what any given manufacturer is using, or changing to, currently....

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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