Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/old rail new rail

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Expert: - 2/2/2010


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My husband installed a new oak railing. It matches our older oak but I was told to use mineral spirits and then varnish? on the older railing to get the actual color it has darkened from furniture polish and age 25 years.Structurally it is beautiful. I also have built in curio cabinets between my living room and dining room that are also beautiful just older and probably has some accumulation of life on them.

thanks sheila

Answer
Hi Shiela, mineral spirits is a good choice for cleaning off old wax, grease, grime, etc., prior to refinishing or a new finish if the wood has been being used for a while before being finished.A light sand ing with 120-180 grit sand paper is also a good idea.....but to darken and/or match an older railing you'll likely need to stain and then finish.Oak is notoriously hard and therefore doesn't stain dark easily without the aid of a dye based stain instead of an oil stain....then 2-3 coats of an oil based polyurethane varnish on top of the dried stain.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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