Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/ALDER "BLOTCHING"

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Expert: - 4/18/2010


Question
HELLO GREG,

BOY DO I NEED SOME HELP.
WE ARE ABOUT TO START A NEW JOB STAINING OF NEW ALDER CABINETS THROUGH OUT THIS NEW HOME AND WE CAN NOT GET OUR SAMPLES RIGHT FOR THE HOME OWNER. THE CUSTOMER LOVES THE COLOR, BUT HATES THE BLOTCHING.
I HAVE TRIED A WASH COAT OF OF COND. FIRST FOLLOWED BY THE STAIN.
STILL AFTER WHIPPING ON THE STAIN, (OIL BASE) NOT A SPRAY STAIN ACID TONE BASE,VALSPAR PRODUCT IN OIL. WE ARE STILL GETTING THE BLOTCHIE LOOK. I HAVE ALSO TRIED APPLYING AFTER THE SAND %26 SEALER GOES ON GEL, GLAZE, LINSEED WITH NAPHA MIXED WITH UTC COLORANTS. BUT ADDING ALL THIS IS TAKING WAY TO MUCH TIME AND MONEY ON MY CUSTOMER. I HOPE YOU HAVE A MORE SIMPLE WAY OF GETTING OUT THE BLOTCHING SO WE DON'T HAVE TO GO THROUGH ALL THESE STEPS.
THANK YOU FOR YOUR HELP!
TIM

Answer
Hey Tim, first of all,please do not type in all cap's...it makes it appear as if you're yelling...you will need to slow down a bit and clarify a few things for me...I'm having trouble understanding exactly what it is you're doing;

NOT A SPRAY STAIN ACID TONE BASE,(?)
VALSPAR PRODUCT IN OIL. WE ARE STILL GETTING THE BLOTCHIE LOOK. I HAVE ALSO TRIED APPLYING AFTER THE SAND %26 SEALER GOES ON GEL, GLAZE, LINSEED WITH NAPHA MIXED WITH UTC COLORANTS.- (you mean all of that together??)

What clear coat schedule are you going to use over the stain, and how dark a color are you trying to achieve?and what is your application method?

"I HAVE TRIED A WASH COAT OF OF COND"- what conditioner are you referring to? Minwax? you should be applying it liberally and then wiping it off, then staining almost immediately....if you're trying to achieve a darker stain color, you'll need to approach it a different way, most likely...
Please post back and explain in a little more detail.....thanks- 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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