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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets

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Expert: - 4/13/2010


Question
Hi Greg,

we are considering refinishing our dated (15 yrs old) kitchen cabinets (made of oak). The cabinets are currently "pickled" or stained with a white wash finish. We would like to know what the recommended method for removing existing stain in order to apply a different stain color to the cabinet. Thanks for your help.

Answer
Hi Ruben, it would entail completely stripping the old finish down to the wood with chemical stripper. A HUGE job, but imperative if you hope to change the color. Trying to completely refinish a set of cabinets, installed on the wall, is difficult at best, disruptive for sure, (for WEEKS), and applying a deep, rich, furniture grade, finish on a room full of cabinets is a job that requires a high level of skill, knowledge and technique to do properly. Modern cabinet finishes are state of the art,catalyzed finishes that meet rigid KCMA standards for durability and toughness, and will last 20+ years with little to no maintenance. A novice finisher, with consumer grade finishing materials cannot hope to even come close to this type of finish.....I would look into refacing as an option......estimates are free, no obligation, usually, and it's not as expensive as replacing....but you'll get the benefit of these superior finishes and the updated look you're after with the absolute minimum of mess and disruption, as the doors and drawer fronts come already finished.....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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