Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/kitchen cabinets

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Expert: - 4/25/2010


Question
cabinets are a pickled oak. The sides that receives the most direct light. I have now about three different shades from a gray to tan. They are made by merillat inds. Lable has 1985 standard. What can be done to restore the pickeled finish and touch up?

Answer
Hi Anthony, there's not much you can do, unfortunately, unless you have some pretty good finishing 'chops'...UV radiation will change the color/hues of many coloring agents over time, and the actual wood.To be able to attempt to restore/touch up such a finish, one needs to be able to know what products to use, what's available, How to properly prep,and how to custom mix and apply (spray) a suitable match. Pickling is done with several different colors as well, some grayish, some white, some off white. It takes a high degree of knowledge and experience to effect such restoration.....not a job for a novice I'm afraid. A Pro Restorer could probably do it, but he'd have to come in and evaluate it with you.Probably not what you wanted to hear, but hope it helps- 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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