Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Cabinet refinishing

Advertisement

Expert: - 5/21/2010


Question
I am refinishing our solid core plywood maple cabinets built in the 1960's and replacing a couple of damaged doors and drawers with non-solid core maple plywood (best grade).

I'm having a difficult time matching the finish on the new doors/drawer. Varnish seems to match the old doors/drawers but the off gassing is horrible.

I have tried clear polyurethane, clear and amber shellac, and varnish without success. It looks like I need more brown for the new doors to match.
Do you think the light brown color on the old doors come from aging or a light stain?
Do you have any suggestions on matching colors?

Thanks for your time.
Richard

Answer
Hi Richard, did you strip the old cabinets? Often a lot of the color is from oxidation and UV light, and trying to match those changes is very difficult...The Maple veneers of that day were also different, more mature trees, etc.... and Maple will darken and get browner with age and exposure to UV.You will likely have to stain the newer wood to get closer to the old, but I would be looking at a Dye, and not a pigmented stain. Generals waterborne dyes are very good, but they are also much trickier to work with than a conventional oil stain....they are prone to 'lapping' and blotching if they are applied too dark or too heavily, and they dry quickly which means working quickly. If you need to thin them, only use the proper thinner from General. What you're attempting to do is advanced finishing...and it can be frustrating.If you have a WoodCraft store nearby, take a door over there and see if they can help.....post back- regards- Greg

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2020491/General-Finishes-Water-Based-Dyes-.aspx

Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks

All Answers

Answers by Expert:

Ask Experts

Volunteer

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.

©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.