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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/refinishing veneer table and hutch

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Expert: - 7/6/2010


Question
I have a veneer table and hutch that need refinished. I believe the wood and wood veneer are ash.  The wood stain was described as blond many years ago.  The table legs are a set of columns on hinges that are either positioned in a v-formation to support the table top flaps on the ends of both sides of the table or are placed in alignment when the ends of the table top flaps fold down along the sides of the table. These legs are a set of rounded columns and made of solid wood.  There are 3 leaves that can be used to extend the length of this table.  The table top and leaves need stripped and refinished or painted.  The hutch has several chipped areas along the corner which will require wood fill.  All parts of these pieces of furniture require at least a fresh coat of lacquer.  My question:  Is it possible to strip furniture where many parts are veneer, restain this and lacquer?  Or would it be better to sand, repair and paint considering my inexperience with refinishing wood?

Answer
Hi Chris,regardless of what steps you decide to take, stripping the old finish is the best course of action if it's in bad shape. Lacquer can be repaired, but it takes a skilled hand to do so...and familiarity with the methods, materials and techniques. It would be a shame to paint a nice piece like this... You could strip it off and refinish with an easier finish to use like a wipe on urethane or an oil/varnish finish like Waterlox.Strip it first with a good stripper, (I like Citristrip), and then do your repair work, sanding, staining and finish in that order. Hope that helps- please post back if need be.Regards- Greg

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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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