Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Kitchen Maple set

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Expert: - 8/26/2010


Question
I have a really nice maple set that unfortunately suffered water damage from a leaky cottage roof - I managed to get the worst of the "warping" fixed but need to now refinish -how to remove the existing finish? - can experiment on one of the leafs - how to get the "Maple" color back,  Thanks

Answer
Hi Ron, stripping it with varnish remover is the correct and most thorough way to ready it for a new finish. As far as the color, it might be 'natural' (some Maples have a warm brown color)...or you can stain it with a Gel stain or a Dye stain (Col. Maple,Nutmeg, Prairie Wheat,New Pine,Golden Pine all wood be good Maple colors, and you can intermix to your hearts content) .....or an oil stain, but Maple can "blotch" so it can be tricky to get an even stain tone...General makes an excellent Gel stain...they're fool proof and easy to apply, and their "Satin Gel Urethane Top Coat" is an excellent wipe on Polyurethane as well. These are really "goof proof" finishes and once you try these, you'll never go back to conventional stains/polyurethanes.....WoodCraft sells them, and other places online....worth the hunt. Regards- Greg

http://www.woodcraft.com/Family/2005555/GENERAL-Gel-Top-Coat-and-Stains.aspx

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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