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Expert: - 9/30/2010


Question
QUESTION: After using a furniture stripping product, I now have gray spots over the entire top of the table.  They do not sand off. What can I do to remove them?

ANSWER: What stripper were you using, and did you use steelwool? It sounds like a reaction with the steel and the stripper.....some strippers willoxidize the steel wool fragments.........also what king of wood is it?

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: The product was Crown Handi-Strip and yes I used steel wool.  Is there any way to remove this?

Thank you,

Gayle

Answer
The stripper itself seems like a Methylene Chloride stripper, and therefore wouldn't have reacted with the steelwool...did you water wash the surface after stripping? Oxalic acid solution would probably remove the spots, you can get it at a good hardware store in crystalline form and mix into a hot water solution. You need to read, understand, and follow ALL directions and precautions on the label BEFORE using it....this is a bleaching solution and will also lighten the wood slightly, but it excels at removing black spots, rust, and other staining on woods...post back if need be, can you post a picture?

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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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