Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Pickled oak cabinets

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Expert: - 1/23/2011


Question
QUESTION: I need to touch up manufactured pickled oak cabinets where they've been constantly touched to open. The purchased pickling stain doesn't seem to cover. Help!

ANSWER: Hi Jamie, what did you purchase? Typically it's really not possible to "touch up" this type of finish successfully.......for anything more than a small nick or scratch...worn areas don't touch up well, and have to be blended and then clear coated....even tough for a Pro to do well...

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

QUESTION: I got a Minwax pickled oak.  Is there something else you might recommend? Would it help to lightly sand?  It is my parents house and we are getting ready to sale it.

Answer
That type of repair really isn't possible with these finishes...it just doesn't blend or "feather" well into the surrounding finish.Lightly sanding with some 400-600 and careful cleaning might help, but any hope of replacing the actual color(pickling) coat without spraying techniques is a stretch... then a clear coat needs to be applied to match the original finish and sheen.. and help blend the repair. This is advanced finishing, and a tough repair for even a pro. These finishes are sprayed on, multi step processes, utilizing sealers, stains, pigmented color coats and clears.Wish I had better news, but you can already see that this is not an easy repair. A Pro restorer may be willing to try a touch up, so if you want to improve these for the sale, I would call in a Pro to evaluate it with you. 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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