Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/rosewood furniture

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Expert: - 1/21/2011


Question
We just received Dad's rosewood furniture,It is very dirty,It is not lacquered We need to clean is Murphy's oil soap ok to use to clean and then use a tung oil we have tables,chairs sofa, chests,bedroom set. The bedroom set is mother of pearl inlay in rosewood.  How do I clean this, This does look like it has a light lacquer finish because it is flaking off.

Answer
Hi Pat, I don't care for Murphy's and it can leave a residue behind, a bad thing if you're going to be applying more coats of finish...I would start with some white ScotchBrite pads and maybe  0000 steel wool and mineral spirits, or you can buy Formby's Build up remover if you can find it...it's being regulated out of many states unfortunately....but mineral spirits will work to cut dirt, grime, and cigarette residue.Use plenty of light colored rags so you can see your progress..the other trick is to wet sand the surfaces with Watco Rejuvenating oil and some 400-600 wet/dry sandpaper and the 0000 steel wool for irregular shaped areas, (arms, moldings and other details)....work in small areas, and completely wipe off the slurry well, as you work, finishing with a wipe down of the whole surface, and let it dry overnight before applying a coat or 2 of a Tung oil finish or Watco Danish Oil if the results are pleasing after the cleaning.You can get it in colors, like a Medium Walnut, that will help renew the appearance and bring some life back into the pieces...depending on how bad they are.Remember the key to working with these oil products is very thin coats and thorough drying in between.If they get sticky while working with them, simply add more and thenwipe the whole surface off carefully...Read, follow, and understand all directions AND precautions, Be especially careful about the spontaneous combustion guidelines. If you're unable to get good results this way,then a more aggressive technique may need to be employed........Hope that helps

http://www.formbys.com/products/buildup_remover.cfm

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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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