Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Removing Stain

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Expert: - 3/27/2011


Question
QUESTION: Have a chest which had a mapele finish..not sure of wood type but removed the finish/stain with "Howards refinisher and it was fine...put on Howard's Resor A Finish (Walnut) and I guess since the wood was not walnut and too porous it became blotchy and uneven....want to remove this stain completely back to bare wood and looking for a solution short of sanding the drawer front until clean
Thanks
Wayne

ANSWER: Hi Wayne, you'll need to strip it now with stripper...I'm not a big fan of those products, and I think the "Restore a finish" is really for trying to rework an existing finish...not for refinishing after removing a finish.....post back if need be- regards- Greg

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

QUESTION: Thanks for th quick response...I have used a number of strippers and some worked well and others did not...can you recommend one?
Wayne

Answer
I use Citristrip almost exclusively now, which is an NMP stripper that smells like oranges...it takes a little longer to work, but is good for most finishes and healthier than the Methylene chloride strippers...that said...the MC strippers are fast and thorough, just use them in a ventilated area ( but not too ventilated, or they will dry out prematurely) and exercise caution, read and follow all the directions and precautions on the product label. The ACE branded 'semi paste' stripper is a good product at a good price from ACE hardware stores...hope that helps- Greg

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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