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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Refinishing a 1930-1940 Dining Room Table and Chairs
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Question
Hi Greg,
I'm looking at buying a table and chairs that I found at a vintage/"loved" antiques store but the finish has hairline cracks over the surface and there are some rings where hot cups were placed. It's a walnut veneer and the store owner is not sure what material is under the veneer but is pretty sure that it's plywood. I've been told that this fairly common for this time?
How do I go about refinishing this table (and chairs) without damaging the table? I want to stain the wood slightly to bring out the grain once I'm done and seal it to prevent damage from hot items again. Is it possible to prevent heat damage?
Thank you,
M.
Hi Mir, the first thing would be to chemically strip off the finish in the worst areas, (like the top), but it's likely the table is lacquered, and therefore the rest of the pieces may be restorable, as lacquer repairs and re-coats well...(but ONLY with more lacquer).If you're not familiar with this type of work, I can't really recommend that you do it, as it takes a fair amount of knowledge and skill to do correctly....and it may not be a good choice to learn on, as Dining tables are tricky and show every imperfection (on the top at least). Traditional stripping, sanding, staining and finishing techniques won't damage the furniture, but it does sound like veneer and that takes care to make sure you don't damage that...the best way to prevent heat damage is to not risk causing it, by using protection for anything hot or wet on the table...please feel free to post back, while I'm not trying to say you can not do this type of work, it does take familiarity with the methods, techniques, materials and supplies to do properly and yield a professional, durable result....perhaps starting with a chair or small end or side table would be a better "guinea pig"......regards- Greg
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Answers by Expert:
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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