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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Repairing chipped wood veneer on dining table

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Expert: - 6/21/2011


Question
Several years ago movers scratched my dining table and I didn't complain....so now, I want to reapair it..is not much but enough to bother me.  Table is in great condition, no other scrachts on it, or water marks, is looking great except for this lifted veneer areas.  Can I try to repair it myself? I think my biggest problem is finding the right stain...I asked a professional but he said he needed to sand the whole table..so I was worried about the new stain matching the legs, chais and sides of the table, and since the veneer has a beautiful design on it, that would be gone....also, that wouldn't help the lifted veneer...any suggestion?
Thanks! Mercedes

Answer
Hi Mercedes, anyone who would advise 'sanding down a whole table' is not a Professional in my opinion...this is not the correct way to refinish anything but a floor. If it is in as good a shape as you say, a Pro could repair the veneer, clean it, wet sand it, touch up the areas in need,and recoat it without removing the original finish at all....and that would not affect the color, other than to renew it. Lifted veneer can be tricky unless along the edges where glue can be worked under the veneer with a pallet knife or similar thin tool, and then clamped flat until dry. A Pro should also have no trouble matching a stain, and any inlay or veneer designs would refinish as well as they did on the original finish. Typically, this type of repair and finish work is not the realm of the DIY'er...so I would recommend finding another "professional" to evaluate it with you. I would be happy to remain as your "backup" here to help with any questions about what another "professional" would say to you....hope that helps- 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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