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Expert: - 6/22/2011


Question
Hi -

I recently bought a Danish teak table. I have a 4-month old and several young nephews and nieces. I do not want to worry about water and heat stains. How can I waterproof my table?

Thank you!

Elizabeth

Answer
Hi Elizabeth, there really is no such thing as waterPROOFing a piece of wooden furniture, you'll need to be vigilant about wiping up spills, rings, etc., as soon as possible...often these pieces arrive finished very thinly from the factory, and often they are finished with a "danish oil" finish, which is a wipe on oil finish that's really akin to a thin varnish.A call or email to the manufacturer can help verify this... If that's the case, you could apply a couple of coats of WaterLox, which is one of these finishes, compatible with the original finish and pretty easy to apply. The more coats however, while adding to the water resistance of the table, will also start to "build" like a varnish and change the look, and possibly the color of the table as well....so it's a fine line as to whether to do it...and what to expect. These finishes also start to wear thin with excessive cleaning, etc...so make sure to hand dry the surface after any cleanups with a clean dish towel...and don't use sprays like Pledge,or cleaners like Fantastik, Windex, etc. etc on this type of finish...they can actually shorten the life of the finish. Please post back if need be- regards- Greg

http://www.waterlox.com/

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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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