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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Bradbury and co. Metal Sewing machine base

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Expert: - 7/13/2011


Question
Hi Greg, I have a metal base I want to use as an end table. There are some small rust spots showing and I font want this to continue. There is some gold decoration and so I don't want to cover that up. Should I wash It and spray clear polyurethane to preserve it?

Answer
Hi Dinah, you could spray it with a few things,(Krylon Clear Acrylic, Lacquer, Shellac) or you could even give it a coat or two of Tung oil.I would not wash it with water or anything waterbased.... Usually I will use a Tung oil finish like WaterLox, Formby's (Not Gloss though) or Watco Clear Danish Oil as a sanding liquid, with some 400-600-1200 grit wet/dry paper, and/or a small wire brush, to clean and smooth a slightly rusted piece of metal like this, (I restore plane bodies like this as well), wiping off the slurry as you go, and then when satisfied with the appearance, wipe it all off very thoroughly, leaving a very thin layer.These finishes are "long" oil finishes and will penetrate the rusted areas,and coat the metal, and then cure hard like a very thin varnish. Then after 12-24 hours, I'll apply another thin coat or two (overnight drying between coats), and that gives the surface a nice clean look, and a good protective layer, without looking like it's been sprayed with a surface finish.It won't ever flake, chip, or peel, and can be re-applied down the road to "freshen" the look.....Hope that helps.Post back if need be- Regards- 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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