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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/wood glue and veneer repair

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Expert: - 8/18/2011


Question
I have a few pieces from a bedroom suite that I stored on our screened in porch for too long. As a result, the humidity has caused the veneer to start peeling at the bottom edges.

I saw a post answered by Eileen Cronk on this website, dated 10/11/2007, that seemed to answer some of the how-to steps I was looking for to repair these pieces before I try my hand at refinishing them. But she, like many others who address this topic online, only specified using "a good carpenter glue."

My first question is what is a "good" carpenter glue? Can you provide any brand or other recommendations to help me pick the right glue for the project?

Also, some of the veneer pieces have broken off and are now lost. I'm not super skilled, nor do I have fancy-schmancy tools, so I thought I'd just glue what is peeling, sand the exposed wood where the veneer is missing and stain it with the rest of the piece. Other than not looking super pretty, I'm wondering if there is any problem with this plan that I should be aware of. Or perhaps there is an easy way to add a veneer patch that a novice could do?

Thanks for your advice.

Answer
Hi Julia, Elmers Carpenters glue is a "good" glue, but I disagree with her a little...much of this furniture was put together with hide glue which is water soluble, one of the reasons it will delaminate in a humid environment...if it was originally glued with hide glue, it should be reglued with hide glue...the test is easy, just rub a moistened finger back and forth on some of the old, dry glue and see if it gets sticky to the touch. If it does it is hide glue. Franklin hide glue can be found at a good hardware store, like Ace.You'll need clamps and blocks and some wax paper to clamp everything flat while it dries (overnight). If the missing areas of veneer are fairly small, a latex wood filler can be used to fill in those areas, and colored to match during the staining process.(Elmers makes that too)..patching veneer is not a job for a novice....do all the repair work except for the filler before stripping, then after drying, fill, sand and stain in prep for the new finish. 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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