| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| protecting interior of wooden house | 11/20/2009 |
Q: the project: interior of entire 1&1/2 floor house, of mostly wooden surfaces, consisting of: - ...
A: Any oil will darken the woods you have quite substantially, especially after the recommended 2-4 ...
|
| cleaning wood cabinets | 11/19/2009 |
Q: What is the best way to clean the built on grime on kitchen cabinets? What do you think about using ...
A: TSP is a water based mix, and can get down in the wood between the panels and stile and rails, and ...
|
| protecting interior of wooden house | 11/18/2009 |
Q: the project: interior of entire 1&1/2 floor house, of mostly wooden surfaces, consisting of: - ...
A: I am not aware of a product that would fit those criteria..especially the "natural" part. An Acrylic ...
|
| Applying Polyurethan to Stained Panel Door | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I have stained six panel interior doors and need to apply polyurethane to them. Can you advise the ...
A: you can spray them with an aerosol like the Minwax fast dry polyurethane. These cans are capable of ...
|
| Cabinet Staining and Finishing | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing my kitchen cabinets. The door panels are made of oak frame and oak plywood boards. ...
A: no you can't use the Minwax (or any other)oil stain in between other stain/finish coats, as it will ...
|
| kitchen cupboards - fingerprints | 11/16/2009 |
Q: OUr house was built 6 years ago, and already I have oily fingerprints on my kitchen cupboard doors ...
A: Throwing all those chemicals at a clear finish can definitely hurt the finish...409 and some other ...
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| kitchen cupboards - fingerprints | 11/15/2009 |
Q: OUr house was built 6 years ago, and already I have oily fingerprints on my kitchen cupboard doors ...
A: if you've tried all those, then you likely don't have oily fingerprints...you're seeing something ...
|
| Old wooden chest | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I have an old wooden chest, oak maybe I think, the top/lid has become very worn with ringmarks etc, ...
A: I'm assuming "white spirits" is the same as what we call mineral spirits?? I'm guessing the top is ...
|
| Old wooden chest | 11/14/2009 |
Q: I have an old wooden chest, oak maybe I think, the top/lid has become very worn with ringmarks etc, ...
A: can't tell the type of wood from the picture, but the top is pretty bad, I think you'll want to ...
|
| Exterior use of plywood | 11/13/2009 |
Q: I am repairing a garage door and plan of facing some old and weakened joints of the wood door with ...
A: I thought I sent out an answer yesterday, but I don't see it posted.....trying to do a sandwich type ...
|
| refinishing ash veneer cabinets | 11/12/2009 |
Q: we just put in ash hardwood floors...look great...but our attempt to match the stain to existing ash ...
A: but you have to strip the cabinets of the old finish with stripper, which is the correct course of ...
|
| Exterior use of plywood | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I am repairing a garage door and plan of facing some old and weakened joints of the wood door with ...
A: What type of repairs will you be making? Marine plywood is really the best choice, but you'll need ...
|
| bath vanity | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I have a bathroom vanity that is oak stained. How can I refinish it using a glaze. I would like to ...
A: Yeah, that's a glazing technique, the glaze is the brown (or any contrasting color) that simulates ...
|
| bath vanity | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I have a bathroom vanity that is oak stained. How can I refinish it using a glaze. I would like to ...
A: you mean you want it cream colored and then glazed? Like an Antique looking finish?....your vanity ...
|
| painting over painted cabinets | 11/10/2009 |
Q: We chose the wrong color for our bathroom cabinets. They were professionally painted a mauve color ...
A: I don't think you can hope to change these with some type of glaze....why did you sign off on the ...
|
| Painting cabinetry | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I am painting over my bathroom vanities and would like to know if there is something I can apply as ...
A: an Acrylic Urethane in Satin will give you added protection, especially a catalyzed one...I like ...
|
| sticky spots on kitchen cabinets | 11/9/2009 |
Q: I think the kitchen cabinets of the house we just bought had never been cleaned. They are ...
A: Unfortunately no....the best thing is to let it sit for a few weeks, then evaluate it again...if ...
|
| maple shaker table &chairs | 11/9/2009 |
Q: hopefully you can help me out. Due needing more seating for holiday gatherings, my wife and I just ...
A: I would not recommend using Tung oil or Linseed oil on a finished piece of furniture. If this is ...
|
| Diningroom furniture | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I purchased an expensive set about fifteen yrs. ago and never waxed or cleaned it, some of the chair ...
A: there isn't a product that can keep it from drying out.Furniture dries out from lack of humidity, ...
|
| Spruce up Stained Cabinets without Sanding to Bare Wood? | 11/7/2009 |
Q: Moved into a home with kitchen cabinets that are perhaps alder and have a very low sheen. There were ...
A: a tinted wax won't really do much for you....there's really no easy way to do what you want I'm ...
|
| Pine tongue and groove | 11/6/2009 |
Q: We have a screen porch with pine tongue and groove on the walls. It was stained, but not sealed and ...
A: it's likely that a lot of what you're seeing is also oxidation and darkening of the Pine due to ...
|
| Broker drawer -need help on repair | 11/5/2009 |
Q: Kinderkraft model 265 Double Dresser n Changer We've had this for almost 8 years. Have not had any ...
A: I'm assuming this has metal drawer slides, and usually they can be pulled all the way out by ...
|
| sticky spots on kitchen cabinets | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I think the kitchen cabinets of the house we just bought had never been cleaned. They are ...
A: Hey Chris, you've gotta be a little careful about putting a whole bunch of different chemicals on a ...
|
| wood stain | 11/4/2009 |
Q: i have a woodern fireplace whitch was waxed, while away my husband gave it a coat of stain and its ...
A: he stained OVER a wax?? tssk-tsssk.......the only choice now is to strip the stain and wax off with ...
|
| wax sealer | 11/3/2009 |
Q: My daughter bought a dining table that didn't have a protective coat. Greasy finger prints from ...
A: what finish did you use? Was this a factory table? It definitely had a finish of some type if it ...
|
| filler | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I filled a large hole in a paint grade project with epoxy/wood dust mix (west system 105-209 ) and ...
A: Hey Thom, I don't think the amount of acetone in the Famowood is enough to actually make a chemical ...
|
| Fix/refinish Cherrywood table | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I bought a cherrywood coffee table from Ashley Furniture about 4 years ago. I don't know a lot about ...
A: Working with lacquer takes some skill and knowledge to do a professional looking job, but stripping ...
|
| Amber oak cabinets | 11/2/2009 |
Q: Referencing your response to Dee on her Oct 16 09 enquiry about changing her amber oak cabinets ...
A: Hey Ed, I would still definitely recommend a primer/sealer recommended for the topcoat you choose. ...
|
| Torn cabinet | 11/2/2009 |
Q: Recently we painted our kitchen. And we taped around the edge of our cabinets. When we went to ...
A: this sounds like a vinyl veneer which is used on some older, cheaper cabinets, and will look like ...
|
| removing nails from built-in and refinishing | 11/1/2009 |
Q: The built-in entertainment center in my house was built by the previous owner. For some reason, he ...
A: Hey Jeremy, that's a good solution if you can drill dead center which will be tricky,or you could ...
|
| Fix/refinish Cherrywood table | 11/1/2009 |
Q: I bought a cherrywood coffee table from Ashley Furniture about 4 years ago. I don't know a lot about ...
A: your table could be any number of woods that are finished to look like Cherry. Most likely it has a ...
|
| filler | 11/1/2009 |
Q: I filled a large hole in a paint grade project with epoxy/wood dust mix (west system 105-209 ) and ...
A: Hey Thom, I would be concerned about any other filler actually sticking to the West System.....you ...
|
| sun damage exterior door | 10/31/2009 |
Q: The oak door I need help with is in Florida. It has been weathered by sun and rain. The lower part ...
A: the bottom half of doors like this are always worse because of the splashing of water at the bottom, ...
|
| weatherproofing indoor furniture | 10/30/2009 |
Q: Is there any way to weather/waterproof a light cherry table to use outdoors? We are moving and have ...
A: it's doubtful that you could, as interior furniture is built with interior glues, often veneered and ...
|
| oil / wax for oak | 10/30/2009 |
Q: apologies if you have been asked this many times b4. i'm not very good on pcs & have tried to find ...
A: a penetrating oil finish like Colron will protect the wood and give you a soft low luster finish. ...
|
| Klaussner dining room table | 10/28/2009 |
Q: I purchased a cherry wood diningroom table which is made of rubberwood. I ;ike the look of the ...
A: But my question was can you smudge the streakiness....is it like ....greasy? Rubber wood is a light ...
|
| wood desk w/ water stains | 10/28/2009 |
Q: Let me start by saying that my experience in this area is zero, zip, nada! But I hope that you can ...
A: anything that would work to heal this type of damage would likely be solvent based, smell a bit, and ...
|
| Painting a built-in dining room hutch | 10/26/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a house that has a huge built-in hutch which extends from floor to ceiling and ...
A: first thing is to wash it with a "scrubber" sponge and some warm water with a few drops of ...
|
| Dining room table | 10/26/2009 |
Q: I saw on a HGTV show they sanded off the gloss of a finished table, and coated and wiped off a ...
A: I've seen some of the furniture "treatments" they do on these shows, and not only are they often ...
|
| Water Tower Project | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I am trying to make an exact replica of the Purdue University water tower in the form of a drink ...
A: Not only is it almost impossible to make a shape like that, that big, it won't stand up to having ...
|
| Teak dining table restoration | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I have a lovely teak dining table which is in great need of restoration. Originally it was used on ...
A: do NOT take an orbital sander to a table such as this, as they're veneered, and with quite thin ...
|
| refinishing rosewood veneer Herman Miller table | 10/24/2009 |
Q: I inherited a 40 year old table from my Mom. Its the dining table I grew up with, and for obvious ...
A: the Rosewood top may be browner than the leaves because the leaves were stored most of the time and ...
|
| Water Tower Project | 10/23/2009 |
Q: I am trying to make an exact replica of the Purdue University water tower in the form of a drink ...
A: Hey Chance, are you trying to make the structure in the picture with the "P" painted on it? I do not ...
|
| Recurring white waxy stains on kitchen cabinets. | 10/22/2009 |
Q: I am attempting to refinish oak kitchen cabinets and am encountering a recurring problem with the ...
A: Yes, I wouldn't even bother with this, as you have an issue with the original finish, which will be ...
|
| Recurring white waxy stains on kitchen cabinets. | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I am attempting to refinish oak kitchen cabinets and am encountering a recurring problem with the ...
A: it's very likely the cabinets are not varnished, but rather finished with a catalyzed finish. ...
|
| glide rocker purchased from BOSCOVS 2004 | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I broke the left arm on my glide rocker.The arm is a short horizontal piece of wood.It is connected ...
A: Hey John, no, generally you won't find a source for replacement parts like that...your only chance ...
|
| fine finishing classes | 10/20/2009 |
Q: Our son has chosen carpentry as his profession (as his father and grandfather before him). He has ...
A: I'm not familiar with anything in your area...there are schools and seminars all over the country, ...
|
| Those amber oak colored cabinets again | 10/20/2009 |
Q: Greg, Thanks for the information about cabinet refinishing (from my question on 10/16/09). ...
A: I looked at the website for Faux Effects, and their range of products is pretty big, but it's one of ...
|
| book case | 10/19/2009 |
Q: I have 5 built in book cases in my office, eash is roughly 4'x4. I am looking for a place that can ...
A: Hey Jim, there is no place where you would be able to buy a ready made roll top set up for your book ...
|
| kitchen cabinet finishes | 10/19/2009 |
Q: I am about to remodel my kitchen. Is it better to order cabinets from a company out of state (CA) in ...
A: the state of the art clear finishes are not oil based finishes, and haven't been for a long time. ...
|
| Wood Veneer Fix | 10/18/2009 |
Q: The other day I sat a hot casserole dish on our wood veneer table. Though the dish was placed on a ...
A: Hey Darnell, this is a common type of damage to a table top finish, and it isn't always easy to fix. ...
|
| Antique furniture finish | 10/18/2009 |
Q: I have an antique oak fireplace mantle which was painted white. I have had it stripped down to bare ...
A: Old Oak is going to be challenging to stain without using good stains....what stain did you use? ...
|
| Finishing an oak bookshelf system | 10/17/2009 |
Q: I am building a bookshelf system for our library. The floor is Brazilian cherry and we wanted to ...
A: if you haven't made the faceframes yet, you could veneer the sides of the carcase with 1/4" plywood ...
|
| Wood Species | 10/17/2009 |
Q: I am trying to find out what type of wood this is in the picture. I am building a log cabin & think ...
A: http://www.kraftmaid.com/browseby/material/cabinets/default.aspx Poke around here, I think you'll ...
|
| Wood Species | 10/17/2009 |
Q: I am trying to find out what type of wood this is in the picture. I am building a log cabin & think ...
A: These look like Hickory, but it's pretty hard to tell from the picture....is this a kitchen you have ...
|
| Amber Oak cabinet color change | 10/16/2009 |
Q: We just purchased a new home with the old amber oak cabinet color in the kitchen. I have been ...
A: "touchless spray system giving...the ability to provide a high end look...to dramatically change the ...
|
| finishing cabinets | 10/15/2009 |
Q: So my question is about finishing some kitchen cabinets. I am decent at woodworking but not very ...
A: Hey Eric, you can spray stains, typically you would be spraying dye stains though, and yes they ...
|
| lacquer finishes | 10/14/2009 |
Q: Greg-we just bought new end tables with a lacquer finish top from an office furniture supply store. ...
A: It's not recommended, and I'm not sure why you'd want to....lacquers and urethanes aren't really ...
|
| change my kitchen cabinet color to cherry red | 10/13/2009 |
Q: I would like to change my kitchen cabinet color to cherry red - currently it just oak with no color. ...
A: Many manufacturers make dye stains, General, Mohawk, Behlen are a few names that come to mind,but ...
|
| plaster stains on oak doors | 10/12/2009 |
Q: can you tell me how to get plaster stains from new oak doors that have'nt been treated yet? Would ...
A: I think caustic soda lye solution will dissolve it,the type they use to strip furniture (sodium ...
|
| waxing an internal pine door | 10/10/2009 |
Q: wax and oils! i was hoping to wax it with a coloured wax! what is the reason why i cannot do this ...
A: Wax is pretty shiny when buffed properly, and most stains will dry pretty flat, especially if you ...
|
| waxing an internal pine door | 10/9/2009 |
Q: wax and oils! i was hoping to wax it with a coloured wax! what is the reason why i cannot do this ...
A: Hey Dave, what type of wood? I think you should be able to use what you want to finish them, ...
|
| Clean Unfinished Oak Furniture | 10/9/2009 |
Q: We had a red oak credenza custom made about 25 years ago. This unit is "unfinished wood". The only ...
A: the Watco IS a finish. It contains Tung oil, phenolics, and driers, and is a penetrating oil finish ...
|
| change my kitchen cabinet color to cherry red | 10/8/2009 |
Q: I would like to change my kitchen cabinet color to cherry red - currently it just oak with no color. ...
A: what you want to do is not possible with stripping the cabinets down to bare wood and then ...
|
| lacquer finishes | 10/7/2009 |
Q: Greg-we just bought new end tables with a lacquer finish top from an office furniture supply store. ...
A: normal cleaning can be done with a damp cloth, hand drying the finish with a clean, dry ...
|
| Flecto wood finish | 10/7/2009 |
Q: I'm looking for a wood finish that will bring out the colors more in a piece of burly American black ...
A: 66 was a hybrid product that contained white shellac and oil based polyurethane, and Linseed oil, ...
|
| Best finish for fresh-water boat gunnels | 10/4/2009 |
Q: We've been given a fiberglass rowing boat with oak gunnels. The previous owner tung-oiled the ...
A: a Tung oil finish is a penetrating finish, and if applied regularily will offer pretty good, durable ...
|
| removing spray furniture wax | 10/4/2009 |
Q: I want to apply a bees wax funiture paste wax to a friends fine, antique dining table. Family piece. ...
A: LOL, no there are many good brands, I just prefer the Fiddes, it's one of these "Old Family Recipes" ...
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| removing spray furniture wax | 10/2/2009 |
Q: I want to apply a bees wax funiture paste wax to a friends fine, antique dining table. Family piece. ...
A: Is this a home brewed wax? I would not recommend such a thing, as you're much better off with a ...
|
| wood painting | 10/2/2009 |
Q: i would like to paint TEAK WOOD,after preparing the surface suitably ,i am applying a coat of primer ...
A: You will not get the paint to stick to new Teak....it's a bad choice if you need to paint it. You ...
|
| Teak dining table (indoor) | 10/1/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a teak dining table that supposedly is about 30 years old. It appears to be in ...
A: Kim, these oil finishes are a finish. They contain resins, penolics, and other ingredients that ...
|
| removing spray furniture wax | 9/30/2009 |
Q: I want to apply a bees wax funiture paste wax to a friends fine, antique dining table. Family piece. ...
A: the only way to remove these products is with a solvent, but you run the risk of removing more than ...
|
| Re-finishing a red oak table | 9/29/2009 |
Q: Long story short, we have purchased a solid red oak dining table in a light honey oak color about a ...
A: what you want to do is not easy, as to get Oak this dark takes special staining and finishing ...
|
| Repiring bed rails | 9/29/2009 |
Q: First of all I just set up some woodworking tools my father (92) gave me because he can't use them ...
A: a router with a slot cutter would do the job nicely. Hopefully you got a router in the ...
|
| MDF vs. Plywood | 9/29/2009 |
Q: Greg, We just purchased a 180 gal. fish tank that weighs 350 lbs. With water about 1000 lbs. We are ...
A: I think that a 2x4 frame is required, with at least a back, top, and sides....if this will be 1,000 ...
|
| refinishing an oak kiten table | 9/28/2009 |
Q: I have a 22 year old Amish oak kitchen table and chairs. It has been a very durable table until the ...
A: I would stay away from Restorz-it, I have fielded some real horror stories from people who bought ...
|
| wood table warp/bubble | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I bought a gorgeous used table that is solid wood with a decorative wood venear on top. The top had ...
A: the hot iron trick only works if there's enough glue under the veneer to reactivate with the ...
|
| Teak dining table (indoor) | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a teak dining table that supposedly is about 30 years old. It appears to be in ...
A: I would use an oil finish on it, I like WaterLox, but Watco Danish oil is a good choice as well, and ...
|
| ring on table from hot plate | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I have a table that is made from reclaimed barnwood and was finished with miniwax tung oil we set a ...
A: I think you're on the right track, but you may have to rub out the whole top with 0000 steel wool ...
|
| Unfinished oak beams | 9/26/2009 |
Q: Our 25 year old braced-frame house has exposed oak beams that have become somewhat dull over the ...
A: you could use a paste wax, but you could also use an oil finish product that would penetrate, dry ...
|
| oil stain from air freshner on wood dresser | 9/24/2009 |
Q: I bought one of those oil air fresheners with the wick sticks. I set it out on my bedroom dresser ...
A: unfortunately they do contain solvents in the oils, (that makes them evaporate into the air), and ...
|
| Dining room table finish ruined | 9/24/2009 |
Q: My wife bought a beautiful dining room table, which we found out after getting it delivered that the ...
A: If you did it twice, that should have removed anything on the surface for the most part. Now that ...
|
| black wood spot on shelf | 9/23/2009 |
Q: I just recently picked up a bookshelf from an antiques store. After my purchase I discovered, on the ...
A: is it under the finish? And is it on the very bottom, like it was standing in some water? It's ...
|
| furniture refinishing | 9/22/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a desk, I am in the process of stripping it using Formby's furniture refinisher. ...
A: I would recommend trying to get all the old finish off as best as possible. The Formby's product is ...
|
| Refinishing painted oak | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I have some oak crown molding that has been painted white. I've stripped the paint off and sanded. ...
A: this is always difficult to do, I find that scrubbing with a fine, small Brass "scratch" brush with ...
|
| wood filler / poly u | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a piece of furniture made of oak. I didn't strip it. I simply sanded of the ...
A: how much filler did you apply? If it was just small holes, then it's doubtful that there would be ...
|
| Dining room table finish ruined | 9/21/2009 |
Q: My wife bought a beautiful dining room table, which we found out after getting it delivered that the ...
A: Hey Matt, I would try using some Mineral spirits on a rag and wipe the whole table down. You want ...
|
| refinishing bleached wood | 9/20/2009 |
Q: My son bought a 2 story house that has a lovely staircase and great woodwork through out. The ...
A: it could be stripped, prepped, stained and refinished surely, but it's a huge job. It's unlikely ...
|
| Revitalize cherry | 9/20/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a cherry sideboard, used. It's in beautiful condition with the exception that it ...
A: Hey Mark, there's no way to change the color of the wood without getting down to the wood. It would ...
|
| Stain a maple table | 9/18/2009 |
Q: How can I stain a maple table to get it back to or near to it's original 1950's color? I scaped all ...
A: often those finishes were "toned", meaning they were sprayed with colored topcoats to produce the ...
|
| Refinishing a Bed Frame Sealed With Linseed Oil | 9/18/2009 |
Q: I've looked around here and other sites, and I haven't really found a clear answer. I have a bed ...
A: stripping with a chemical stripper is really the best way to remove the oil finish. Sanding does not ...
|
| protecting handpainted bureau | 9/18/2009 |
Q: my hand painted (emulsion paint) 'shabby chic' bureau has been glazed and rubbed down in parts so ...
A: a water based Acrylic Urethane would be a good option and remain "water" clear with no ambering. Wax ...
|
| CREAKING | 9/16/2009 |
Q: "Just finished building a Glider Rocker out of Cedar and put mineral oil on the finish. It looks ...
A: it's possible that the mineral oil could make it creak as it works it's way into the joints and ...
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| CREAKING | 9/16/2009 |
Q: "Just finished building a Glider Rocker out of Cedar and put mineral oil on the finish. It looks ...
A: I'm sure that has to do with the construction...was this a kit, something you built from scratch? ...
|
| Kitchen cabinets chipping | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I have been in the finishing business for years and most of my work is done on site putting finishes ...
A: Hmmm...sounds like a mess, but irregardless, this finish is very suspect, and there should be a ...
|
| Kitchen cabinets chipping | 9/15/2009 |
Q: I have been in the finishing business for years and most of my work is done on site putting finishes ...
A: I didn't realize the company had already been in to repair some of the damage....perhaps they think ...
|
| treating a mahogany slab | 9/15/2009 |
Q: We have got a beautiful mahogany slab that we are going to be using for our servery window in the ...
A: I would suggest a penetrating oil finish like WaterLox.It is a modified Tung oil finish that will ...
|
| Kitchen cabinets chipping | 9/15/2009 |
Q: I have been in the finishing business for years and most of my work is done on site putting finishes ...
A: several things can cause this, and it's shameful that the company won't divulge their finishing ...
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| Stain and seal bathroom cabinets | 9/14/2009 |
Q: I bought a custom built unfinished bathroom vanity to install in a master bath remodel. I am using ...
A: Catalyzed finishes are 2 part crosslinking finishes that are the state of the art for kitchen, ...
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| Stain and seal bathroom cabinets | 9/14/2009 |
Q: I bought a custom built unfinished bathroom vanity to install in a master bath remodel. I am using ...
A: the ultimate protection will come from a catalyzed finish, like Sherwin Williams KemVar, or M.L. ...
|
| Spray Painting Furniture | 9/13/2009 |
Q: I need help! I have a bedroom suite that is not real wood. It was recommended to spray paint. I ...
A: As I said, it sounds like your painting technique....and you need to develop the proper technique. ...
|
| Spray Painting Furniture | 9/13/2009 |
Q: I need help! I have a bedroom suite that is not real wood. It was recommended to spray paint. I ...
A: when you say "splotchy", is it the sheen level you're referring to or the color being splotchy? As I ...
|
| Spray Painting Furniture | 9/12/2009 |
Q: I need help! I have a bedroom suite that is not real wood. It was recommended to spray paint. I ...
A: if it's blotchy in terms of sheen, then it's likely your spray technique...it's imperative to flow ...
|
| Rust on Teak | 9/12/2009 |
Q: Can you tell me how to take a round rust stain out of a teak table?
A: you'll have to completely strip the top, then treat the rust stain with an Oxalic acid solution ...
|
| kitchen drawer | 9/10/2009 |
Q: I was installing the handle on brand new cherry wood kitchen drawer and the drill bit gashed the ...
A: you'll need to fill any damage with a stainable filler and then touch it up depending on how bad it ...
|
| staining maple table | 9/6/2009 |
Q: I am staining a maple table with Old Master's gel stain. I am about to put on a pre-stain ...
A: 0000 steel wool would be fine, and will actually "cut" better...but resist the urge to rub too much ...
|
| birch cabinets stained way too dark | 9/6/2009 |
Q: the birch cabinets arrived, and we were in tears they were so beautiful. Then the stain guy got ...
A: Geeeez I hate to hear these stories. I'm not sure what to tell you, but entrusting $18,000 worth of ...
|
| Split in butcher block counter top - Redux | 9/6/2009 |
Q: On 6/14/2008 you answered the question "Split in butcher block counter top". In that case the ...
A: I definitely would not try to close any cracks with force, as it won't work, and as I said, it's ...
|
| Staining a baby cradle | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I just made a cradle for my first grandchild. As I was finishing putting it together my brother ...
A: Hey Chris, I definitely wouldn't bake a Pine piece in an oven.......what Varathane product is it? A ...
|
| repainted dressers | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I spray painted my old bedroom furniture for my daughter to use now. I used Rustoleum's new ...
A: I'm surprised that you'd have an issue with that paint, as I have used it quite a bit as well. What ...
|
| furniture repair | 9/5/2009 |
Q: I need to move the hinges on a cabinet door a distance of about 1/4 inch. What is the preferred way ...
A: I use a tapered hardwood dowel to fill old screw holes. I'll usually put a small block plane upside ...
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| Split in butcher block counter top - Redux | 9/4/2009 |
Q: On 6/14/2008 you answered the question "Split in butcher block counter top". In that case the ...
A: There aren't many choices, you'll have to fill the cracks with some type of filler. Are the counters ...
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| pine wall in screened porch | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I have a tonge and groove pine wall in a screened in porch. I put polyurethane on the wall, but have ...
A: unfortunately alcohol will not remove the poly, only stripper will, and a bleach solution (1 to 3 ...
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| Repairing an old sewing machine table from the 60's | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I have been given an old sewing machine table and I think it was made in the 60's. So far I have ...
A: I'm not aware of a place to easily get replacement parts, I think I would start "Google -ing" and ...
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| laminated benchtop | 8/31/2009 |
Q: A spot of about two sq.ft. on my laminated benchtop became matt after spilling a chemical used for ...
A: it sounds like the oven cleaner etched or chemically "burned" the area...if this is a work area that ...
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| Cleaning Vintage painted Furniture | 8/30/2009 |
Q: I need to clean a painted large 6 piece king bedroom set. I bought this at an estate sale. It is ...
A: I would try Mineral spirits and lots of rags, or you could buy Formby's furniture cleaner: ...
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| BLO under-varnish | 8/29/2009 |
Q: Greg ! I would like to ask if you can help me with my project. I am working with a mahogany ...
A: BLO and then a wash coat of shellac will prevent your oil stain from penetrating at all, kind of ...
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| Cutting cabinet over cooktop | 8/27/2009 |
Q: I need to cut into a cabinet that currently covers my vent tubing for my cooktop range. My microwave ...
A: without seeing the situation, it's tough for me to advise you, but there probably isn't an easy way ...
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| Wood stain/Polyurethane & Wax | 8/27/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing my kitchen cabinets and I am ready to apply the stain. Is it better to rub on the ...
A: It's best to brush on the stain, let it sit, and then wipe off evenly and completely with a rag. I ...
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| painting antique furniture | 8/25/2009 |
Q: Greg, I am attempting to paint some antique furniture to start a small business. I love the ...
A: Lacquer comes in colors as well as clears,colors can be altered or custom mixed, and the clears can ...
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| Painting oak cabinets | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I would like to paint my oak cabinets white and then use a dark glaze around the edges. What type ...
A: kind of a shame to paint over 4 year old cabinets....paint won't stand up nearly as well as the ...
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| Teak indoor furniture restoring | 8/25/2009 |
Q: goodmorning using Formby's conditioning furniture refinisher and steal wool i cleaned the top of my ...
A: what happened is that you've only partially removed the finish in areas, and left finish in other ...
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| Finishing knotty pine wall boards | 8/24/2009 |
Q: I am in the process of stripping knotty pine wall boards in a house built in the 1950's. The room ...
A: Hey Dan, the boards will darken naturally from UV light, and most varnishes from that era will also ...
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| painting a dresser with power sprayer | 8/23/2009 |
Q: I bought a second hand dresser for my daughter. It is stained, but she likes white furniture. I'd ...
A: Latex paint isn't going to allow you to apply it as smooth as you want, as it's just the nature of ...
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| cabinets | 8/23/2009 |
Q: I have nice wood cabinets in my kitchen but they are light stained, is there anyway to stain them ...
A: unfortunately, you cannot stain over an existing finish like what's on your cabinets, and sanding a ...
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| polishing scratches | 8/22/2009 |
Q: I have i nice 30 yr old Henredon tea-table. it has a good finish but has swirl marks and micro ...
A: Yes, you can, if the finish is thick enough and in otherwise good shape. I use 3M's Finesse It II, ...
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| interior wood finishing | 8/20/2009 |
Q: We are doing a complete remodel (gutted the interior of a log kit home). I have just finished ...
A: I would look at WaterLox Original, which is a Tung oil/Varnish product available in several ...
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| Removing oils from kitchen cabinets | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I had solid oak kitchen cabinet door, approx 18 years old in my kitchen. When I moved into my house ...
A: One of the problems with any refinishing is proper cleaning and prep of the surfaces. In a kitchen ...
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| wood compatability | 8/20/2009 |
Q: I'm going to be building an 8'x8' bookcase to match 2 other bookcases in a home built in the 1930's. ...
A: they're similar in durability and expansion/contraction, but they do not finish similarly. Birch is ...
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| A $1.00 garage sale antique table | 8/19/2009 |
Q: I am not sure how to repair the top of the table as some of the wood has separated where it was ...
A: this can be a tough repair if the shrinkage or separations aren't perfectly parallel. You'll need to ...
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| Refinishing antique moulding | 8/16/2009 |
Q: I have moulding from a 300 yr old house. Chestnut I think. It has its original cream/white paint. ...
A: that's really an aesthetic question, it really depends on what condition the molding is in under the ...
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| Refinishing oak | 8/15/2009 |
Q: I have an oak shadowbox frame that I would like to refinish in the chocolate/Java brown or black ...
A: the black finish would be the easiest to pull off, and you can use Krylon Satin or Flat Black spray ...
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| repairing door trim | 8/13/2009 |
Q: there are several door trims in the house where either the paint has chipped, or the wood is ...
A: typically painted trim can be filled, repaired, and then just spot primed and repainted. Only if the ...
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| A Plastic shell over wood... | 8/13/2009 |
Q: I have a wood buffet that I am converting into a guinea pig hutch, and I am wondering if there is a ...
A: I'm assuming you're really looking to totally waterproof the area, but it's almost impossible to ...
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| Finishing | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I have just built a large dining table for my farm house in VT. It is 9' long and 4' wide. it is ...
A: sounds beautiful....and big! I would steer you towards WaterLox, a Tung oil/Varnish blend, that ...
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| securing a heavy headboard | 8/11/2009 |
Q: Given a manufactured cedar door(probably used as a suana enrance) 2.5 inches thick, 24 inches wide ...
A: a floating tenon, or surface mounted brace,(or routed into the legs and back), from 1/2" cabinet ...
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| sealing wood | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I had two cabinet doors made approximately 27x40. Typical tongue and groove construction, wood. ...
A: There's no way you'll be able to stop any wood movement with a finish alone. These are really tall ...
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| sealing wood | 8/10/2009 |
Q: I had two cabinet doors made approximately 27x40. Typical tongue and groove construction, wood. ...
A: tell me a little more please. What type of wood are the doors made from? Are they stile and rail ...
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| table top needs finishing without replacing the glass | 8/9/2009 |
Q: I recently picked up an octagon shaped wooden end table at Goodwill. The top of the table has a ...
A: what your referring to is a poured epoxy coating. I don't think an end table sized piece of glass ...
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| Cost to Restain Kitchen & Bathroom Cabinets | 8/9/2009 |
Q: How much it would cost to restain kitchen and bathroom cabinets? The cabinets are new (ash-I ...
A: it would be very expensive to refinish new cabinets. They are not just stained, but likely have a ...
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| Rosewood furniture - light haze | 8/8/2009 |
Q: Greg, I saw a couple of individuals having the same question regarding cleaning rosewood furniture ...
A: the hazing could be caused by many things, heat, chemicals, or the finish just breaking down from ...
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| dull spots on 1970's cabinets | 8/7/2009 |
Q: I live in a house which was built in 1976. The kitchen cabinets are a dark brown stain. The areas ...
A: the finish is probably at it's serviceable life, and it's likely a lacquer.It will start to degrade ...
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| Changing Whitewash Cabinets | 8/7/2009 |
Q: We have whitewash ash cabinets in our kitchen and bathrooms. We would like to go to a darker ...
A: you would need to completely strip the cabinets of the existing finish, a large job, and then they ...
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| Dents and scratches | 8/6/2009 |
Q: Is there a product that will fill in scratches and small dents on furniture? All the regular ...
A: typically on a finished surface, there isn't something that can fill in a dent or scratch to make it ...
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| Pine Panelling | 8/5/2009 |
Q: found a question you had answered about pine panelling that had darkened leaving lighter patches ...
A: it's possible, but trying to make an exact match would take quite a bit of fiddling and color ...
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| Water damage to a birch table top | 8/5/2009 |
Q: I have a gorgeous Heywood Wakefield dining table made of birch wood. A couple of days ago, the vase ...
A: PLEASE don't put Mayonnaise on your furniture. The only thing that does is allow the wood to soak up ...
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| garage doors | 8/5/2009 |
Q: What can I do to pull a stain out of my garage doors if I feel it is too red and want to make it a ...
A: unfortunately reds are the hardest to remove or change "browner". This stain is also an interior ...
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| white kitchen cabinets | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I am building a new house and I would like to have white kitchen cabinets. I am curious which is the ...
A: a U/V finish does not sound like a paint finish, and any good kitchen cabinet manufacturer wouldn't ...
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| New dining room table- can I make finish stronger | 8/3/2009 |
Q: We just bought a new formal dining room table. I am concerned that the finish seems to scratch ...
A: your new table is probably lacquer,but it could be a newer finish type as well and therefore you ...
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| cabinetry | 8/2/2009 |
Q: Hope all is well since last time I spoke to you about the warped cabinet doors in Greenwich. They ...
A: Hey Mike, when you said "gates", I guess I envisioned something like a driveway gate.....something a ...
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| cabinetry | 8/1/2009 |
Q: Hope all is well since last time I spoke to you about the warped cabinet doors in Greenwich. They ...
A: Hey Mike, sorry I didn't leave my contact info, been back and forth to my summer cottage in Maine ...
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| Slab Panel Cabinet Doors | 7/31/2009 |
Q: I have 3/4" birch plywood cabinet doors from the mid-60s. I would like to cut our the centers ...
A: yes, you would risk the doors warping, although if they're flat now, they're probably fairly stable ...
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| bowed molding | 7/31/2009 |
Q: I just finished repainting my living room. The window trim had MANY layers of old paint (my house ...
A: What size nails are you using? You may need something 2 1/2" or longer,and with a 6" wide piece of ...
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| Wood Dresser Drawer | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I just bought a wood dresser drawer at a tag sale. It is cherry. All the drawer glides are wood and ...
A: the first thing to do is to put it in a dry location and put a fan near(not on it, just keep the air ...
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| bowed molding | 7/30/2009 |
Q: I just finished repainting my living room. The window trim had MANY layers of old paint (my house ...
A: Hey Adam, there's wood under the plaster, especially next to door jambs and windows. There are ...
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| urethane finishes | 7/29/2009 |
Q: we purchased birch colored countertops from Ikea because we loved the color - very very light with ...
A: You can certainly try that, just remember that the Waterlox is a penetrating finish, and the stain ...
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| Staining old cabinets | 7/29/2009 |
Q: I have old kitchen cabinets that I am refinishing, don't know what kind of wood I am thinking Pine. ...
A: Hey Tim, stain alone will look dull when dry, and typically stain is clear coated for depth and ...
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| restaining | 7/28/2009 |
Q: I have banisters and beams in a house that are a deep dark brown. Now the house is being remodeled ...
A: sure you could paint, but it is a bit of a challenge on a very rough surface, you could also box the ...
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| urethane finishes | 7/28/2009 |
Q: we purchased birch colored countertops from Ikea because we loved the color - very very light with ...
A: anything that wets the wood will change it's color, even the waterborne urethanes....but they will ...
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| Stain fixes | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased a cherry sleigh bed at an estate sale and the only visible flaw is on the ...
A: unfortunately there really isn't an easy way to do what you're suggesting, and usually this type of ...
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| cherry lumber | 7/26/2009 |
Q: I am remodeling my basement and recently got a good deal on rough cut kiln dried cherry lumber and ...
A: Hey Greg, wow a whole basement of Cherry will be worth a small fortune.....it really depends on the ...
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| wet desk drawers | 7/26/2009 |
Q: I was refinishing a desk and drawers outside under a canopy. We had to leave for several hours and ...
A: there may be no way to save them, and I apologize for the late answer as I was away for a week with ...
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| loose teak chairs | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I have a teak dining room set, about 22 years old, was not faithful in oiling it last 10 years. One ...
A: yes, they can be repaired. They will need to be reglued with the proper glue, (depending what was ...
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| table repair | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I have a high end, hand-painted, white washed pine dining room table by Pulaski. I took the table ...
A: Yes you need to really polish it(VERB), which takes a lot of "elbow grease". Make a pad about 3"x3" ...
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| painted laquer furniture | 7/24/2009 |
Q: I have a king bedroom set about 10 yrs old. I have an enormous bedroom and I love the design and ...
A: I wouldn't suggest painting over a highly lacquered finish, but they could be lacquered with a ...
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| Cabinets in manufactured home | 7/24/2009 |
Q: The cabinets and all the trim are a very light weight wood with a thick paper finish that makes it ...
A: you can make the necessary repairs with wood glue and clamps, the clean it well and prime and paint, ...
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| Kitchen Cabinets | 7/23/2009 |
Q: In preparing to stain kitchen cabinets, I used "stainable" wood putty to fill (hardware) holes and ...
A: typically any filler has to be "spot"stained after the initial staining to hope to make a match. ...
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| Teak Refinish | 7/23/2009 |
Q: Unfortunately some latex paint leaked out the bottom of an old can onto my wife's 20+ year old ...
A: typically this type of damage can only be fixed by stripping and refinishing the top. If you're ...
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| Refinishing Veneer Kitchen Cabinets | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I have laminate/veneer kitchen cabinets that are ugly dark brown. Is there anyway that I can ...
A: there are many posts in regards to your question if you read around the forum, you can strip them,(a ...
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| Orange/red toned wood | 7/22/2009 |
Q: We are redoing an old Michigan farm house built in the 40s. The floors are either a pine or perhaps ...
A: It is what it ....is is right, and it will mellow with age. I would stay away from trying any type ...
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| Painting my Coffee Table | 7/22/2009 |
Q: I finally had time! so dashed to the Hardware store to purchase the paints. My round Pottery Barn ...
A: You should have scuff sanded or stripped to start. 3 coats of primer is really too much. A single ...
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| how to finish cherry cabinets | 7/20/2009 |
Q: I've had my kitchen cabinets custom built but I am going to finish them myself. The cabinets are ...
A: I wouldn't suggest you try finishing a kitchen full of cabinets yourself unless you have a lot of ...
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| Orange/red toned wood | 7/20/2009 |
Q: We are redoing an old Michigan farm house built in the 40s. The floors are either a pine or perhaps ...
A: sounds like Fir or "longleaf or Heartwood" Pine, which does have a beautiful reddish tone, and ...
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| willow furniture | 7/19/2009 |
Q: I have an old willow chair that has some wear from behing out in the rain and I'd like to get it ...
A: it depends on how badly it is damaged, and what was on it originally, and I can't tell you that. ...
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| table repair | 7/18/2009 |
Q: I have a high end, hand-painted, white washed pine dining room table by Pulaski. I took the table ...
A: strange that it would transfer like that from an upholstery fabric. You might be able to polish them ...
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| pedestal for bar fridge | 7/17/2009 |
Q: I am planning to purchase a 4.2 cubic "bar" fridge to give me some extra refrigeration space in my ...
A: I'm sure you could easily build some type of pedestal/cabinet to elevate the fridge, but I am not ...
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| Is my table fixable? Pet problem | 7/17/2009 |
Q: My question is I have a 5 month old puppy and she has been chewing on my coffee table that I just ...
A: it may be fixable by a Pro restorer, but it will probably not be fixable to the point that it can't ...
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| refinishing bedroom furniture | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I have an oak bedroom set that is stained a golden colour. I have stripped the night table and ...
A: I'm a bit confused when you say you stripped the piece but didn't sand down to bare wood. Stripping ...
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| Painting existing stained woodwork | 7/15/2009 |
Q: I would like to paint over existing stained woodwork such as door casings, chair rails, and crown ...
A: easy to paint over the stained woodwork, just clean it, prime it and paint. The restaining is the ...
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| Pecan Stain | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I have just finished sanding a large piece of diseased pecan for a fireplace mantle. I want the ...
A: Teak oil would be fine, but takes rather long to dry and can be a fairly dark brown. I would get a ...
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| Re: Exterior Oak Windows | 7/13/2009 |
Q: I have a problem with the exterior face of oak windows. Unwisely we applied a clear lacquer which ...
A: I believe they were referring to a scraper, like a cabinet scraper which is basically a small ...
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| finish on furniture | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I have a number of pieces of Ethan Allen furniture. The finish has degraded over the years by ...
A: This sounds like the finish is soft, not something ON the finish, and the Howards can soften a ...
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| finish on furniture | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I have a number of pieces of Ethan Allen furniture. The finish has degraded over the years by ...
A: Hey Lee, it's unusual that this finish would degrade the way you say it is,..how often do you polish ...
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| Finishing Cherry | 7/11/2009 |
Q: I'm making cherry cabinets and I asked a friend how to finish them. I want to obtain a tan finish to ...
A: once you use a dewaxed shellac sealer, the Linseed oil will not penetrate, making that step really ...
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| Finish for painted metal wall pocket | 7/11/2009 |
Q: I plan to attach two metal wall pockets to the exterior of my stucco house. I purchased these thin ...
A: I'm afraid I agree that the primer and flat latex house paint is a bad idea, especially if they ...
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| chipping dining room table - help! | 7/11/2009 |
Q: I have a 1 year old dining room table that has a tendency to chip, especially when water (from a ...
A: in this situation a strip and refinish is really the best course of action. These tables usually ...
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| wood finishing | 7/10/2009 |
Q: i have got a new tea table with unfunished surface. i like to give it a good finishing personally . ...
A: I have no idea what products you can get in India, so I really cannot advise you. If you can find a ...
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| pickleing | 7/9/2009 |
Q: i have a fresh white oak floor (UNFINISHED) that i want a pickle finish on. how do i do it
A: Trying to pickle a floor is difficult even for a Pro finisher, as it's such a large expanse of area ...
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| Wood floor scuff | 7/9/2009 |
Q: My husband dragged some furniture over our hardwood floors leaving a significan scuff that won't ...
A: it might, but you'll need to make a match with the sheen of the poly, (satin, semi gloss,gloss)). ...
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| Refinishing Hardwood Kitchen Counters & Cabinets | 7/9/2009 |
Q: As you can (hopefully) see from the attached photo, I have a beautiful kitchen, with solid hardwood ...
A: typically, polyurethane doesn't repair well, especially from that era, so the best bet is to strip ...
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| cloudy finish | 7/8/2009 |
Q: I purchased hardwood chairs w/a dark stain last year from Pottery Barn. They sit in a sunny area ...
A: "Lemon Oil", is really a misnomer, and it's really white mineral oil with fragrance oils and other ...
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| Cedar lined closet | 7/7/2009 |
Q: We have a cedar lined closet. Would you know how long the effectiveness of the "cedar" lasts? It ...
A: Sanding with an orbital sander will expose fresh Cedar, and might renew some odor for a time, but ...
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| Missing piece for my file drawer | 7/6/2009 |
Q: We recently moved across country and I had to move my roll top desk. In doing so, I have lost one ...
A: I don't think you can find an exact match, but you can find many different sized flat metal bar ...
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| Cedar wall paneling | 7/5/2009 |
Q: I sent a message previously, and am unsure if it went through to you. The question we have is how ...
A: a Cedar lined closet may not prevent insects from inhabiting the clothes, unless it's air tight, ...
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| Repair wood Sleigh bedframe | 7/4/2009 |
Q: 7-4-09 Mr. Greg Scholl, I recently had my wood sleigh bed frame damaged. There are knicks, dents ...
A: I couldn't give you an idea without seeing the damage, and I'm on the east coast. You should be able ...
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| black in the wood grain | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a Heywood Wakefield (birch) corner coffee table. After stripping the old stain and ...
A: blackness is usually caused by water damage, and/or mineral staining from water. You can get some ...
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| Damaged Kitchen Cabinet Door | 7/3/2009 |
Q: I stuck one of my sons drawings on a kitchen door cupboard with selotape. A few months later when I ...
A: this type of damage is difficult to touch up well, even for an experienced restorer, especially if ...
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| warping mdf cabinet doors | 7/2/2009 |
Q: We are doing a large kitchen in Greenwich Ct. $190k The cabinet builder made cabinet doors from ...
A: and I also use Condon's occasionally, they also have Marine grade plywoods and 12' sheetgoods. I ...
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| Yellowing with age | 7/1/2009 |
Q: I have a Lane bedroom set manufactured in the 80's that is finished in a light ash veneer. I ...
A: if the finish is yellowing all over the piece, then it's likely the lacquer aging and yellowing due ...
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| Wood Kitchen Cabinets | 7/1/2009 |
Q: What is the best way to clear coat cabinets after they have been stained, ie: polyurethane vs. wood ...
A: Hey Tony, what a loaded question.....it really depends on several variables....like: what's your ...
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| wooden knobs | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I have wooden dresser with wooden knobs (soft wood I think a type of pine wood) that constantly fall ...
A: this sounds like a bizarre arrangement, and one I haven't seen, unless the threaded piece of metal ...
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| what marks on kitchen cabinets | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I have been refinishing my kitchen cabinets and this is the third time I have come across this issue ...
A: The finish on your cabinets is almost certainly a catalyzed lacquer or varnish, over various sealer, ...
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| Can I put varnish over tung oil | 6/30/2009 |
Q: I work with reclaimed barn wood and have table right now I am working on made from reclaimed pine. I ...
A: could you please elaborate a little on your method of application? I'm confused by your statement "4 ...
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| Refinishing Blonde vintage furniture | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I purchased a blonde 1940's bedroom set this weekend. The tops of the end tables and dresser are ...
A: it depends on the original finish, when you say "blonde", do you mean just a light very clear ...
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| Oak Kitchen Cabinets | 6/29/2009 |
Q: If you have answered this question before, can you lead me to the date and question so that you ...
A: first of all, thanks for your service too! I have this question a lot, so let me sum it up for you ...
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| warping mdf cabinet doors | 6/28/2009 |
Q: We are doing a large kitchen in Greenwich Ct. $190k The cabinet builder made cabinet doors from ...
A: Hey Mike, yeah my brother Jeff lives in the Startford area. I checked out your site, and I'm very ...
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| warping mdf cabinet doors | 6/27/2009 |
Q: We are doing a large kitchen in Greenwich Ct. $190k The cabinet builder made cabinet doors from ...
A: The HDF uses different polymer adhesives bonded under high pressure for an extremely dense fiber ...
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| warping mdf cabinet doors | 6/27/2009 |
Q: We are doing a large kitchen in Greenwich Ct. $190k The cabinet builder made cabinet doors from ...
A: Hey Mike, 190k huh??? WOW.....for this kind of $ they should've been using solid walnut....one of ...
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| Wingback chair plan/kit | 6/27/2009 |
Q: Greg, I am also desperately in search of a plan/DIY kit to assist me in making my own wingback ...
A: I have ordered from Chervan before, they make a nice product, you could contact them; ...
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| Partial refinish for kitchen cabinets | 6/26/2009 |
Q: From the title, I would like to "easily" strip the finish from a cabinet under the sink and retone ...
A: Any good commercially available stripper would likely work, I use Citristrip now almost exclusively, ...
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| glazing over pickled oak cabinets | 6/26/2009 |
Q: I want to glaze over new, finished pickled oak cabinets with a soft brown shade. After testing on ...
A: unfortunately with Oak, it will get in all the pores, (depending on the finish, as some will fill ...
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| refinishing simulated wood deck | 6/25/2009 |
Q: I read your answer to another lady about NOT trying to refinish a bathroom cabinet. My problem is ...
A: this stuff refinishes like crap, but you could clean it well, glue down any loose edges, ...
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| Changing my Fruitwood kitchen cabinets to Antique white with a brown/cocoa glaze | 6/23/2009 |
Q: I am remodeling my kitchen & have just installed Ubatuba granite. My kitchen cabinets are ...
A: this is really not a job for the "do it yourselfer"....and this is one reason why you won't find an ...
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| rice bed post replacement | 6/22/2009 |
Q: We have a rice bed with 4 all posts which limit where we can place the bed in a room because of ...
A: It would depend on the construction of your particular bed. Some posts are glued together into one ...
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| repainting dark wood kitchen table | 6/21/2009 |
Q: what will i need to repaint the table and also the chairs?
A: Repaint? Originally it most likely wasn't painted, it would be likely lacquered. It really depends ...
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| Partial refinish for kitchen cabinets | 6/20/2009 |
Q: From the title, I would like to "easily" strip the finish from a cabinet under the sink and retone ...
A: yep you likely can. But it takes a fair amount of skill to do this unless you are familiar with the ...
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| refinishing wooden cabinet doors | 6/20/2009 |
Q: My cabinets are walnut stained but seem to have a light paint underneith the stain. The reason I say ...
A: Unfortunately I don't think this is a good idea. It takes familiarity with the finishes and ...
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| refinish cabinets | 6/19/2009 |
Q: I want to refinish ? pine cabinets-take ployurethane is almost off-cupboards are dull;is sanding ...
A: not sure i get the question...."take polyurethane is almost off"? Are these cabinets a factory ...
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| Replacing table slides | 6/18/2009 |
Q: The slides on my (fairly new!) table shattered, and I ordered replacement ones (from a different ...
A: the slides and the table should be in the closed position when mounting the new slides. You just ...
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| wood and leather refinishing | 6/17/2009 |
Q: I have a pair of end-tables with leather inlays that I bought at a yard sale. They are in need of ...
A: usually if the finish on the leather (it is likely finished with lacquer) can't be restored, then ...
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| Which one is environment & nature friendly & user friendly&water proof for covering kitchen cabinets | 6/17/2009 |
Q: which one is environment & nature friendly & user friendly & water proof & water resistant & steam ...
A: I am unsure if you are asking about a building material to use instead of wood, or a finish to use ...
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| refinishing oak andorandack chairs | 6/16/2009 |
Q: these chairs are beautiful custom made but made of oak and then varnished or urethaned. As you might ...
A: Hey Bill, I would strip them with a furniture stripper first, because I don't think a deck stripper ...
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| Maple Kitchen Cabinets | 6/15/2009 |
Q: My kitchen cabinets are 13years old and in very good condition. I clean them with warm water and ...
A: Ahhh...that would explain it. I'm not too sure what to recommend to you in that part of the world, ...
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| finishing a maple piece with tung oil | 6/15/2009 |
Q: We have been finishing an unfinished maple chest of drawers with tung oil. We put the last coat on ...
A: Pure Tung oil needs to be thinned with some solvent or it won't dry properly....hopefully you did ...
|
| Cat Claws Corner of Cabinets | 6/14/2009 |
Q: I'm moving out of an apartment and want to repair scratches left behind by my cat. It appears to be ...
A: unfortunately these vinyl veneers with particle board underneath are really impossible to repair, or ...
|
| stripping pickled oak chairs | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I have started a project of stripping 6 oak chairs that have a whitewash and lacquer finish on them. ...
A: You could try that, yes....and if that doesn't work then a two part wood bleach, but It's kind of ...
|
| red oak cabinets | 6/13/2009 |
Q: I read your response to someone who had sanded down their staircase railings and wanted to preserve ...
A: An Acrylic urethane or a lacquer would leave the cabinets the lightest. Catalyzed finishes ...
|
| stripping pickled oak chairs | 6/12/2009 |
Q: I have started a project of stripping 6 oak chairs that have a whitewash and lacquer finish on them. ...
A: yes Oak has deep pores, and trying to get all of the pigment out of them can be challenging. Buy a ...
|
| refurbishing cherry kitchen cabinets | 6/11/2009 |
Q: I have 25 year old kitchen cabinets. They probably have polyurethane varnish on them. Some of the ...
A: Lacquers (and catalyzed lacquers where just coming on the market around that time, a two part, ...
|
| refurbishing cherry kitchen cabinets | 6/10/2009 |
Q: I have 25 year old kitchen cabinets. They probably have polyurethane varnish on them. Some of the ...
A: most likely your cabinets are not polyurethane, but lacquer. Lacquer can only be recoated with ...
|
| Refinishing laminated Birch | 6/10/2009 |
Q: I have a Birch Laminate rifle stock in a light brown/tan color that I would like to strip and ...
A: Hey Shawn, it should be fine to remove the finish...and no, it won't delaminate the stock, unless ...
|
| painting oak cabinets | 6/9/2009 |
Q: We have a golden oak kitchen and are interested in painting them for a more modern look What is your ...
A: Oil Paint is fine, and will likely give even better results....but it's very susceptible to dust ...
|
| safety about using mdf board | 6/9/2009 |
Q: Do you know any danger to health when using mdf board as a head board (upholstered)? I read there's ...
A: MDF was once lot worse than it is now, and certain companies are now producing Formaldahyde free ...
|
| paintint oak cabinets | 6/7/2009 |
Q: We have a golden oak kitchen and are interested in painting them for a more modern look What is your ...
A: Hey Tom it's a huge job, but can be done....clean the cabinets well with a degreaser, depending on ...
|
| refinishing old t&g wallboard | 6/7/2009 |
Q: I am demolishing an old cottage that has 6,8,12" pine t&G on the interior walls. I've salvaged the ...
A: Hey Steve, trying to plane or sand off the old varnish will gum up any machine rather quickly, but, ...
|
| Veneer Removal | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I have a duncan fife drop leaf table that needs veneer removed i ahve tried a heat gun but very time ...
A: Strip the area of all finish, sand it with 120 to deglaze it, then take a steam iron set on med.high ...
|
| Finishing kitchen | 6/5/2009 |
Q: I'm working on a kitchen cabinet project and I want a real good finish comparable to one being ...
A: Spraying is always going to give you a better, smoother finish than any brush applied finish. The ...
|
| Refinishing a Veneer | 6/4/2009 |
Q: To start, thank you for you time in answering this question. Now, I have a 30-35 year old chess ...
A: a good stripper won't hurt the veneer, if you're gentle with it. It's really the only way to remove ...
|
| Finishing kitchen | 6/4/2009 |
Q: I'm working on a kitchen cabinet project and I want a real good finish comparable to one being ...
A: Hey Jason, it's hard to advise you to attempt this type of finishing if you haven't any experience ...
|
| Minwax stainer | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I hope you don't get mad at my stupidity... I made a huge huge mistake >.< I bought some cabinet ...
A: Sorry to say that you're right .....you've made a HUGE mistake, and there's no choice but to remove ...
|
| Refinishing a old rocking chair | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I found a old rocker from a yard it a pretty big one at that, well I'm having a pain getting all the ...
A: any good paste type stripper will work for you, a good hardware store or home Center will be able to ...
|
| waxing | 6/3/2009 |
Q: I'm refinishing kitchen cabinets and using a polyurethane. i have gone to the big box stores to ask ...
A: sanding between coats is only necessary if the application dried rough to the touch. If sanding is ...
|
| stain turning gray | 6/2/2009 |
Q: On 7/4/08 we had a flood in our laundry room through the Kitchen into the hall and down to the ...
A: Tannins wouldn't turn the Red Oak gray, moisture can turn Oak gray-black, but it would take a fair ...
|
| Refinishing weather damaged mohagany door | 6/2/2009 |
Q: Greg, I am refinishing a fine mahogany front door which has been partially exposed to weather for ...
A: do you know that the door was finished with Spar? I hesitate to recommend coating an old Spar finish ...
|
| Very poor staining | 6/1/2009 |
Q: My sister had some Custom Cabinets made by a cabinet maker. They came unfinished but the cabinet ...
A: finishing Maple cabinets is tricky to do right, as this wood tends to "blotch" when staining, and ...
|
| measuring circumference | 5/31/2009 |
Q: Greetings, I have a question in regard to putting veneer around the circumference of a table using ...
A: I'm kind of at a loss here to explain how you could be 2" short...that doesn't make sense to me. If ...
|
| old wood laminate cabinet | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I would like to refinish and old antique cabinet and it has wood laminate on it and it hascracked ...
A: you'll have to glue all the loose areas down, using something like a pallet knife and the right ...
|
| measuring circumference | 5/30/2009 |
Q: Greetings, I have a question in regard to putting veneer around the circumference of a table using ...
A: Did you use the same measuring tape to measure out the bendie board? Sewing tapes are not the same ...
|
| knotty pine kitchen cabinets | 5/30/2009 |
Q: Greg, thanks for your time. Our kitchen has 50 year knotty pine cabinets and walls. While wood is ...
A: there's no way to lighten the cabinets easily....it would mean stripping the old finish and ...
|
| wood staining | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I am trying to strip and stain my guest bathroom vanity, I started on the side by spraying some wood ...
A: ...Paint?lol... There's no way to strip this stuff without ruining it, and now you may have ruined ...
|
| oak headboard | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I recently made a oak headboard and I stained it,and finished it in polycrylic in the spray can,what ...
A: You can always use a paste wax over a fully cured finish, but it won't really give your finish ...
|
| Care and cleaning of Rosewood furniture | 5/28/2009 |
Q: I have many pieces of rosewood furniture we had made in HongKong when we lived there. I was told to ...
A: it depends on how they were finished, but honestly, I would NOT apply water and vinegar to ANY ...
|
| stain turning gray | 5/28/2009 |
Q: On 7/4/08 we had a flood in our laundry room through the Kitchen into the hall and down to the ...
A: I'm not familiar with the Becker Acroma line of products,so this would be an answer he should get ...
|
| cabinets | 5/27/2009 |
Q: First of all, Thank you for your time. I would like new kitchen cabinets. I want white - so I think ...
A: no Poplar is not too soft, and is used routinely for cabinets that will have an opaque finish. ...
|
| clear coating on wood cabinets. | 5/27/2009 |
Q: I need to put a very chemicaly resistant clear coating/sealer on laboratory cabinets. What is the ...
A: A catalyzed lacquer or catalyzed Varnish type product is probably a good bet, but these are not DIY ...
|
| presswood cabinets | 5/27/2009 |
Q: so I have old pressed wood looking cabinets in my kitchen. I would like to make them look better. I ...
A: If they are "pressed wood", likely MDF, they probably have a genuine Vinyl veneer or similar, which ...
|
| Sticky Stain Removal | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I recently decided to touch up my wooden kitchen chairs with an English Chestnut stain by Minwax. ...
A: Minwax stains CANNOT be use over ANY existing finish....and it does say so on the can. You'll have ...
|
| Wood in Humidity and Dry climates | 5/25/2009 |
Q: I have a hutch and table made of teak wood that was made in Belgium. Moved to las vegas ...
A: it really should be ok, IF you are careful to take care of it.......the real climate that matters is ...
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| how to make this match my headboard | 5/23/2009 |
Q: i have 2 post that i want to add to each side of a headboard i have the post are black came off ...
A: I think that would not make a match you will like...it will look like you painted it, and an opaque ...
|
| Teak vs. Oak | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you could help me with a difficult decision. I am choosing between two equal ...
A: really no appreciable difference, as long as the manufacturer used properly dried wood.Both are ...
|
| refinishing piano cabinet | 5/23/2009 |
Q: I have a 1904 Steinway upright that appears almost black and crackled. There are a few spots that ...
A: the "black and crackled" surface is the old Varnish (possibly shellac). It has broken down and turns ...
|
| Removing scented oil from Ethan Allen Country Colors dining table | 5/22/2009 |
Q: We had a Bed & Bath Words "Scentport" diffuser with lavender chamomile oil leak onto our Ethan Allen ...
A: unfortunately, the solvents in the scent diffuser will melt the finish, and there's no way for you ...
|
| Sanding tool for Vanity | 5/22/2009 |
Q: We have a light oak vanity which is varnished. I go to know I could use a paint/varnish remover to ...
A: once properly stripped the vanity should need almost no sanding, so just a piece of 150 grit ...
|
| Dining room table refinishing | 5/21/2009 |
Q: I have recently inherited a dining set from my in-laws. None of the furiture is my taste, however, ...
A: it would be very unusual to have Formica on a dining table top, and it wouldn't be finished over it, ...
|
| Cabinet restain | 5/21/2009 |
Q: we have natural cherry cabinets with clear coat. They are simple mission styel. we are redoing the ...
A: Refacing?? Honestly, there's no easy way to do what you want to the existing cabinets, and if you ...
|
| new kitchen cabinets | 5/20/2009 |
Q: My husband and I are remodeling our kitchen. Stripped down to the skeleton and starting from ...
A: I have never heard of a kitchen cabinet maker that recommends someone else finish his cabinets. Does ...
|
| super glue vapors | 5/19/2009 |
Q: I used super glue to join a magnets to a plastic disks for a school project. I put them on a paper ...
A: yes it sounds like the solvent vapors may have left the marks...you could try some "Goo Gone", a ...
|
| new kitchen cabinets | 5/19/2009 |
Q: My husband and I are remodeling our kitchen. Stripped down to the skeleton and starting from ...
A: Conventional lacquer used on furniture is not a good choice, but catalyzed lacquers and Urethanes ...
|
| Waxing a lacquer finish | 5/19/2009 |
Q: A friend and I have made some oak tables with a lacquer finish. Can we use a wax after the final ...
A: you can use wax, but keep in mind that it will make it quite shiny, and will then need periodic ...
|
| Cat gnawed woodwork. Options for repair? | 5/18/2009 |
Q: I am hopeful you can point me to a few options. I just discovered that my cat gnawed the corners of ...
A: As an owner of two rescued cats, I want to thank you for what you're doing. I think you'll find that ...
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| Cat gnawed woodwork. Options for repair? | 5/18/2009 |
Q: I am hopeful you can point me to a few options. I just discovered that my cat gnawed the corners of ...
A: it's quite unusual for a cat to gnaw furniture, sharpen it's claws, yes....but not ...
|
| Staining old table | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I decided to stain our old kitchen oak table after lightly sanding it. I put on a pretty good coat ...
A: lightly sanding an old finish is not proper prep for using a stain, and it probably says so on the ...
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| clear coating on maple veneer | 5/16/2009 |
Q: Greg. The large reception desk in the office was custom made of "figured maple veneer with clear ...
A: I wish the picture was a little better...it looks like a typical cell phone pic...there are a number ...
|
| drawer knobs | 5/16/2009 |
Q: I am looking for cabinet knobs. Many do no project enough to get past the trim around face of ...
A: There are backplates available for many knob styles... there are knobs that are deeper than some, ...
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| wood wall treatment | 5/15/2009 |
Q: We just built a new room onto our house & the interior walls & ceiling are made of red cedar & white ...
A: pure Tung oil can be quite dark, and will darken the wood more over time. There are other ...
|
| cat spray or urine on wood | 5/14/2009 |
Q: While carpeting a bookcase was left outside and a cat either sprayed or peed on the back. It's a ...
A: first I would recommend using an enzyme based stain/odor remover on the areas, a good pet store will ...
|
| refinishing teak dining table | 5/14/2009 |
Q: We have a Teak Dining table which must be about 30 years old. I would like to refresh the look. It ...
A: typically these older tables were just finished with an oil finish, a satin to flat finish that ...
|
| Wood finish | 5/14/2009 |
Q: I was fishing today and I hooked into a big old tree root. I pulled it ashore. It is gorgeous and ...
A: Hey Steve, at least you caught something! Unfortunately, in order to bring this into your house and ...
|
| oak table refinish | 5/13/2009 |
Q: an oak table top has been sanded to remove the finish. the sides and legs will remain finished but ...
A: I wouldn't suggest paint, as it won't stand up well on a table top like this, and it's difficult to ...
|
| finishing an oak-framed window | 5/13/2009 |
Q: We had a bay window installed. The frame is vinyl, but it's surrounded by what appears to be sawn ...
A: you'll need to match the color, and that may require staining, or it may not, depending on what the ...
|
| Removing Polyurethane | 5/13/2009 |
Q: I used a 2 step in 1 polyurethane / stain on my scratched table (small portion). The color of the ...
A: Hey Chris, typically you would rub out the table top to blend the area, but in this case that ...
|
| refinishing an old wooden desk | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing an old wooden flat top desk 20" x 36" that had a leather inlay 15" x 31". the ...
A: you could use felt, but if the desk was made for leather....I would put a leather piece back ...
|
| Removing paint "stains" from old dining table | 5/11/2009 |
Q: I am trying to bring a 100+ year old dining table back to natural wood finish (maple or oak). It was ...
A: Hey Tim, are you using a methylene chloride stripper? If you're working on an open pored wood like ...
|
| repairing a hole in wood | 5/9/2009 |
Q: I just installed new cabinets. I came home after being gone two nights to find that a wood rat (we ...
A: It definitely won't be funny for long if you let a rat population get out of control....while I have ...
|
| Changing the tone of a stain? | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I just had my front door stained (it was natural pine), and the color I had chosen (Minwax Gunstock) ...
A: unfortunately the only way to do that would be to strip the stain off and start again. Work, ...
|
| repairing a hole in wood | 5/8/2009 |
Q: I just installed new cabinets. I came home after being gone two nights to find that a wood rat (we ...
A: A simple metal plate will not deter a Rat, let alone a family of Rats, especially that they now know ...
|
| Dents in table | 5/8/2009 |
Q: We have a small dent in our new dinning room table. Checking with the manufacture found it is ...
A: I wouldn't try to steam this dent out. Catalyzed finishes are a crosslinked film, like an epoxy. ...
|
| repairing a hole in wood | 5/7/2009 |
Q: I just installed new cabinets. I came home after being gone two nights to find that a wood rat (we ...
A: Wow, two days huh, was there food in the cabinet? I have a few ideas, but none of them are easy ...
|
| Dining Room Chairs | 5/6/2009 |
Q: My dining room chairs are breaking at the seat box cross joint where the rear legs are ...
A: typically the bolts should be tight.....but this design is prone to weakness no matter what you do. ...
|
| Fir interior doors | 5/5/2009 |
Q: We had solid Fir (unfinished)doors installed along with the hardware. I have two questions: 1. The ...
A: How much lubricant are we talking about? Any oil based lube will be tough to completely remove in a ...
|
| Asian Rubberwood table | 5/5/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a rubberwood table and already have put a scratch on it. I have tried numerous ...
A: it's not so much the wood, but the actual finish that's ON the Rubberwood.....probably lacquer or ...
|
| fixing finish on "pickled "finish maple kitchen cabinets | 5/5/2009 |
Q: My kitchen cabinets are about 15 years old and have a finish called "pickled," but they are not ...
A: I get this question very often, and this type of repair is almost impossible to do. These finishes ...
|
| refinishing coffee table | 5/4/2009 |
Q: I purchased a coffee table at an estate sale because it was big, solid wood and very sturdy so my ...
A: It could be a glue residue or something else...I would try a semi paste Methylene chloride stripper, ...
|
| refinishing coffee table | 5/3/2009 |
Q: I purchased a coffee table at an estate sale because it was big, solid wood and very sturdy so my ...
A: what stripper did you use? It looks to me like there is still old finish on the top. Stripping has ...
|
| Repair stained cabinet trim | 5/2/2009 |
Q: My tile counter top has a wood trim that is maple with a light white wash over it. A reed diffuser ...
A: this is a "pickled" finish, and it's a white glaze that's then clear coated, usually with lacquer. ...
|
| attaching gluing leather to wood | 5/2/2009 |
Q: how do you glue leather onto wood
A: it really depends on what the application is....if you're gluing down a tooled leather insert, like ...
|
| refinishing woodwork | 5/1/2009 |
Q: My husband and I are refinishing woodwork throughout our house. We are finding alot of empty nail ...
A: any filler will usually have to be stained to allow it to blend with the surrounding wood. It can be ...
|
| refinishing rough wood beams | 4/28/2009 |
Q: Recently purchased a house, which has rough-finished wooden beams along ceiling, walls and even a ...
A: in a word.....No. There isn't an easy way to deal with this type of beam, a lot of people would have ...
|
| wood table | 4/28/2009 |
Q: How do I recess a 36" table by 1/2" and leave a 2" lip on along the edge? I'm not familiar with ...
A: The easiest way would be to build up the 1/2" x 2" edge as a separate piece. "recessing", meaning ...
|
| T & G Pine Paneling | 4/27/2009 |
Q: The paneling in our living room is T&G pine. It's about 30 years old. It was stained, but not ...
A: I'm afraid there isn't much you can do to lighten your paneling. Pine paneling will naturally darken ...
|
| Refinishing dresser | 4/27/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a dresser and it has become a never-ending project. I started by sanding the old ...
A: that Krylon Clear is a Gloss finish I believe, so it wouldn't be a good choice, (unless you WANT a ...
|
| Refinishing dresser | 4/27/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a dresser and it has become a never-ending project. I started by sanding the old ...
A: odd problem you're having with the aerosols, perhaps it is something with this certain batch or ...
|
| LEATHER ROCKER RECLINER | 4/23/2009 |
Q: It looks like 2 broken dowels fell to the floor and the seat feels like it will fall thru if you sit ...
A: I would flip it over and see if you can get in underneath, many times there's just a black muslin ...
|
| Cracked veneer | 4/22/2009 |
Q: I have a 3 panel dressing that we bought about 8 years ago. It has three full length oval mirrors ...
A: this sounds like the design is an applique that's seperating from the base coats, or maybe it's done ...
|
| natural cherry cabinets | 4/22/2009 |
Q: I have natural cherry kitchen cabinets approximately 15 years old that have what appear to be water ...
A: I would suggest you find someone else to go to, restoring a finish like this should never be started ...
|
| repair tambour door on appliance garage | 4/21/2009 |
Q: I am remodeling my kitchen, and painting cabinets. I had to remove the tambour door on my appliance ...
A: usually a canvas is used, like Blue jean material, but white....most fabric stores will have some. ...
|
| Oak Table wobbles like a see saw | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I purchased a beautiful oak table with pedestal in 1987. At this point it really does resemble a ...
A: Yes you could get some thicker gauge screws. You'll need to enlarge the holes through the mounting ...
|
| Weatherproofing a raw pine potting bench | 4/19/2009 |
Q: I just got a potting bench as a thoughtful gift. It has a sheet metal work surface but the rest is ...
A: could it be Cedar? It seems odd that it would be just Pine if it was something like a potting bench. ...
|
| natural cherry cabinets | 4/18/2009 |
Q: I have natural cherry kitchen cabinets approximately 15 years old that have what appear to be water ...
A: I'd get a second opinion. "Sanding down" isn't usually associated with restoring or repairing a ...
|
| Oak Table wobbles like a see saw | 4/18/2009 |
Q: I purchased a beautiful oak table with pedestal in 1987. At this point it really does resemble a ...
A: you need to turn the table over and examine the base, legs and feet. Often the legs (or one or two ...
|
| old furniture | 4/18/2009 |
Q: A friend of mind gave me her old dining room furniture, it is a very dark stained color, (not ...
A: it really depends on what type of wood the furniture is made of. In order to make any changes, it ...
|
| resurfacing mdf furniture | 4/17/2009 |
Q: Good day Greg, I have a bedroom suite from Ashley furniture that is 15 years old. In a few ...
A: this type of furniture is usually finished with a multi step, sprayed, toned finish that's capable ...
|
| removing tobacco stains from painted furniture | 4/16/2009 |
Q: I have a bedroom set from a relative who smoked very heavily. It is beautiful but has a horrible ...
A: You'll have to try removing it with mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool, working in small, ...
|
| refinishing table top | 4/16/2009 |
Q: I recently bought an older claw-foot drop leaf table. It was a bargain, but the top is scratched ...
A: from your explanation, it's kind of hard to guess what you're describing....first of all, when ...
|
| sealling a tree trunk | 4/16/2009 |
Q: I have receantly moved to a rented house and found the most amazing artistic shaped tree trunk in ...
A: what you want to do does have risks, involving both undesirable creatures living inside this trunk, ...
|
| Stripping 1920's Built in Hutch | 4/14/2009 |
Q: My house was built in the 1920's and I have a large original built in hutch (14 cabinets and 14 ...
A: I'm sure it could be stripped, but it would be a huge job, and you will be attacking many layers of ...
|
| Restaining kitchen cabinets | 4/13/2009 |
Q: We have less than 2 years old wood cabinets that were stained a dark walnut but probably never ...
A: the only way would be to properly stain and finish the cabinets, and to make them all match, you may ...
|
| dresser repair | 4/13/2009 |
Q: I have solid wood dresser (tall Boy type). It was my grandma's. It's in really good shape except for ...
A: this is a common problem on older pieces, the drawer runners (basically the drawer sides), get worn ...
|
| material for cutting boards | 4/11/2009 |
Q: Aside from maple, what woods are desirable for cutting boards? Also, is it true that maple has ...
A: Hey John, it's not that Maple has any anti-bacterial qualities, it's that it has no pores for ...
|
| haze on rosewood furniture | 4/11/2009 |
Q: Greg, in response to the questions in your answer to me of 3/28/09 the haze on my rosewood dining ...
A: it probably has an oil finish on it, but it could also be lacquer.If it's an Oil finish, you could ...
|
| Repairing Veneer | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I have a beautiful cherry wood dresser that has a veneer top and I noticed a long thin gash and two ...
A: It's available at Home Depot and hardware stores...whether you can easily manipulate it really ...
|
| Coffee table scratches: | 4/9/2009 |
Q: I have a black wood veneer coffee table with allot of tiny scratches on it. Is there any easy way to ...
A: the table is probably lacquered, so you don't want to paint over that. Take some mineral spirits and ...
|
| Finishing teak | 4/9/2009 |
Q: We've ordered new, unfinished teak diningroom furniture from India. How should we finish it to yield ...
A: An oil finish, or a Tung oil/varnish finish is the easiest to apply, and will give you that look...I ...
|
| Repairing Veneer | 4/8/2009 |
Q: I have a beautiful cherry wood dresser that has a veneer top and I noticed a long thin gash and two ...
A: Elmers makes a Latex filler, that's really stain-able...but the key to getting a near invisible ...
|
| How to straighten twisted wood | 4/8/2009 |
Q: Greg, I am making a countertop out of red oak. The design is a framework that will have 3 glass ...
A: Hey Rich, unfortunately, there isn't much you can do with a twist like this other than when you ...
|
| Painting Kitchen Cabinets | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I'm in the process of repainting my kitchen cabinets. I believe the previous owners tried to stain ...
A: using high quality paint and tools, you can get a professional looking result, but it won't look ...
|
| wooden inlaid games table | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I have an antique backgammon board which is completely wood and ivory inlay. Some of the inlay has ...
A: what a beautiful thing....I'm afraid it really doesn't work that way, a finish won't hold the pieces ...
|
| pecan wood refinishing coffee table | 4/6/2009 |
Q: I have a pecan wood coffee table that I would like to re-finish. The finish is coming off as in the ...
A: the table is not just stained....it has a clear finish, too. Please don't sand a finish in prep for ...
|
| dull, worn whitewashed kitchen cabinets | 4/5/2009 |
Q: How can I brighten-up my existing whitewashed cabinets? The cabinets themselves are in good ...
A: I would recommend you stay away from that product. I have fielded a number of questions regarding ...
|
| wood polish | 4/5/2009 |
Q: please tell me about plastic fumigation or ammonium fumigation? ANSWER: I'm sorry but I don't ...
A: I am not familiar with these woods or these methods, here in the U.S. we fume Oak with Ammonia to ...
|
| refinish entertainment center | 4/4/2009 |
Q: my husband and I purchased what we thought was a really beautiful bookcase/entertainment center a ...
A: it's likely that it's not wood in places,or contains very little solid wood... it could be a paper ...
|
| Refinishing Whitewashed Entertainment Center | 4/3/2009 |
Q: We want to refinish it so that it's a dark wood color, but we have no clue where to even begin. Can ...
A: the only way to accomplish that would be to strip it and refinish it, and that's a huge job. If you ...
|
| cabinet stain deterioration | 4/2/2009 |
Q: Our new custom maple cabinets recently arrived stained and laquered, then all were re-stained a ...
A: Hey Brent, thanks for the video post...this is definitely NOT normal. These cabinets do not even ...
|
| Waterproofing of an outdoor fireplace mantel | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a beautiful piece of sourwood that I am going to use as a mantel for an outdoor ...
A: Hey mark, I'd lean towards a penetrating oil type product I think, Something designed for decking or ...
|
| weatherproofing faerie houses | 4/1/2009 |
Q: I plan on taking the craft store kinds of birdhouses, painting them, adding small stones, lichen, ...
A: those types of mass produced items, probably aren't designed to last too long, and probably not made ...
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| Wood Type? | 3/31/2009 |
Q: How do you tell a soft wood from a hardwood? I am looking for scrap lumber for a project, but I ...
A: knowing the species is the best way, but density, weight, and the fingernail test can help. The ...
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| Fixing hole in wood | 3/31/2009 |
Q: I replaced a door and had to make another hole in the door jamb for the strike plate, because the ...
A: Hey KC, typically, the best repair would be to carefully chisel out a clean square or rectangle ...
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| kiltchen cabinets | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I have light kitchen cabinets (birch) that just won't stain to a deep rich chocolate brown. How can ...
A: you can't hope to stain Birch a rich, chocolate brown easily. First of all they need to be stripped ...
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| finish on rosewood table | 3/28/2009 |
Q: A haze has developed and covers our beautiful rosewood dining table which we bought in China 15 ...
A: it's likely a lacquer finish, but could be a Tung oil finish....very hard to know. When you say a ...
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| Solid Maple Furniture | 3/28/2009 |
Q: I have several pieces of 40 to 50 year old solid maple furniture. It's beautiful but filthy. I don't ...
A: these are almost certainly finished with lacquer, and if it's in good condition, you can try some ...
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| superglue on furniture | 3/27/2009 |
Q: Ifollowed the directions given by Michael Fitzpatrick on removing superglue from furniture (upto ...
A: you've sanded through the finish which is what you DON'T want to do....so now you have a bigger ...
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| 1991 builder grade cabinets | 3/26/2009 |
Q: I have a house that came with what I can only call cheap-popular-1991-builder-grade-cabinets. ...
A: I think you're best bet is to replace the doors with a raised panel type with a knob or pull. I ...
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| Durability of [Oil] Finishes for Kitchen Cabinetry | 3/26/2009 |
Q: We are trying to decide which cabinet maker to go with for a kitchen project. One company takes ...
A: There are quite a few variables to consider...like what the "oil" finish really is. many of these ...
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| Restoring bookcase with beeswax | 3/26/2009 |
Q: We applied the beeswax/turpentine mix to bare wood. But it is sticky. What have we done wrong. ...
A: best of luck, sometimes just vigorous rubbing with a flannel rag or (my favorite) and old cloth ...
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| wood staining unevenly | 3/25/2009 |
Q: I conditioned the wood first as I was adviced to do so it would absorb the stain evenly, applied the ...
A: Pine is a soft wood and is notorious for being blotchy, Once the conditioner has a chance to dry ...
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| Restoring bookcase with beeswax | 3/25/2009 |
Q: We applied the beeswax/turpentine mix to bare wood. But it is sticky. What have we done wrong. ...
A: first of all it sounds like you're applying it way too heavily, second, the wax has to be pure, ...
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| Refinishing a Bathroom Vanity | 3/25/2009 |
Q: Greg, Me and my wife recently purchased a bathroom vanity at a yard sale. The piece has some spots ...
A: you can rub the piece down with some mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool, working in small sections ...
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| veneer repair? | 3/24/2009 |
Q: I have a Thomasville coffee table that I acquired from a family member that I thought was solid ...
A: yes that's probably what it means, but I'd be surprised if it was pine...the only way to repair it ...
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| Fir wood | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I have been comparing exterior doors. Mahogony, oak and cherry are very nice!! I saw one that was ...
A: White Oak and Mahogany, and even cherry will outlast a Fir door. Fir is a fairly soft wood, and a ...
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| what's the right air guns to apply warnish on furniture | 3/23/2009 |
Q: I have no clue on the best air gun to be used to apply varnish on wooden furniture as well as ...
A: Siphon feed and gravity feed guns would handle oil based products, but you need to plan to have the ...
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| refinishing my old woodwork | 3/23/2009 |
Q: We are putting in new laminate floors and took up all the baseboards to fix all the marks from the ...
A: that great color comes from years of dirt and the old finish, but it also comes from the way the ...
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| refinishing antique cherry table | 3/22/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a cherry dining room set from an estate sale. The buffet and china cabinet are in ...
A: a Tung oil finish is a modified varnish, and it's a beautiful finish for Cherry, but it's got a ...
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| wood polish | 3/22/2009 |
Q: Can you recommend any polishes for wood? How do I know what makes a good polish versus one that is ...
A: I am a fan of oil based polishes that do NOT contain silicones or waxes, which build up and ...
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| refinish kitchen cabinets | 3/21/2009 |
Q: I'm looking for some tips on refinishing some cabinets. The job in question is new construction and ...
A: Hey Jim, if the primer is sound and smooth, you could probably use the recommended sealer (or ...
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| finishing new oak doors | 3/21/2009 |
Q: I have 7 new oak panel doors to install indoors. I'd like them to remain pretty light, or natural, ...
A: to remain the lightest you should choose a waterborne Acrylic urethane. These finishes are ...
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| Staining Old Oak Cabinets | 3/21/2009 |
Q: I am moving into a house that has solid oak cabinets that are atleast 20 years old. The cabinets ...
A: I did mention "toning" in my post there Geoff...but it's part of the staining-sealing operation and ...
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| table scratches | 3/20/2009 |
Q: I recently had a table and chairs painted black by a professional furniture repair company. The ...
A: did they paint it?...or did they lacquer, urethane it? Typically, a clear coat over the color coat ...
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| Staining Old Oak Cabinets | 3/19/2009 |
Q: I am moving into a house that has solid oak cabinets that are atleast 20 years old. The cabinets ...
A: stripping is the way to go, but be warned,it may be tough to do. Old Oak does stain easier, but by ...
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| Cherry vs. Birch or Oak | 3/19/2009 |
Q: I am putting a bar down in my basement. I purchased American Woodmark Cherry cabinets that will be ...
A: Oak looks nothing like Cherry, even if it's colored perfectly like it. It's grain structure and ...
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| reversing a whitewash | 3/19/2009 |
Q: I have cabinets that are in good shape but have a whitewash in the crevices. I would like to change ...
A: it probably isn't possible to cover the lighter wash effect without stripping off the finish....it ...
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| Armoire Hinge | 3/18/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased an armoire that was made in Germany. The hinge on the door is not doing well. ...
A: Wow, I have to say I've never seen anything like that....is this a contemporary piece? Is there a ...
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| tung oil | 3/18/2009 |
Q: I have just bought a waterfall bedroom set and would like to clean it up and cover scratches,in a ...
A: pure tung oil is not advised, what you need is a tung oil finish, a modified tung oil that has ...
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| Oak built-ins | 3/17/2009 |
Q: I have a question about my blonde oak built-in cabinets/shelves. I would like them to be darker, ...
A: sanding a finish down does not remove it,it needs to be stripped right down to the wood with ...
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| baseboards for kitchen | 3/17/2009 |
Q: We are getting new flooring for our kitchen and hallway and will be replacing and adding some ...
A: Pine is not a great material for baseboards because it's so soft, and it doesn't stain light ...
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| New Pine Cabinets Uneven Stain Repair | 3/16/2009 |
Q: Greg I live on Galveston Bay in Texas. We are in the rebuilding mode after Ike. Anyway, I had ...
A: Hey Bill, what finish are you using after sTining?...unfortunately it's not really possible to go ...
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| Child's Rocking Chair - Preservation | 3/16/2009 |
Q: We were given a child's rocker that belonged to my husband's granfather, so we estimate it is ...
A: Yes, you could shellac it or even just clean and pastewax it, but this will do nothing to prevent ...
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| Polyurethane on flat panel cabinet doors | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I am building flat panel, mission style, kitchen cabinet doors using cherry and plan to finish with ...
A: You're going to run into these problems if you brush, and thinning really won't have any effect, and ...
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| refinishing furniture | 3/14/2009 |
Q: I have a solid wood dresser that is stained in a light oak finish. I would like to refinish that ...
A: no, Oak is very hard, and NO stain will do anything to it over a finish....you'll want to strip it ...
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| fixing a scratch in teak dining room table | 3/14/2009 |
Q: We incured a scratch in our dining room table. I got online to get some advice to fix the scratch. ...
A: no you can't really lighten the color...is it the oil that's darkening it?...if so just treat the ...
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| Child's Rocking Chair - Preservation | 3/14/2009 |
Q: We were given a child's rocker that belonged to my husband's granfather, so we estimate it is ...
A: I caution you against allowing your children to use it....all paint of that era had lead in it...and ...
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| kitchen cabinet finish diappearing! | 3/13/2009 |
Q: Our kitchen cabinet lacquer seems to be disappearing!!! About 4 years ago we had nice solid oak ...
A: Water alone shouldn't have this affect on properly finished 4 year old cabinets, especially if you ...
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| Dresser draw guides/slides broken | 3/12/2009 |
Q: My husband and I thought we were getting a great deal on a used matching bureau and dresser set. ...
A: are they metal slides, or wooden?......are you handy? It should be fairly straight forward to ...
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| Want my vanity to look old! | 3/11/2009 |
Q: I had a bathroom vanity made, problem I do not want to just paint it. I would like for it to look ...
A: there are many different ways to get a distressed look, with stains,Dyes, Gels, clear finishes, ...
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| Curio cabinet, left sliding door, warped | 3/11/2009 |
Q: How can I fix my curio door? It will only open about 10-12 in. to the left, and then stops. this ...
A: could be a few things wrong, so it's very hard for me to tell you how to fix it....the door frame ...
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| Polyurethane on flat panel cabinet doors | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I am building flat panel, mission style, kitchen cabinet doors using cherry and plan to finish with ...
A: Two things come to mind, First is to eliminate as much possibilty of shrinkage by selecting and ...
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| Nail polish remover spilt on oak | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I spilt nail polish remover (acetone free) on my oak table and it ate through the wood before I ...
A: I'm pretty sure this is not something you can fix yourself, especially if you can feel that the area ...
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| kitchen cabinet finish diappearing! | 3/9/2009 |
Q: Our kitchen cabinet lacquer seems to be disappearing!!! About 4 years ago we had nice solid oak ...
A: It is not common for cabinets to "soak" up a finish like lacquer. And three coats of sealer is not a ...
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| lane recall/taking the wood venere off | 3/5/2009 |
Q: half or the vevere is alreadt off so I tried to remove the rest with a heat gun.didnt work. tell is ...
A: info for the recall is here: http://www.lanefurniture.com/customer_care/newlockcpsc.asp The only ...
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| KITCHEN CABINETS | 3/4/2009 |
Q: gREGG, I've read your answer to my previous question on my kitchen cabinets now peeling after ...
A: Did you finish the cabinets originally? If so I would be using the same finish to recoat them...it ...
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| Cane Rocker | 3/4/2009 |
Q: I would like to know what to use on my great grandmother's cane rocker, to preserve it. Looks like ...
A: I doubt the rocker is made out of cane, it may have a caned seat and back, but the wood is probably ...
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| Furniture Repair | 3/3/2009 |
Q: I purchased 2 identical dressers that were originally made (maybe in the 70's) to be hung on a wall. ...
A: I'm afraid I don't know anyone in your area, and the logistics of pick up and delivery would ...
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| Furniture Repair | 3/3/2009 |
Q: I purchased 2 identical dressers that were originally made (maybe in the 70's) to be hung on a wall. ...
A: the tops could be doweled into the sides, or screwed in from a frame inside, you'll have to ...
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| woodfinishing | 3/2/2009 |
Q: My husband and I have built a wood table out of seasoned oak, I'm wondering how to finish it ...
A: I usually recommend a wipe on Urethane...and you can stain also with a Gel stain which has a ...
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| Painting and waterproofing birdhouses | 3/2/2009 |
Q: I bought some bird houses that I would like to paint with acrylic paint--but what kind of ...
A: a high quality Exterior paint is probably good enough, as long as you put on 2-3 coats and are ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 3/2/2009 |
Q: We bought a house about 2 years ago now and the kitchen cabinets looked great(white painted) when we ...
A: this is a big problem with no easy fix I'm afraid. It sounds like they didn't use a primer, and it ...
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| Humidor | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I'm attempting to make a humidor cabinet for my father in law. It will be 65" tall - 15" deep and ...
A: I wasn't trying to talk you out of the project, and it sounds to me like you have the abilities to ...
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| Polyutherane coating | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I have recently made a small burn mark on my new high gloss white polyutherane coated table. Is is ...
A: that website address doesn't take me any where, perhaps you could check it and post it again? It's ...
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| Humidor | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I'm attempting to make a humidor cabinet for my father in law. It will be 65" tall - 15" deep and ...
A: Hey Steve, I'm quite concerned about your construction method here, as such a large side panel ...
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| Kitchen cabinet finishes | 2/27/2009 |
Q: I just finished building my kitchen cabinets with alder. I will be staining them with gel. What ...
A: Hey Roger, that's a loaded question, it really boils down to what you're experience level is. ...
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| repair of oak medicine cabinet | 2/26/2009 |
Q: My oak medicine cabinet has some water damage on the bottom of the door from opening and closing ...
A: typically if the water damage is bad enough to bother you, you'll need to refinish the whole door to ...
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| blonde mahogany dinging room set | 2/25/2009 |
Q: I have a 40 year old American of Martinsville blonde mahogany dining room set that is in need of ...
A: your pieces probably were not blonde originally, mahogany turns from reddish-brown to yellow with ...
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| peeling varnish | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing my kitchen cupboards. They are cherry wood stained walnut, about 30 plus years ...
A: you're probably putting Varnish over a lacquer finish which is a big no-no...but it sounds like ...
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| Painting dining room set w/a 7' cabinet | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I was wanting to paint my furniture. I have never done this before, so I decided not to refinish. ...
A: could you please elaborate? "use color wash to go on top of the white? Will it look like a washed ...
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| stain on white furniture | 2/24/2009 |
Q: Hey! My daughter placed colored window decals on her white furniture. They are plastic clingy stuff ...
A: the color could have transferred to the white, and it could be permanent...the plasticizers in the ...
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| replacing cabinet hinges | 2/23/2009 |
Q: I have face frame hinges on my kitchen cabinets and I took one of the old ones to the store with me ...
A: even though they look essentially the same, are you sure the hinge can't be adjusted? Most all of ...
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| Refinishing Vanity | 2/23/2009 |
Q: We have a newer home and don't care for the standard oak like finish in our bathroom. Is there a way ...
A: refinishing this type of vanity will likely be a real pain, as the modern finishes are tough to ...
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| Lyson Aerosol on cabinets | 2/21/2009 |
Q: Ok, I used it on some cabinets before reading the label that said don't use on wood. We were just ...
A: Do you mean Lysol perhaps? What made you try Mayo? You may have chemically "burned" the lacquer on ...
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| Adjust color of wood finish | 2/19/2009 |
Q: I built a bookshelf for my parents and I'm in the process of applying minwax polyshade (stain + ...
A: I'm sorry that your this far into it, and that you chose to use Polyshades. I hate the stuff. If you ...
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| Dog chewed corner of coffee table! | 2/18/2009 |
Q: My 8 month old puppy was apparently very bored today while I was at work and he decided to work his ...
A: Wow...the caption says it all...it is pretty ruined. There is no way to repair this easily, and the ...
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| roll top desk. | 2/18/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a roll top desk the pieces of wood that fit together to make the actual roll top ...
A: Hmmm....wire isn't the kind of thing one can tie off though, and have the pieces remain ...
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| Staining and finishing exterior front door | 2/18/2009 |
Q: My son-in-law is building a house and has just installed a mahogany exterior front door that he ...
A: are there cracks in the new door? If you mean the small gaps between machined pieces, I wouldn't ...
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| varnish and lacquer | 2/17/2009 |
Q: what is the best products for removing varnish and lacquer from solid wood furniture. may thanks ...
A: any good semi paste stripper will work on all except the toughest finishes....I use Citristrip ...
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| roll top desk. | 2/17/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a roll top desk the pieces of wood that fit together to make the actual roll top ...
A: I have never seen this type of arrangement on a roll top before....so not sure how to advise you. It ...
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| new stairs | 2/16/2009 |
Q: We have new stairs installed. Oak treads and poplar risers and rails. Which do I finish first? Paint ...
A: I suggest doing the treads first and allowing to dry several days after the final coat. The reason ...
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| Repairing broken furniture | 2/14/2009 |
Q: I bought a reproduction antique wooden desk from an auction & two of the legs were broken. Please ...
A: As long as the break fits well back together, and it is a glue-able break, meaning that it's not a ...
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| Purpleheart wood | 2/13/2009 |
Q: I am going to be making a platform bed and came across some Purpleheart wood. I am a bit confused ...
A: all your info is basically correct. Purpleheart will eventually turn browninsh, a UV inhibiting ...
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| Removing the finish from a 100 year old door. | 2/10/2009 |
Q: Our wooden front door is 100 years old. The finish on the outside is in very good condition but the ...
A: that looks like old Varnish that has reticulated from whatever it was put over. I think you'll need ...
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| Repairing a Cherry wood Crib | 2/10/2009 |
Q: My son has put numerous teeth marks in his cherry crib. I would call them nicks or gouges he as ...
A: there isn't an easy way to repair this type of damage and I wouldn't even suggest it if he's still ...
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| scorch on laminate flooring | 2/9/2009 |
Q: My grandson set the heat lamp from the snake case on the laminate flooring at my daughter's house. ...
A: Well a burn is a burn, and it will depend on how deep it goes, but in the case of a solid floor, ...
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| scorch on laminate flooring | 2/9/2009 |
Q: My grandson set the heat lamp from the snake case on the laminate flooring at my daughter's house. ...
A: unfortunately there isn't a way to repair a burn other than replacing that piece of floor. Some of ...
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| bubbling on table top, unsure if veneer | 2/9/2009 |
Q: We recently notice some bubbles on the top of a kitchen table. We're unsure if the top has a veneer ...
A: It's possible that the seam could be cut with a razor and then glue forced under the bubbles and ...
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| bubbling on table top, unsure if veneer | 2/8/2009 |
Q: We recently notice some bubbles on the top of a kitchen table. We're unsure if the top has a veneer ...
A: yes it looks like a thin veneer, did the table get wet? That bubbling looks indicative of a MDF ...
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| glazing cabinets | 2/8/2009 |
Q: Gel stain worked but was too hard to control. I tinted an acrylic urethane (white) and it worked on ...
A: I have to say I'm still a bit confused...both Cherry and Alder are relatively soft woods and should ...
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| glazing cabinets | 2/8/2009 |
Q: Gel stain worked but was too hard to control. I tinted an acrylic urethane (white) and it worked on ...
A: Hey Alan, a little confused by your post. You tried Gel stain, which is a pretty easy stain to work ...
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| refinishing veneered surfaces | 2/5/2009 |
Q: I was wondering if you have any tips for my refinishing dillema -- as it is not going to be in the ...
A: I wouldn't waste the time and effort, I would use the time to put in a little overtime at work to ...
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| Wood cutting | 2/5/2009 |
Q: Someone told me that when using a circular saw to cut a piece of wood, it's important to set up the ...
A: I assume you mean a hand held circular saw. The main reason for this is just safety. The more blade ...
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| 40 yrs old kitchen walnut cabinets | 2/5/2009 |
Q: Have been using OLD English for all these years and the cabinets keep soaking it up. Some places ...
A: how often do you use the Old English, and which product is it? It's hard to know how these were ...
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| Mixing Gel Stains | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I have just completed making a bed and I was wondering if you can mix gel stains with other stains ...
A: I would only advise mixing Gel stains with other Gel stains. They have a Polyurethane carrier, and ...
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| cloudy finish on table | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I had some build up on my cherry glossy dining table. Someone suggested to use a wax build up ...
A: Hey Jay, ouch....I'm sorry you took that advice before coming here...sounds like you've chemically ...
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| Kitchen cabinets refinishing | 2/3/2009 |
Q: The kitchen cupboards in our house are about 35 yr. old. They are a wood grain veneer on particle ...
A: I wouldn't recommend putting a whole lot of effort into doing anything to these cabinets, while you ...
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| oilbase stain | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I refinish oak kitchen cabinets and applied an oilbase stain. It looked great and I waited 48 hours ...
A: sanding a finished surface down does not remove the finish. Even if it looks like you're down to ...
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| Ethan-Allen General's Chair | 2/3/2009 |
Q: I was on my way home from my friend's house and i happened to notice 3 chairs in the garbage. When ...
A: I can't really guess on value of a chair such as this...Ethan Allen furniture of the mid seventies ...
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| Furniture Question | 2/2/2009 |
Q: Scholl, I wanted to ask how I could achieve a rustic/eclectic image like the one shown in the ...
A: the picture is rather small and hard to see, but it looks like several techniques going on ...
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| warping handmade cherry cupboard doors | 2/2/2009 |
Q: we installed cherry cupboard doors made of 3in pieces glued together last fall.we heat with wood, ...
A: unfortunately there isn't much you can do. The only way to minimize warpage is in the construction. ...
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| Painted Wood v. Stained Wood v. Pickled Stain v. Thermofoil | 1/30/2009 |
Q: I'm redoing my kitchen at my 1960s beach cottage. I'm there about 2-3 months out of the year - the ...
A: any of these would probably hold up fine. "Paint" as you describe it, isn't what they use on kitchen ...
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| Restoring a dresser | 1/29/2009 |
Q: Hey Greg, I recently took on a project for my cousin, he gave me a dresser that has some dings and ...
A: yes a good primer, ( I like Zinssers Bulls eye 1-2-3.),and an Acrylic enamel in a satin or eggshell ...
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| Spray Painting Bedside Table | 1/28/2009 |
Q: Do I need to remove the drawer and cabinet front and spray paint them individually? Or is it better ...
A: it's better to take the piece apart and spray each component...practice good painting techniques ...
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| Broken post on a 4 post cherry wood bed | 1/28/2009 |
Q: One post is broken and in the center is a wood dowel about 1/2 inch thick. It is glued and has to ...
A: I'm surprised to hear that it's only 1/2", often they are 5/8 - 3/4", as that's much heftier. You'll ...
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| Finishing a Planter | 1/26/2009 |
Q: I am hoping that you can help answer a question I have concerning exterior finishes. I am building ...
A: I would suggest the best exterior primer you can get, as this is what holds the paint to the wood, ...
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| Restoring a dresser | 1/25/2009 |
Q: Hey Greg, I recently took on a project for my cousin, he gave me a dresser that has some dings and ...
A: Hey John, you can't stain over an existing finish, you'll need to strip the old finish off with ...
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| Painted veneer kitchen cabinets | 1/25/2009 |
Q: We cannot afford to replace the kitchen cabinets at the time, however the kitchen needs a facelift ...
A: it sounds like it would work, but I do agree that smaller tiles in a small space will make it look ...
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| refinish | 1/25/2009 |
Q: Currently I own thomasville furniture the Encounter series and some of the pieces have sun or water ...
A: typically this is well made furniture, and will refinish just fine. Ash is similar to Oak and quite ...
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| fixing trim and a corner of a table | 1/24/2009 |
Q: my dog has chewed the edge of the trim around our bay window and also the corner of our solid cherry ...
A: Yes Elmers is good, but they're all pretty decent, just remember that none of them will give you a ...
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| fixing trim and a corner of a table | 1/23/2009 |
Q: my dog has chewed the edge of the trim around our bay window and also the corner of our solid cherry ...
A: I would only sand if necessary, and remove any loose splinters, you want to be careful about ...
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| Stain for white oak? | 1/23/2009 |
Q: I am building a house and I am having white oak cabinets. I am wanting them stained a really dark ...
A: I wouldn't use Oak if you want a dark finish like this. It is true that you'll need a dye stain to ...
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| refinishing wood cabinets | 1/22/2009 |
Q: My home has old Rutt cabinets they are great quality but very '65 walnut. Is the stain so old that ...
A: if they're real Walnut, you won't be able to lighten them much, if at all. To restain, you'll have ...
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| wood repair | 1/21/2009 |
Q: my little girls wooden bed has 2 small circlular balls that were attached to the end of the bed. ...
A: I'm assuming it's probably attached with a dowel, glued into a hole in the end of the post. Usually ...
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| staining birch | 1/21/2009 |
Q: We have stair case and banister of natural birch with a clear polyurthane finish. We would like to ...
A: you should really strip it. I'm assuming you mean the Polyshades from Minwax, and it's really only ...
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| Choice of wood and finishing techniques | 1/21/2009 |
Q: I am looking to do a kitchen remodel by myself (with husband and wood worker friend) I really would ...
A: I would look at WaterLox, a Tung oil/varnish type product. It applies easily, just like an oil ...
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| cherry butcherblock countertops | 1/20/2009 |
Q: My husband and I have just purchased unfinished cherry butcherblock countertops that we plan on ...
A: I would look at WaterLox, a Tung oil finish...they have several products that would work for you, ...
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| Nail polish spill | 1/19/2009 |
Q: My daughter spilled nail polish on our new black painted dining room table. She then proceeded to ...
A: I don't hold much hope that you'll be able to repair or remove this damage....the solvents in the ...
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| Kitchen cabinet refinishing. | 1/18/2009 |
Q: Our 8 year old cherry cabinets were sprayed with a clear lacquer finish. It has not held up well ...
A: if you're going to only refinish the damaged cabinets, then I would use a catalyzed lacquer because ...
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| chalking on face of cherry cabinets | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I'm hoping you can help me. We have beautiful cherry cabinets that are about nine years old. In the ...
A: I think I would contact the manufacturer...and ask them about it. Are the affected cabinets near ...
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| Are there sealants to prevent water rings from glasses on tables? | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I just purchased a dining table and I am so in love with it, I want it to last and look great for ...
A: the best "sealants" are the ones used by the modern furniture industry....meaning the lacquers, ...
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| staining a 1700's rifle replica | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I'm working on a project to make a replica of a 1760 flintlock rifle. The stock is Red Curly Maple ...
A: I would look at TransTints, which are Dye stain concentrates that can be used in a variety of ways ...
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| to varnish or seal sanded wood | 1/17/2009 |
Q: I am in process of renovating the 50 year old staircases, stair railings and ballisters in my home. ...
A: the lightest of the finishes are the waterborne urethanes. These are almost "water white", or ...
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| Glazed look - somewhat easy to achieve? | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing dark brown cabinets from Ikea since they're solid wood, but am afraid ...
A: Yes, there can be a multitude of choices out there....I like using Gel stains as a glaze...these are ...
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| Veneer Table Top | 1/16/2009 |
Q: We recently bought a second hand oak veneer table. It has some minor damage - we think from candle ...
A: regardless of what's on it now, the best course of action is to refinish it properly, and that means ...
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| Glazed look - somewhat easy to achieve? | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I'm considering purchasing dark brown cabinets from Ikea since they're solid wood, but am afraid ...
A: a glaze is usually applied over a finish to simulate age, dirt, and patina, whereas what you're ...
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| Baumritter end table | 1/15/2009 |
Q: I recently purchased this end table at an estate sale. The woman running the sale called it an ...
A: Baumritter was the founder of Ethan Allen Furniture, and I believe it became Ethan Allen in the mid ...
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| Paint/primer | 1/15/2009 |
Q: I would like to paint my outdated kitchen cabinets. The problem is they are a vinyl overlay over ...
A: while I don't recommend painting this type of cabinet, a primer sealer like Zinsser's Bullseye 1-2-3 ...
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| Wood Tables w/ Leather Inlay | 1/12/2009 |
Q: I have a customer who ate ate the restaurant picture attached. They have wood edge tables with a ...
A: I haven't seen these anywhere, they could be a custom job, I would say contact the restaurant and ...
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| finnish | 1/12/2009 |
Q: I would like to know what kind of finnish to apply to paduak , I plan on making some wine holders ...
A: that's a beautiful wood, and it works and sands nicely. I would use a sharp cabinet scraper to clean ...
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| Question about my new pine table | 1/12/2009 |
Q: I just bought a rustic pine coffee table. It is stained but not sealed. I want to put a sealant on ...
A: Marine products like Spar varnish are pretty tough, but they are also difficult to apply for the ...
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| hardwood and veneers | 1/11/2009 |
Q: We recently bought a lovely bedroom set from The Roomstore. It felt like solid wood in the store, ...
A: not all veneers are created equally, some are extremely thin, some are not actually wood, but vinyl ...
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| Rice Bed Post connecting hardware | 1/10/2009 |
Q: I am trying to reconnect / restore and old rice bed and it requires new hardware to reconnect the ...
A: I'm assuming this a "4 poster" bed that you have, but I've never seen one held together with some ...
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| bolted table legs antique oak turn of the 19th c | 1/10/2009 |
Q: Good Day:) I have had this beautiful table with me for 25 yrs. It is an oak English piece with ...
A: could the legs be on upside down? In other words, could the apron be upside down? Those marks look ...
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| solid wood top | 1/10/2009 |
Q: I have a beautiful solid wood table and chairs the top of the table im not sure due to having a ...
A: odd looking lettering, almost calligraphy like, If it's sticky in that area, it sounds like maybe ...
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| Boiled Linseed Oil on Cedar Chest | 1/9/2009 |
Q: I applied boiled linseed oil on my cedar chest and apparently I did not wipe the excess ...
A: I wouldn't use boiled linseed oil anymore, it's really kind of "old school" when compared to todays ...
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| finish problem | 1/8/2009 |
Q: Greg Maybe you can help me. I have a situation where one of my customers has cherry kitchen ...
A: I think the stuff would dry, and build ok over anything, because it's an oil, but that doesn't mean ...
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| finish problem | 1/7/2009 |
Q: Greg Maybe you can help me. I have a situation where one of my customers has cherry kitchen ...
A: you can't use poly, Varnish(WaterLux?), or an oil finish like WaterLox over lacquer. You can use ...
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| bolted table legs antique oak turn of the 19th c | 1/6/2009 |
Q: Good Day:) I have had this beautiful table with me for 25 yrs. It is an oak English piece with ...
A: Jeeez, without a picture, it's difficult to tell what you're describing...so there is a bolt now ...
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| kitchen cabnet | 1/5/2009 |
Q: kitchen cabnet drawers two missing in house i purchased what should i do?
A: John, contact the cabinet manufacturer....you'll find a label or brand or something in another ...
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| Warped butcher block | 1/5/2009 |
Q: I bought a butcher block cart (it's the one at the top of the page here: ...
A: no, I'm afraid you can't hope to fix this in a day, and maybe not at all. Did you oil this cutting ...
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| KITCHEN TABLE PAINT CAME OFF | 1/5/2009 |
Q: I have a black wooden table kitchen and on New Years I placed hot plates on my table and notice ...
A: It does sound like lacquer, in which case you can buy some "Blush eraser" and lightly but evenly ...
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| bolted table legs antique oak turn of the 19th c | 1/4/2009 |
Q: Good Day:) I have had this beautiful table with me for 25 yrs. It is an oak English piece with ...
A: what holds the leg on now? Usually, there is a bolt protruding from the leg that goes through a ...
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| Wood Stain Repair/darker to lighter | 1/4/2009 |
Q: The oil based stain we used on unfinished window trim, chair rail and a door was not the shade we ...
A: I guess I'm a little confused as to why you are objecting to it now....a sample should always be ...
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| Staining pickled maple kitchen cabinets | 1/4/2009 |
Q: My solid maple kitchen cabinets are currently pickled. They have a peach tinge to them. I'd like ...
A: your cabinets most likely have a finish on them, not just a stain, but a stain, sealer, and multiple ...
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| KITCHEN TABLE PAINT CAME OFF | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I have a black wooden table kitchen and on New Years I placed hot plates on my table and notice ...
A: it's likely that your table is not paint, but lacquer. Any finish is going to be susceptible to heat ...
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| conversion varnish | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I am in dire need some help. I had an oak cabinet made for our bathroom, for my wife for Christmas. ...
A: my question is why didn't the cabinet maker match the rest of the woodwork?? He has the ability to ...
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| KITCHEN CABINETS | 1/2/2009 |
Q: WANT TO REPLACE KITCHEN CABINET HANDLES. CABINETS OVER 20 YEARS OLD. STAINED RED OAK. WHEN REMOVING ...
A: please try not to type in all CAPS, it makes it appear as if you're yelling. There is no way to ...
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| Refinishing a bathroom vanity | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I want to strip and stain our bathroom vanity, but husband is scarred. He does not think that the ...
A: it is possible that the cabinet is a vinyl veneer or similar, and the only real way to tell is to ...
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| Wax build-up on wood bowl | 1/1/2009 |
Q: I just picked up a nice Parrish bowl at a 2nd hand store. I want to use it but it has a nasty wax ...
A: the only way wood be to scrape the bowl with a sharpened cabinet scraper. They make ones with a ...
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| Restoring Oak Table and Chairs | 12/31/2008 |
Q: I have an oak table and chairs from around 1920.The top has a brand new oak veneer.The sides of the ...
A: stripping it all would be the best, and it's fairly straight forward to do. You can use a Methylene ...
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| woodwork repair | 12/28/2008 |
Q: We just bought a new dresser. I set a baby bounce seat on top of the dresser and when I later ...
A: there's no easy way to do an invisible spot repair like this without treating the whole top. This ...
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| Breadboards | 12/27/2008 |
Q: My wife has an old breadboard similar to one she remembers being in her mothers pantry when she was ...
A: it should be sealed with a Block oil, there are several commercial preparations out there, but you ...
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| Refinishing walnut entry doors | 12/27/2008 |
Q: My parents have asked us to refinish their custom walnut entry doors on the exterior side. They live ...
A: It really will depend on how badly weathered the finish is, as the Jack Tar is an exterior Phenolic ...
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| residue on dining room table | 12/26/2008 |
Q: I have a dark wood finish dining room table. I bought a package of package of scented chips that you ...
A: at first I wasn't sure I was the guy to answer your question."I was lying on my table and somehow ...
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| color washing ? | 12/25/2008 |
Q: I was given a LARGE unfinished pine dresser. I would like to use latex water based paint as a ...
A: I would tend to steer you towards a commercially prepared stain product. Minwax has some nice ones ...
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| plastic film on kitchen table | 12/25/2008 |
Q: I perchased a new kitchen table and to protect it's finish I placed plastic over the entire thing. ...
A: the plasticizers in the plastic sheet may have transfered or even altered the tables finish...you ...
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| sealing painted surface | 12/23/2008 |
Q: I have made a game board as a gift. First I spray-painted the surface with alkyd enamel, then ...
A: mixing paints like this is not a great idea, the general rule is to stick with the same paint ...
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| Danish Oil vs Varnish on beside table | 12/22/2008 |
Q: I would like to know the pros and cons of danish oil vs varnish on a bedside table I am building. ...
A: oil finishes soak into the wood and harden from within, achieving similar qualities to a varnish ...
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| wood finish smell | 12/22/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a brand-new wooden cabinet to store things like towels and sheets. Whatever was ...
A: some finishes do smell quite a bit for several months after finishing...especially oil varnishes and ...
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| curio door lock | 12/22/2008 |
Q: The curio door has a rod with a clasp at the top and bottom with a lock in the middle which should ...
A: This is a common occurrence in older locks, and it will have to be removed and disassembled to see ...
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| Riddling Rack | 12/19/2008 |
Q: I want an A-frame riddling rack to hold my wine bottles, but they're very expensive. Is it feasable ...
A: those are very cool, but yes, they would be difficult to make. Drilling a hole that size (about 2 ...
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| making side/hook boards | 12/19/2008 |
Q: I have a headboard and foot board that was mine as a kid, but my parents forgot to give me the ...
A: yes they can be made, and the hardware is available a few places. You should be able to get them ...
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| cabinets | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I have birch or maple cabinets that have been sitting in my garage for 20 years or so and I would ...
A: you can't just restain a finished cabinet. The finish has to be removed to allow you to stain the ...
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| Types of stain | 12/18/2008 |
Q: I recently bought and started using a Minwax stain that requires that you wipe off the excess. The ...
A: all stains require wiping off well, but very hard woods will not darken well with an oil stain. For ...
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| wood finish | 12/17/2008 |
Q: I spilled a little oil from a scent diffuser on my cherry dresser. This ruined the finish in spots. ...
A: your dresser is probably lacquer, and the solvents ate away the finish....trying to do a spot repair ...
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| oil stain on cherry table | 12/17/2008 |
Q: Food grease stain leaked through a paper plate onto solid cherry table and now there is a white ...
A: A white heat mark like this can be tricky to remove without damaging the finish further, if it is ...
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| Staining Golden Oak Furniture darker color | 12/17/2008 |
Q: I am interested in making my bedroom furniture darker than the golden oak color it now is. I would ...
A: a glaze won't darken it overall, for that you need to strip it and stain the wood, then refinish it. ...
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| table | 12/16/2008 |
Q: i have a veneered table finished in what appears to be laquer,the laquer appears to be changing ...
A: you could strip it and then use aerosol lacquers, or a wipe on or spray urethane product to refinish ...
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| refinish cabinet | 12/14/2008 |
Q: I just pruchased a 1949 singer & cabinet. The cabinet has a few pieces of the veneer missing & a ...
A: I would repair the veneer and then refinish the cabinet. You'll find the veneer underneath will be ...
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| dark kitchen cabinets | 12/11/2008 |
Q: My kitchen is very dark with these cabinets. I am prepared to change our the countertop. Could you ...
A: Cleaning them well with a degreasing solvent and 000 steel wool is important,drying as you go with ...
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| dark kitchen cabinets | 12/9/2008 |
Q: My kitchen is very dark with these cabinets. I am prepared to change our the countertop. Could you ...
A: interesting kitchen cabinets, I don't think I've ever seen a door style like that...the only way to ...
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| Repair Wooden Sleigh Bed Frame | 12/8/2008 |
Q: I have a bassett queen sleigh bed, and recently the wooden frame on one side has broken, and the ...
A: it likely could be repaired, was this crack caused by too much weight, or other damage? It's ...
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| gummy furniture/streaky furniture | 12/7/2008 |
Q: I have always used this cabinet magic furnituure polish on my wood furniture-some teak, cheery ...
A: I'm not too familiar with the Murphy's in the orange bottle, but any of these products should only ...
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| Refinishing kitchen cabinets | 12/6/2008 |
Q: I have maple cabinets with catalyzed finish in a cider color (light pinkish tan) I would like to ...
A: Anything factory made in the last 20 years or so is probably this type of finish. The damage you ...
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| Cost range to reglue deco chairs | 12/5/2008 |
Q: I bought a set of French Deco chairs that need to be reglued. I'm trying to get a sense of what it ...
A: it's the kind of work I do, yes, where are you located. In this tri-state area there are many, many ...
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| Cost range to reglue deco chairs | 12/5/2008 |
Q: I bought a set of French Deco chairs that need to be reglued. I'm trying to get a sense of what it ...
A: restoration of a chair like that should be in the range of $135-350, depending on whether the ...
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| matching stain color | 12/5/2008 |
Q: Greg, i am trying to match the stain color of some schrock cabinets i recently bought/installed. i ...
A: I doubt they use poly at all, most likely a lacquer product,or a catalyzed urethane or aluminum ...
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| Refinishing kitchen cabinets | 12/4/2008 |
Q: I have maple cabinets with catalyzed finish in a cider color (light pinkish tan) I would like to ...
A: these finishes are cross linking finishes that are somewhat like an epoxy. They are mixed before ...
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| Kitchen cabinets | 12/1/2008 |
Q: We have maple cabinets 6 years old. They have a satin finish (no shine) From the time they were ...
A: as you said, it's oils and such from fingers, you can get some Formby's Deep cleaner, a liquid that ...
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| Craft paint on wood table | 12/1/2008 |
Q: A t-shirt that had just been painted with t-shirt paint was laid on my dining room table to dry. ...
A: "lemon" oil is basically just white mineral oil, and I would caution you against using an iron on ...
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| repainting chairs | 11/30/2008 |
Q: I am repainting wooden chairs, which were originally a baked on white finish and were overpainted ...
A: an enamel is a good choice, either pure Acrylic or oil,(NOT Latex) but I would definitely use a good ...
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| stripping a china cabinet | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I bought a small china cabinet with dark laquer finish and I want to strip it and put a lighter ...
A: if it's Oak, it can be stripped and made pretty light, although some Oaks are pretty Brown. If this ...
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| 110 year old 5 leg wood table top finish | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I decided to clean and reoil my table top. I sprayed it with Windex to remove all of the crude. Then ...
A: oooooo, you should never have used Windex to clean a wood surface like this...a little mineral ...
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| Finishes for ash bed | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I am building a bed for my daughter out of ash lumber. I am purchasing rough cut ash and making an ...
A: the lightest, clearest, and easiest finish to use would be an Acrylic Urethane like: ...
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| waterproofing sideboard sink | 11/28/2008 |
Q: What finish should i use? It may have worn poly finish on it now. I only want to "coat" the top the ...
A: Tung oil will not stand up to the harsh environment of a sink top...I would choose an Exterior ...
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| table protection | 11/25/2008 |
Q: We have a 1 year old Lyndon Furniture Cherry Dining table. It is in an autumn medium brown finish. ...
A: Hey Dean, I think the urethane is a bit harder,but again, nothing is going to resist denting, if the ...
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| table protection | 11/25/2008 |
Q: We have a 1 year old Lyndon Furniture Cherry Dining table. It is in an autumn medium brown finish. ...
A: the limiting factor is the wood not the finish.Cherry can be fairly soft, and it also depends on the ...
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| Rosewood Furniture | 11/24/2008 |
Q: We have a dining room set - table, chairs, sideboard and drinks cabinet which we purchased in Hong ...
A: French polishing is done with shellac, and being the wonder finish, might blend ok to your sets ...
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| chippendale mahogany bedroom set | 11/22/2008 |
Q: I have a chippendale mahogany bedroom set circa 1940's that belonged to my dad as a kid. I have ...
A: the choice of available hardware is mind boggling...I happen to like the Chippendale style pierced ...
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| Heat Mark On Highly Polished Mahogany | 11/21/2008 |
Q: Whoops! On putting my hot cup of coffee on top of a cloth, then resting it on my client's Extremely ...
A: I apologize for not getting back to you sooner, I typed out this big long answer for you and then my ...
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| Kitchen and Bath cabinets | 11/21/2008 |
Q: My cabinets are looking dry and "cruddy"! They are birch and all I want to do is to clean and ...
A: you can try to clean them with some Low odor mineral spirits, or a commercial product like Formby's ...
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| replacing cabinet hinges | 11/21/2008 |
Q: I purchased new automatic close face mounted 3/8 inset hinges to replace the (30 yrs)old ones on my ...
A: this can be frustrating, I know, but if they are identical in the closed position, they should mount ...
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| Staining door | 11/20/2008 |
Q: I bought a solid exterior door slab and before we have it hung my wife wants me to stain it instead ...
A: if you're just wanting to stain, for an exterior door, you'll need an exterior stain product like ...
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| Masking wood grain | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I have just stripped, sanded and given one coat of stain to an old family table. In the process, I ...
A: what you're experiencing can only be solved with "toning" techniques, which were really developed in ...
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| spots on dining room table | 11/19/2008 |
Q: Have shiny spots on dining room table from a clear plastic table cloth. The plastic was on table ...
A: I'm not sure how to advise you, as there could be a few reasons for this, including the plastic ...
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| "Lacquer" problem | 11/18/2008 |
Q: I bought 2 nightstands from an oriental import store going out of business. They are supposed to be ...
A: you mean the sheen gets blotchy? I would not use the Old English more than one or twice a year(!) ...
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| staining a bathroom vaniety | 11/18/2008 |
Q: We just bought an antique washstand and intend to place a vessel sink on it for use in a busy ...
A: You'll need to make sure you remove any and all wax, grime, etc. from the surface with mineral ...
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| exterior door finishes | 11/18/2008 |
Q: Trying to find an exterior door finish that can be sprayed. Not sure if anyone makes a good lacquer ...
A: Hey Bill, first off I wouldn't use lacquer on an exterior door anyway. Secondly, I'm not sure why ...
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| Heat Mark On Highly Polished Mahogany | 11/17/2008 |
Q: Whoops! On putting my hot cup of coffee on top of a cloth, then resting it on my client's Extremely ...
A: I haven't heard of the iron and white cloth method, and if the ring was caused by heat I certainly ...
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| Old woodwork trim and quarter round finish | 11/15/2008 |
Q: I recently helped to make my elderly aunt's home safer since a illness has made walking very ...
A: a stain is probably better, but not a typical oil stain...you'd need an alcohol/methanol type dye ...
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| White film on new furniture | 11/15/2008 |
Q: We recently purchased a new dining room set (hutch,table and server. Parts of the table surface and ...
A: I have no idea what could be causing this without knowing what they are finishing this furniture ...
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| refinish bedroom suite | 11/14/2008 |
Q: I inherited an old (50-75 year old) bedroom suite that was "antiqued red" back in the 60's. Can this ...
A: it's a big job.If you've never attempted this type of refinishing, I would start on a much smaller ...
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| Heat Mark On Highly Polished Mahogany | 11/14/2008 |
Q: Whoops! On putting my hot cup of coffee on top of a cloth, then resting it on my client's Extremely ...
A: sorry to hear about your mishap, there's no easy solution....don't be tempted to slather mayonaise ...
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| fine furniture caulking | 11/14/2008 |
Q: i have a 40 year old dining room set that i bought new. the caulking around the glass in the china ...
A: you shouldn't use caulk on fine furniture, glass is held in with Glazing compound, which is a ...
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| Staining | 11/13/2008 |
Q: We have a three piece oak bedroom set in a medium oak finish. I would like to be able to stain it a ...
A: no this won't be possible...Oak is very hard, and you'd need to completely remove the existing ...
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| Refinishing furniture | 11/13/2008 |
Q: I am in the planning stages of refinishing dining room furniture. Furniture is currently pine with a ...
A: you could strip and refinish the Pine in an Espresso type finish...Pine will stain dark easily, ...
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| stripping and refinishing cabinets | 11/12/2008 |
Q: I would like to redo my kitchen cabinets. The doors are wood, but the rest is veneer (I guess) is ...
A: yes it's possible, but it is a huge job, and unless you are an above average finisher, I wouldn't ...
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| repairing black birch veneer dining table | 11/12/2008 |
Q: I have a black birch veneer dining room table that I love and am very careful with, however, ...
A: water alone will not remove grease or oils, you need a slight amount of a detergent, like Dawn, or ...
|
| staining a bathroom vaniety | 11/11/2008 |
Q: We just bought an antique washstand and intend to place a vessel sink on it for use in a busy ...
A: the piece is nice, but has a finish on it, not just stain, and that might be the natural color of ...
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| repairing black birch veneer dining table | 11/11/2008 |
Q: I have a black birch veneer dining room table that I love and am very careful with, however, ...
A: a lot of things could create a shiny spot, oil, grease,salad dressing....I suppose rubbing could ...
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| Furniture Vapors | 11/10/2008 |
Q: My parents purchased an entertainment center that is emitting vapors. They have had the unit two ...
A: was this a new piece of furniture? It's possible that it could be the actual building materials as ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 11/10/2008 |
Q: I have beautifully made and crafted 7 year old maple kitchen, bathroom and laundry room cabinets. I ...
A: unfortunately there's not much you can do other than paint, without having to strip the finish from ...
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| new stain on indoor trim and built ins | 11/10/2008 |
Q: My son has a small room with stained trim and built ins. He wants to change the color to a darker ...
A: unfortunately, sanding a finish is not a good way to ready it for a refinish, as staining needs to ...
|
| painting furniture w/sprayer | 11/9/2008 |
Q: I am looking for some advice on painting furniture using a spray gun. Can you help me with this? ...
A: I see why you're having issues. First off I would never use latex on furniture through a spray ...
|
| Restoring Old Hand Tools | 11/9/2008 |
Q: I love tools and like to collect old tools.Let me see if I'm in the "right expert" before I go into ...
A: Hey Gregg, I collect and restore hand tools as well. I have 20-30 planes, several axes, hatchets, ...
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| varnishing a coffee table | 11/8/2008 |
Q: I bought an old coffee table and have painted it ivory with a satin latex paint. Then I rubbed a ...
A: the Old English oil is a non drying oil polish, and this was a mistake to add to the staining ...
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| Dissatisfied with stain job... what to do? | 11/7/2008 |
Q: Scholl, I just purchased some unfinished pieces for my son's bedroom and had them all stained to ...
A: it sounds like they used too thick a stain, and just a pigmented stain, which, when applied too ...
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| Wood Counter Top Refinishing | 11/7/2008 |
Q: I recently started a project that has turned into a big mess! I have a center island in my kitchen ...
A: Hey Charlie, the best way is with a sharpened cabinet or "card" scraper. You need to get down to ...
|
| wax on raw wood | 11/4/2008 |
Q: When I buy raw wood for my lathe or hobby it comes with a heavy coat of wax all over it. I think it ...
A: I would scrape the bulk off with a paint scraper and a cabinet scraper...then just work the wood, it ...
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| toning down the red in cherry cabinets | 11/4/2008 |
Q: We purchased new cherry cabinets, and when delivered, they were way too red. Is there a way to ...
A: no, a glaze can't be added to your cabinets if they have a finish on them. If they were made by a ...
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| Refinishing washed oak | 11/4/2008 |
Q: Greg,. Can washed oak be stripped and refinished. I would like to change it to a cherry finish.
A: yes it can be stripped and refinished, my only comment would be that Oak looks a bit odd with a ...
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| knobs and hinges | 11/3/2008 |
Q: I am looking for a company to re-finish my kitchen cabinet hardware. It's in good condition but I ...
A: I don't believe you'll find anyone offering this service, it would just be too expensive. You'll be ...
|
| toning down the red in cherry cabinets | 11/3/2008 |
Q: We purchased new cherry cabinets, and when delivered, they were way too red. Is there a way to ...
A: I'm afraid there is no way to "tone down" your Cherry cabinets after they've been finished. The only ...
|
| antq. rocker | 11/2/2008 |
Q: In 76 at an "antique" auction. For each child it was painted a diffrent color. My son & I stripped & ...
A: once the original finish is gone, so is most of the value on something like this, so I wouldn't ...
|
| pedestal base for washer and dryer | 11/2/2008 |
Q: I'd like to build a pedestal base for my washer and dryer because I have a bad back and want to ...
A: you could make such a box with a good 3/4" ply wood, using standard cabinet construction techniques, ...
|
| refinishing 1950's table | 11/1/2008 |
Q: I'm trying to restore the top of a damaged coffee table from the 1950s, but I haven't been able to ...
A: Hey Chris, have you searched to see if by any chance the company still exists? Lacquer toners can be ...
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| refinishing 1950's table | 10/31/2008 |
Q: I'm trying to restore the top of a damaged coffee table from the 1950s, but I haven't been able to ...
A: Hey Chris, what you're describing sounds like a "Heywood Wakefield" type of finish, which is quite ...
|
| Repairing oak dining room table finish | 10/31/2008 |
Q: I have a beautiful old solid oak dining room table that I need to store for a few months, with no ...
A: I'm a bit confused, could two years have elapsed since I answered the question a few days ago?? What ...
|
| Laquer on cabinets | 10/30/2008 |
Q: My kitchen has golden oak stained ash cabinets with a hand brushed oil clear coat (they are one year ...
A: what you're describing means that these cabinets were finished with a solvent based Alkyd varnish, ...
|
| mold &mildew on very old walnut doors | 10/30/2008 |
Q: we just went through a hurricane & our old walnut doors got wet.the doors did not have a sealer on ...
A: X14 is a sodium hypochlorite- sodium carbonate bleach preparation, and may permanently discolor ...
|
| oil stain removal from hardwood | 10/29/2008 |
Q: I have a problem I am not sure how to handle.I am trying to restore and refinish the wood wheels on ...
A: Hey Gary, I've never even heard of a Marmon...so I looked one up..pretty cool. I think you'll have ...
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| antique pine walls | 10/28/2008 |
Q: First, thank you for taking the time to review my questions. The house I live in is over 110 years ...
A: it sounds like "Heart Pine" which is beautiful and can be quite reddish...Cedar will have a telltale ...
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| Storing oak dining room table outdoors | 10/28/2008 |
Q: I have a beautiful old solid oak dining room table that I need to store for a few months, with no ...
A: I wouldn't recommend trying to store any furniture that you care about in these conditions. It's not ...
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| air compressors | 10/27/2008 |
Q: RE: 'I want to buy small and light air compressor for multiple purpose jobs like finish the ...
A: Hey Dan, in a new compressor, you shouldn't need to worry too much about oil, as it's piston rings ...
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| wood finish on wooden sculpture | 10/27/2008 |
Q: My wife and I bought a six foot carved dolphin in Bali last year. We put it on our outside covered ...
A: Hey Lance, I would guess they use Gas because it's the easiest solvent to get...but I wouldn't ...
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| wood finish | 10/27/2008 |
Q: Greg, I bought a barn wood vanity cabinet with copper sink for a bathroom. What kind of sealer can I ...
A: the easiest would be a urethane. You could use an oil based or waterborne Urethane, but I would use ...
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| Glazing (antiquing?) white cabinets | 10/26/2008 |
Q: We are buying a house where they painted the kitchen cabinets (very poorly done) white. I saw ...
A: glazing is just one element used in a distressed finish like this, and if your cabinets have no ...
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| Oak and water damage | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have water damage on my front door. My teak oil finish wore off and water got on the door. It ...
A: Hey Ray, I wouldn't do it in place as it's MUCH easier to work on a horizontal surface when applying ...
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| lacquer finish | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have oak kitchen cabinets which have a sprayed on clear lacquer finish. Can I spray the cabinets ...
A: Kind of what i figured. Also Oak does not lend itself easily to such a dark finish. It's very hard ...
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| Oak and water damage | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have water damage on my front door. My teak oil finish wore off and water got on the door. It ...
A: Oak will turn black with exposure to the elements, and Teak oil is really not enough protection for ...
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| lacquer finish | 10/22/2008 |
Q: I have oak kitchen cabinets which have a sprayed on clear lacquer finish. Can I spray the cabinets ...
A: lacquer "toning" can be used to alter a finish a shade or two, but you can't hope to really darken ...
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| reparing drawer | 10/21/2008 |
Q: I have an older chest of drawers that I am trying to repair the drawers on. it is about 23 years old ...
A: Hey Chris, I doubt you can find repair parts for something like this. You'll have to retrofit new ...
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| Removing gasoline odor | 10/20/2008 |
Q: I have a dresser that was recently restored,but it has a strong gas odor from being stored in a ...
A: it's strange that a piece of furniture could pick up the smell to such an extent that it still ...
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| hand saw | 10/20/2008 |
Q: Sir: I need to cut quite a bit of 1/4 X 3/4 trim of various lengths. I tried to cut some this ...
A: you'll need a fine crosscut saw to get the results you seek. A coping saw is typically used for ...
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| Painting Dining Room Furniture | 10/19/2008 |
Q: My dining room is Ralph Lauren Hunting Coat Red furnished with Sideboard and Demilune in Black from ...
A: I would spray the finish with either Black lacquer, or you can use something like Krylon Satin Black ...
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| hardwood floors | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I have hardwood floors through out my condo and they look great with one exception - the kitchen ...
A: one of the reasons the kitchen looks worse than the rest of the floors, is that it takes more abuse. ...
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| finger nail polish remover and my veneer top dresser | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I removed the finger nail polish off my finger nails placed the cotton balls in an empty kleenex box ...
A: the answer is ...not easily. Your dresser is most likely lacquered, and if the color is missing as ...
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| Poly finish | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I have just stripped, steel-wooled and sanded a tabletop (not certain of the wood type)and applied a ...
A: your advice is correct that the Acrylic Urethanes (water based) will be the least yellowing and the ...
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| Repairing/Replacing plastic/paper veneer on dresser | 10/16/2008 |
Q: I have a dresser that has part of the finish coming off, which I discovered is paper. It is made to ...
A: hard to tell from your description...it might be vinyl, or it might be melamine which is like a thin ...
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| Staining old furniture | 10/15/2008 |
Q: I came across one of your answers on the "net" and thought I'd ask a similar question. I have a set ...
A: Hey Mike, you can use a wood conditioner, which is a seal coat that is put on right before staining ...
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| staining knotty pine | 10/15/2008 |
Q: We have knotty pine in our living room. It has a polyurethane finish that is about 50 years old, ...
A: 50 years ago there was no polyurethane, so it's most likely an Alkyd varnish, and that coupled with ...
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| stripping & refinishing chest of drawers | 10/14/2008 |
Q: My question is so basic. I have an old chest of drawers that is painted that I want to refinish. I ...
A: yes, the white streaks are probably paint residue, you might want to strip one more time and scrub ...
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| stripping & refinishing chest of drawers | 10/14/2008 |
Q: My question is so basic. I have an old chest of drawers that is painted that I want to refinish. I ...
A: it's so fun to find a treasure under paint! You can just wipe down the piece with a solvent...I like ...
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| Alder Wood Furniture Storage | 10/14/2008 |
Q: I have a queen ann style bedroom set that needs to be stored for approximately 3-4 months ...
A: the furniture should be fine in a situation like that, the DampRid is a good idea, and I would cover ...
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| Danish Teak Fine Furniture | 10/13/2008 |
Q: Greg: we have a beautiful dining room teak table with center tile section. Table has been oiled for ...
A: Hey Mike, you'll have to use a methylene chloride stripper...cured oil finishes are tough, alcohol ...
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| wine barrel | 10/13/2008 |
Q: I recently read your answer to Rich regarding a "loose" wine barrel.....(Hello. I have a 20 gallon ...
A: a new barrel that's never seen moisture will retain it's shape......barrels are made(or used to be) ...
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| bleach kitchen cupboards | 10/8/2008 |
Q: we would like to bleach and whiten our kitchen cupboards. I'm not sure of the wood but it could be ...
A: your cabinets have a finish on them, and it would have to be completely removed down to the ...
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| Dutailier glider rocker creaking | 10/7/2008 |
Q: Greg, my glider rocker has started to creak. I have replaced the bearings (provided n/c by ...
A: I'm not familiar with your chair, I would say that this type of design is prone to squeaking and ...
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| Trying to strip off paint | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I have a little medicine cabinet that I got second-hand. It's nothing fancy, no mirror, made of ...
A: it sounds like the wood wasn't dry enough from the stripper. Even three days may not have been long ...
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| refinishing dresser | 10/6/2008 |
Q: I've searched for hours and I can't seem to find examples or pictures of stained or painted ...
A: I'm a bit confused about the question, a properly refinished piece of furniture will look like any ...
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| restoration of maple bedroom suit | 10/4/2008 |
Q: The maple bedroom suit, about 30+ years old, is starting to separate, i.e., what we thought was ...
A: the glue joints are failing, you'll have to disassemble the piece and clean, reglue and clamp the ...
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| Staining Unfinished Furniture - Knowing Quantities | 10/3/2008 |
Q: I will be staining 4 pieces of furniture (2 bedside tables and 2 chest of drawers- each with 5 ...
A: a quart will do it I think, if it's a fiarly dense wood, but I wouldn't be too sure that it'll ...
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| can I spot fix my dining room table? | 10/3/2008 |
Q: During a room remodel, my dining room table was damaged. A rag with paint thinner was set on the ...
A: First off, paint thinner could not cause damage like this, especially through all the layers on top ...
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| staining new alderwood cabinets | 10/1/2008 |
Q: We had some alderwood cabinets built for our add on and i am having some trouble getting the desired ...
A: what you're describing doesn't sound like much color at all. Minwax will not darken the pores ...
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| Water splash damage to oak cabinets | 9/30/2008 |
Q: Our kitchen & bathroom cabinets have areas where water has splashed on them and it has left an ugly ...
A: there's really no magic bullet, once the cabinets get water stained like this...more water gets on ...
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| finishing bare wood | 9/29/2008 |
Q: prestain on new woodwork seems to be leaching through the stain. wipe down prestain within ten min. ...
A: there' s NO reason to use a conditioner on Oak, and this is the problem, plus it sounds like he's ...
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| painting a finished piece | 9/29/2008 |
Q: my husband and i bought a wardrobe that is a finished piece that has a wood looking veneer ...
A: yes I'd scuff sand it with some 220-320, and prime it with Zinsser's Bulls Eye 1-2-3, then use a ...
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| rush seat rocking chair | 9/28/2008 |
Q: About 20 years ago, I bought my Mom two chairs from Crackle Barrel which were exposed to weather at ...
A: the chairs were probably lacquered originally, and the seat was probably finished too. Shellac would ...
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| Air compressor | 9/27/2008 |
Q: I want to buy small and light air compressor for multiple purpose jobs like finish the ...
A: a compressor that can handle spraying any kind of finish, and run an impact wrench needs to have a ...
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| Date by dovetail? strip top layer of paint leave under layer? | 9/27/2008 |
Q: I bought this old trunk yesterday. It has been painted on 3 sides but back is old original paint ...
A: the technique is called graining or combing, and has been used for hundreds of years. Unfortunately, ...
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| Refinishing Builders Grade Oak Cabs to Espresso | 9/26/2008 |
Q: I'm really hoping you can answer my question...I have a kitchen (okay the whole house) filled with ...
A: in order to do this, you'd have to strip the finish off of these cabinets, which is a huge, messy ...
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| furniture finish gasoline smell | 9/26/2008 |
Q: Getting a piece of, I suppose, refinished furniture home from an antique store, I discovered that it ...
A: are you sure it's gasoline? If you are, then you need to inquire with the people who sold it to you. ...
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| Kitchen cabinet re-polishing | 9/24/2008 |
Q: Greg: My kitchen cabinets have dark color polish and double coats of semi gloss on it. Now we have ...
A: I assume you mean stain when you say "polish"....stripping kitchen cabinets can be done, but it is a ...
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| Tung oil over veneer | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I refinished a dresser which is covered in walnut veneer. I stained this, allowed for drying time, ...
A: yes you can use the Formby's, and the driers in that may help the previous coat dry better as it ...
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| stain with sealer | 9/23/2008 |
Q: We have recently had another cabinet made to match our existing ones that were made 3 years ago ...
A: You say it's the actual stain, but then state you're assuming the brand is the same......one ...
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| Tung oil over veneer | 9/23/2008 |
Q: I refinished a dresser which is covered in walnut veneer. I stained this, allowed for drying time, ...
A: the stain you used can affect the absorption of an oil finish, especially on a thin veneer. Also, ...
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| stain with sealer | 9/22/2008 |
Q: We have recently had another cabinet made to match our existing ones that were made 3 years ago ...
A: most stains act as a sealer, as they have to have a vehicle of some type. The exception to that rule ...
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| Preserving a raw wood sculpture | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I have a raw wood sculpture that is basically a log with carvings in it. This is something that will ...
A: applying anything to it is going to darken it varying degrees...I wouldn't use a surface film finish ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I have kitchen cabinets that are original in a 1950's house that are varnished knotty pine. I also ...
A: I wouldn't paint over old varnish either, and the cabinets would really need to be stripped to do a ...
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| Oder in new cabinets | 9/20/2008 |
Q: I've had new cabinets before and never had a "fowl" oder.The new ones I have now stink, not like ...
A: often the smell is from the plywoods used in the carcasses. Some of these imported woods do have a ...
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| protecting teak wood | 9/19/2008 |
Q: I've just bought a second hand teak wood dinette set, table and 6 chairs, I was told it's very ...
A: I would use an oil finish like Teak oil, or a "Danish" oil finish. These are penetrating oils that ...
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| stain/sealer will not dry | 9/18/2008 |
Q: I've acquired an old 12 drawer dresser from the 1940's. I'm chemically sensitive and perfume had ...
A: did you wipe off the stain after applying it? This product needs to be wiped off thoroughly, or it ...
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| painting wood hutch | 9/17/2008 |
Q: Scholl, I have a wooden hutch with glass doors on top,cabinets on bottom. It is in very good ...
A: you'll need to clean the wood well with some fine steel wool and mineral spirits, or a ScotchBrite ...
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| panel removal from kitchen cabinet door | 9/16/2008 |
Q: I want to remove the door panels and apply a thin copper sheet to them and re-install. My panel are ...
A: Hey Chris, Usually panels are held in by a groove milled into the stiles and rails of the doors. The ...
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| refinishing kitchen kabinets | 9/15/2008 |
Q: My kitchen Cabinets are in wood and really dark yellow (Oak) I guess they are 40 years old but in ...
A: You can definitely get good results with painting, but good prep is essential. If you look around ...
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| removing stain | 9/14/2008 |
Q: My husband and I would love to turn our hand-me-down kitchen table into a great looking black ...
A: if the finish is in relatively good shape, you can clean the top and then scuff sand or wet sand the ...
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| Stripping and painting wood stdium seats | 9/14/2008 |
Q: I have a pair of old stadium seats that I'd like to refinish. There are about 3 or 4 coats of paint ...
A: they probably have oil paint and/or enamel on them and a good stripper will strip them fine. Just ...
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| Striping secretary that has been antiqued. | 9/12/2008 |
Q: I have inherited a secretary that was antiqued 40 years ago. Most of the old paint has been removed. ...
A: Hey Bob, you won't be able to completely remove the paint left in the pores. A small brass brush can ...
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| staining my kitchen cupboards | 9/11/2008 |
Q: I have been updating my kitchen with new stainless appliances, countertop and flooring but I have ...
A: most strippers will leave the wood smooth and clean if done right. The real issue is that kitchen ...
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| Refinishing Natural Maple Cabinets | 9/11/2008 |
Q: I have Natural Maple Kitchen Cabinets that were sprayed with a thin coating of some type of ...
A: sounds like a good plan...I have not heard of that stripper, but the only way to see how it'll work ...
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| Unfinished oak kitchen cabinets - is it necessary to stain? | 9/10/2008 |
Q: We have just purchased a house that has a brand new kitchen. All cabinets are unfinished oak. If we ...
A: I would be really surprised if your cabinets are truly unfinished. That would really be a rarity in ...
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| Refinishing/Painting a veneer covered TV stand | 9/10/2008 |
Q: Greg, I saw that you have answered a few other questions on similar topics, but I need a little ...
A: spraying does involve good technique, and the only advice I can give is to make sure the entire ...
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| Refinishing/Painting a veneer covered TV stand | 9/10/2008 |
Q: Greg, I saw that you have answered a few other questions on similar topics, but I need a little ...
A: Hey Josh, how about turpentine? or even just water with a few drops of liquid dishwashing detergent. ...
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| refinishing bedroom set | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I have a bedroom set that I got as a kid in the late 50's. It's modern looking, square edges, a ...
A: you'll have to strip the original finish off with stripper, or pay to have the pieces stripped. ...
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| Refinishing/Painting a veneer covered TV stand | 9/9/2008 |
Q: Greg, I saw that you have answered a few other questions on similar topics, but I need a little ...
A: first you'll need to repair the loose veneer with some wood glue and masking tape and/or weights to ...
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| Refinishing a gunstock | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I am going to be refinishing a gunstock and was thinking about using what is called a "spirits ...
A: almost all stains would be compatible with a urethane type finish, I usually recommend the Tru Oil ...
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| Restoring leather top table | 9/7/2008 |
Q: We have a leather topped coffee table that was in perfect condition until today when our grandson ...
A: it's most likely the lacquer on the leather that has "blushed". Typically leather tops are finished ...
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| refinish asian stand? | 9/6/2008 |
Q: Greg: I recently purchased an antique Asian carved stand at a church bazaar. Unfortunately, ...
A: what a cutie! It looks to me that the wood is showing "through" not the black, as it was probably ...
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| mold inside of kitchen cabinets | 9/6/2008 |
Q: How do I get rid of mold inside of kitchen cabinets where it will not return?
A: first off it's important to figure out why you have mold growth there...mold really thrives only in ...
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| Oak furniture water stains | 9/5/2008 |
Q: I just discovered that water seaped from a plant onto my beautiful oak table. It left a large ...
A: you're right to be concerned about matching the color, as that is the hard part with factory made ...
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| Oak furniture water stains | 9/4/2008 |
Q: I just discovered that water seaped from a plant onto my beautiful oak table. It left a large ...
A: sounds like the top will have to be stripped and sanded then refinished to match. Have you done any ...
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| Refinishing wood molding in 60 year old house | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Greg, I am excited about all experts as I am taking on a project and am just beyond my zone of ...
A: it's a good idea to wipe down the wood with some mineral spirits or a prep solv like WilBond. ...
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| Refinishing wood molding in 60 year old house | 9/2/2008 |
Q: Greg, I am excited about all experts as I am taking on a project and am just beyond my zone of ...
A: If you're staining and finishing, then anything left on the wood will be hard to camouflage. I have ...
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| Shellac Damage to Oak Table | 9/1/2008 |
Q: After our conversations about shellac a couple weeks ago, I decided to use a first coat of de-waxed ...
A: sorry to hear about this accident, the shellac is more than 50% solvents, mostly Alcohol/methanol, ...
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| cabinet copying | 8/30/2008 |
Q: I actually have two questions you could probably answer. Could you give me a strictly "ball park ...
A: it would depend on the type of design it is..some are rather plain, some have a contoured, machined, ...
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| refinishing pre-made cabinets | 8/30/2008 |
Q: Can pre-made cabinets be refinished? They are over 25 years old and I would really like to update ...
A: you should be able to, but you'll have to completely strip them of the old finish down to the wood ...
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| STAIN PEELING | 8/29/2008 |
Q: HOW CAN I REPAIR AND PROTECT MY 2 YEAR OLD KITCHEN CABINETS? MY CABINET DOORS RIGHT BELOW THE SINK ...
A: Please try not to type in ALL CAPS, as it makes one think we're being YELLED at. Your cabinets have ...
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| French Doors | 8/29/2008 |
Q: We just had a set of french doors installed for the entrance into our new addition. The painters we ...
A: it's easy, lightly sand them with something like 320 grit sandpaper, wipe them don with a damp ...
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| HELP!! Dark Merlot Stain | 8/29/2008 |
Q: I have a coffee table that I bought. Its from Ashley's furniture. My dog chewed up on one side of ...
A: unfortunately what you have there is most likely a stained finish that's been "toned", which is a ...
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| Staining Kitchen Cabinets from Light to Dark | 8/28/2008 |
Q: Greg, I have no doubt you can assist me with this. My kitchen cabinets are a light/medium honey ...
A: yeah, I would just try to strip one with stripper, and see how bad a job it is...when refinishing, ...
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| refinishing veneer kitchen cabinets | 8/28/2008 |
Q: I was given used kitchen veneer cabinets. They need to be refinished due to water stains, grease, ...
A: you won't damage the cabinets, but I recommend stripping them, as it's really the best way to get ...
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| vaniety drawers | 8/28/2008 |
Q: Our bathroom vaniety drawers have a center wood on wood slide. We are remodeling and would like to ...
A: ..no sides huh....that leaves you almost no options, I think you'll have to find a slide that'll ...
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| Staining Kitchen Cabinets from Light to Dark | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Greg, I have no doubt you can assist me with this. My kitchen cabinets are a light/medium honey ...
A: the cabinets most likely have a stain and then a high tech sealer and clear coat. They will have to ...
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| clear coating new cabinets | 8/27/2008 |
Q: is there a clear coat that will not yellow? have sanded our new unfinished oak cabinets, but unsure ...
A: the acrylic urethanes will not yellow, and are fairly easy to apply. There are some "off the shelf" ...
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| refinishing kitchen cabinets | 8/27/2008 |
Q: Greg, I would like to lighten up my kitchen. My cabinets are currently stained in a color similar ...
A: when you tried the pickling stain, did you wipe it off to allow the wood to show through? The ...
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| refinishing kitchen cabinets | 8/26/2008 |
Q: Greg, I would like to lighten up my kitchen. My cabinets are currently stained in a color similar ...
A: I'm assuming that what you're looking to do is a "pickled" finish. You'll have to strip the doors ...
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| pickeling | 8/26/2008 |
Q: My cousin has bare wood cabinets and wants the pickeling finish done. Wher can I go to find out the ...
A: there are many resources for info on this technique, although there are many different techniques to ...
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| Finishing a wood table | 8/25/2008 |
Q: I just finished making a oak table. I want to protect in some way. I know that one option is to ...
A: stain is really used to color the wood and still should be clear coated for durability and ...
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| cabinet doors | 8/25/2008 |
Q: I just finished building 3 base cabinets and 3 uper cabs out of red oak from Lowes for my kitchen. ...
A: I would order them overlay, (or build them), as almost all the hinges nowadays feature multiple ...
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| Cabinet Bottom Falling out | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I have JUST finished painted all the cabinets in the kitchen and are replacing the range hood which ...
A: what caused the wetness?....it looks like it's been wet for a long time. You could reline the bottom ...
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| Cabinet refinishing | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I want to refinish the bathroom cabinets in the master bath. The house is only ten years old but ...
A: the first thing you'll have to do is to strip the old finish from the cabinet..then there are a few ...
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| Cabinet skins/veneers | 8/24/2008 |
Q: My oak cabinets were installed 16 yrs. ago. Recently, my kitchen was remodeled and I need assistance ...
A: I'm not sure what you mean by skins...what is the finish you're looking for? ...are you referring to ...
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| Repair a scratch | 8/23/2008 |
Q: My dog just scratched my beautiful wood door. I am not sure of the type of wood. I have attached ...
A: I only got one picture, and from that it looks like Poplar, but it's really hard to tell. There ...
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| replacing cabinet hinges | 8/23/2008 |
Q: I currently have painted kitchen cabinets that I would like to have repainted (plan on having a ...
A: yes I would do the cabinets first, and there are a plethora of available hinge types, but you can ...
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| cabinets | 8/21/2008 |
Q: Greg I don't really write e-mails here goes. We have kitchen cabinets in an 33 year old home that ...
A: sure, if the finish is intact, not peeling, chipping, etc., the cabinets can be cleaned and ...
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| Kitchen Cabinets | 8/21/2008 |
Q: I have oak kitchen cabinets that I would like to paint white or an off-white. A friend told me she ...
A: putting a clear coat over the paint finish will add to the durability of the paint, as it adds ...
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| STAINING BOOK CASES | 8/20/2008 |
Q: I have recently stained two white pine bookcases with Min-Wax Gunstock color stain. My objective ...
A: sorry to hear you went so far only to realize you were so wrong on your color choice...it's always ...
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| changing the color of a maple stained hutch | 8/20/2008 |
Q: My daughter would like to change the color of her grandmother's maple stained hutch to a light or ...
A: in a word, no....if you can ascertain that it's a lacquer finish, then it could be "toned" a few ...
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| Finishing Doors - White Residue | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I have a solid pine wood door. I applied a coat of wood conditioner and then a coat of oil based ...
A: when you say residue, can you wipe it away so it comes off on your hands?...or is it a haze in the ...
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| lightening oak doors to light oak | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I have a entertainment center of light oak. I wish to add a door front to the unit but I have doors ...
A: the only way is to strip the doors and refinish to match the piece. Are the doors from another ...
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| varnishing a table | 8/19/2008 |
Q: i have recently made a solid pine table for a dining room, everything has gone well and i am very ...
A: Hey Ricky, Varnish is tricky to work with, I'm assuming you're using a Polyurethane ...
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| Exterior Wood Windows and Garage | 8/17/2008 |
Q: I have a home with douglas fir wood windows and garage. I really like to stained look for an ...
A: Hey Frank, it's frowned upon because there's no way it can survive weather and sun exposure for very ...
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| type of saw blade for desired job | 8/17/2008 |
Q: I have a 10" table saw and want to buy a new carbide blade to cut down some fiberboard cabinets that ...
A: for the best cut, you really need to get the right blade, and for that material you'll want a ...
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| Counter Top Re-Finish? | 8/16/2008 |
Q: I'm still working on many of my home improvement projects. I am repainting our kitchen, and putting ...
A: Hey J,you might be able to get a finish that would last a year, if you use a latex paint, I would ...
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| barn wood | 8/16/2008 |
Q: I have taken down an old barn and am planning on fronting some old cabinets in a home. What is the ...
A: Hey Kyle, the only sure way is to cook the wood in a kiln at around 165 degreees for a few ...
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| Finishing maple workbench tops | 8/15/2008 |
Q: Greg, We have four workbenches with maple tops. They look like butcher block tops. They have been ...
A: you could use Tung oil, but in this situation I think I'd use a wipe on Polyurethane or an ...
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| Restaurant table top construction and finishing | 8/15/2008 |
Q: I am contracted to build 9 table tops for a local casual dining franchise. I'm new to the trade as a ...
A: the toughest finishes will be epoxies, but they can look bad, like the top is coated in liquid ...
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| Weatherproof a table | 8/14/2008 |
Q: We planned to waterproof a recently purchased wood table with marine varnish for outdoor use. ...
A: it's quite difficult to completely weather proof a table, and Marine Varnish is a surface film ...
|
| tape stain removal | 8/14/2008 |
Q: Years ago I taped packing tape to the bottom of a hardwood desk. Over the years it dried out and ...
A: usually tape adhesive residue needs an application of Lacquer thinner, which can damage the ...
|
| JAR STUCK ON TABLE | 8/13/2008 |
Q: I HAVE A JAR STUCK ON MY NIGHT TABLE. I DO NOT KNOW WHAT THE ADHESIVE IS. THE JAR CONTAINS OIL FOR ...
A: Unfortunately, the jar is probably welded to the table top because of the solvents used in the ...
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| staining kitchen cabinets | 8/13/2008 |
Q: I cannot stand the color of my cabinets and I would like for them to be a darker, reddish-brown ...
A: if you poke around here in this forum, you'll see about every 6th question is about kitchen ...
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| Finishing Stairs | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I had carpet on my inside stairs, the bottom 4 stairs are exposed to the room on the right on a open ...
A: yes he might have some or at least be familiar with it...you can easily buy some, but it's not ...
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| "Furniture grade finish" vs thermofoil | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I'm looking at two different mfrs white wall cabinets. One says it's "full overlay white thermofoil" ...
A: doesn't sound like any real difference on the face frames, the thermofoil doors will be cheaper, and ...
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| Finishing Stairs | 8/12/2008 |
Q: I had carpet on my inside stairs, the bottom 4 stairs are exposed to the room on the right on a open ...
A: it does sound like Pine, and it's not going to look like Oak no matter what. Once you used the ...
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| Weatherproofing an Oak table | 8/11/2008 |
Q: I recently moved to Phoenix AZ; I have an oak pub table and stools I do not have room for in the ...
A: Hey Jay, unfortunately the "lemon" oil contains mostly White Mineral oil, which will inhibit a ...
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| Kitchen Cabinet Refinishing | 8/10/2008 |
Q: We've recently decided to spruce up our kitchen but have run into an issue with our cabinets. There ...
A: there is no easy way to do this type of touchup, unfortunately. Also the wood you took in to sample ...
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| restainning cherry chair | 8/9/2008 |
Q: Purchased two nice old cherry chairs(lighter cherry finish) for my parents, but they have a duncan ...
A: trying to stain and refinish, over a finish, any finish, will usually be an exercise in frustration. ...
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| screw hole thru table top | 8/9/2008 |
Q: My dining room table has two very small screw penetration that pushed up but did not break the ...
A: Hey Joe, if this table has a heavy finish on it, like a lacquer, it will be impossible to hide this ...
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| refinishing, refacing, replacing bath cabinet fronts | 8/8/2008 |
Q: I now have white thermafoil laminate euro-style cabinets that I want to change to black, don't care ...
A: I'm in CT, so I'm not familiar with anything in your area, but Sears does refacing, and that might ...
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| wax stains on table top | 8/8/2008 |
Q: I am refinishing my daughter's coffee table. After sanding, I discovered that several dark spots ...
A: Hey John, did you strip this table? One should always strip the old finish off with stripper, and ...
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| refinish furniture | 8/7/2008 |
Q: I have a set of living room furniture from 1976. It is maple wood frame with loose cushions. I ...
A: that sounds like a nice way to upgrade the look of this set, but also sounds like a lot of work. I ...
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| What varnish/polyurethane to use on plywood bench top | 8/6/2008 |
Q: The ply is cabinet grade and is a medium tan/brown colour (called "brown wood" down here in NZ). ...
A: Hey Andy, if you're going to be applying with a brush, I would use an exterior Polyurethane, at ...
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| Staining Curly Maple | 8/5/2008 |
Q: Sure hope you can help - I just had a client throw me a finishing curve on a project. The project ...
A: Hey Mark, glad to help, I see no prob with the lacquer, but would probably seal the stain or glaze ...
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| glue and stain for veneer | 8/5/2008 |
Q: What is the best glue to use with veneer? My concern is that using an oil finish such as tung oil ...
A: Hey Thorne, I'm a big speaker guy too...and have restored and repaired many in my collection from ...
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| Staining Curly Maple | 8/5/2008 |
Q: Sure hope you can help - I just had a client throw me a finishing curve on a project. The project ...
A: what a waste after all that work to have to now make it all look the same, especially because if you ...
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| Changing Color of New Finished Maple Cabinets | 8/4/2008 |
Q: We've purchased a newly-built house that has new finished maple cabinets, stained/dyed a very light ...
A: the only cost effective way is to reface or replace the cabinetry. In refacing, they replace the ...
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| Pickling existing cabinets | 8/3/2008 |
Q: We have nice solid oak cabinets in our kitchen and would like to get them pickled so that they look ...
A: it's a big job, as the cabinets would have to likely be stripped of their existing finish, and then ...
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| Re-staining furniture | 8/3/2008 |
Q: Good day, I would like to re-stain my coffee table. I've got all the necessary items need to ...
A: that's a loaded question, it could take from two days to a week depending on the types of products ...
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| Poor cabinet paint quality | 8/3/2008 |
Q: My family owns a company where we construct custom cabinets. Lately the customers have been ...
A: typically you'd sand, and then apply a sanding sealer, or primer of some kind, and then the ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I have white painted kitchen cabinets. When I heat stripped the paint off (I had intended to ...
A: it's not typical for Oak cabinets to be as dark as what you're describing...Oak is a challenge to ...
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| black spots | 8/2/2008 |
Q: I got new cabinet doors (white oak) from a cabinet maker. When I applied the conditioner, tiny ...
A: I'm not sure why he would recommend a conditioner when you're not staining....there's no need for ...
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| black spots | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I got new cabinet doors (white oak) from a cabinet maker. When I applied the conditioner, tiny ...
A: the white spots could be mineral deposits, but my real question is why you are using a conditioner ...
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| refinishing 10 yr old maple cabinets to match brand new maple cabinets | 8/1/2008 |
Q: We've undertaken a kitchen remodel which included a new maple Kraftmaid cabinet which we purchased ...
A: what you're expecting is a perfect match with an imperfect situation, as not only does Maple vary ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 8/1/2008 |
Q: I have white painted kitchen cabinets. When I heat stripped the paint off (I had intended to ...
A: You can't stain lighter, you'd have to strip thoroughly and then bleach the cabinets with a 2 part ...
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| Poor cabinet paint quality | 7/31/2008 |
Q: My family owns a company where we construct custom cabinets. Lately the customers have been ...
A: is it paint, or is it lacquer? They're quite different. What products and finishing schedule, ...
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| refinish kitchen cabinets | 7/31/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of stripping my kitchen cabinets and was told they are cherry wood with a dark ...
A: it's imperative to make sure you have stripped down to clean, bare wood on a job such as this. Any ...
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| refinish kitchen cabinets | 7/30/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of stripping my kitchen cabinets and was told they are cherry wood with a dark ...
A: the best stain and finishes are really the realm of the professional shop, due to their application ...
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| Painting Wood Mode Cabinets | 7/29/2008 |
Q: My Wood Mode cabinets are not about 15 years old. For the most part they still look fantastic. ...
A: as long as you clean and prep the surface properly, you can prime and paint your cabinets, and yes ...
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| care of furniture | 7/29/2008 |
Q: I work in a warehouse and lately we have in stock a lot of lacquered furniture. I work 5 times a ...
A: Formica is a high pressure plastic laminate, actually made by several different companies under ...
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| kitchen cabinet grease build-up | 7/29/2008 |
Q: We have been upgrading our countertop, backsplash and walls in our kitchen but like our cabinets. ...
A: Naptha (commonly known as VM&P Natha) can be found at most home centers and hardware stores, it is a ...
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| Finishing outdoor bamboo railings | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I'm interested in tearing down my old railings off my deck and replacing them with 2-3" round ...
A: shellac is strictly an interior finish and will not stand up at all outdoors. Also, Bamboo has a ...
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| painted cabinets | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I am painting my oak kitchen cabinets. I did two coats of primer and two coats of oil-based navajo ...
A: Sorry about the late response I was on vacation and thought I'd have email access. I wouldn't use a ...
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| care of furniture | 7/27/2008 |
Q: I work in a warehouse and lately we have in stock a lot of lacquered furniture. I work 5 times a ...
A: if the finish is a fresh lacquer finish, I would be afraid to leave it in such conditions. Lacquer ...
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| Re-finish for ebonized Victorian items of furniture | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I have several items of ebonized Victorian furniture (of which I am very fond). Sadly, some of them ...
A: there are several Gilding touch up products available, most of them paint based, look at a place ...
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| refinishing molding | 7/26/2008 |
Q: My husband and I just purchased a turn of the century home. It has beautiful dark trim/woodworking ...
A: Dad's right, removing molding around old plaster walls can be a real headache, and in your ...
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| Removing wood glued together | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I wood Glued my ikea bed together a year ago when I first got it. Now that I am moving, it doesnt ...
A: Sorry about the late response I was on vacation and thought I'd have email access. A well glued ...
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| matching refinished maple floor with older maple cabinets and staircase | 7/25/2008 |
Q: I'm getting ready to have my maple wood floors redone this week, and now I realize how much they all ...
A: this is a bit of a conundrum...Maple does present some challenging issues with respect to color. The ...
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| refinishing floors | 7/22/2008 |
Q: I am trying to refinish my floors/ stairway I am not certain what type of wood they are but I am ...
A: Sanding is the best way to remove the old finish and prepare the surface for a new finish, and it ...
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| Bassett dining room table | 7/22/2008 |
Q: I would like to refinish the surface of my dining table but I don't know how to begin. It appears to ...
A: it is most likely Lacquer, and if you're a novice finisher, I would not recommend you try this...get ...
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| unfinished kitchen cabinets | 7/21/2008 |
Q: I bought some unfinished oak kitchen cabinets dont want to stain them just want to protect and be ...
A: you'll need to apply some type of finish to protect them, and there are many choices, Danish oil, ...
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| white spots from alcohol(?) based room freshner | 7/21/2008 |
Q: sprayed room freshener and accidently oversprayed onto dark expresso end table leaving several ...
A: it may have chemically burned the finish....waxes and oils won't do much...you could try a polishing ...
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| Finishing fine furniture | 7/21/2008 |
Q: If you have used a waterbased Polyacrylic as a finish on a walnut table, can you also put ...
A: theoretically, a urethane is a urethane, whether waterborne or oil based...but I wouldn't do it, ...
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| dining room table repair | 7/20/2008 |
Q: I have a mahogany dining room table that has some sort of glossy smooth glaze/finish on top. I ...
A: ..sounds like you have melted the finish, the only way to fix it is to refinish the top, most ...
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| blotchy wood after stripping | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I am still in the process of stripping my dining room table. It is a cherry veneer on solid wood. ...
A: ...use more stripper. You should not have anything left on a properly stripped surface. By applying ...
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| blotchy wood after stripping | 7/18/2008 |
Q: I am still in the process of stripping my dining room table. It is a cherry veneer on solid wood. ...
A: I'm surprised you're having such trouble. A table that age will probably just have a lacquer finish, ...
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| refinishing cabinets | 7/17/2008 |
Q: Greg, I am wanting my existing cabinets in my laundry room to go from stained with a high gloss top ...
A: it is possible to refinish the cabinets, but you would have to strip the existing finish from them ...
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| Pickled cabinets | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I have pickled cabinets (white finish over birch cabinets) and there are a lot of chipped areas...I ...
A: your cabinets have a multi step finish on them, the pickling is a white pigmented glaze but they're ...
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| painting kitchen cabinets | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I've moved into a home built in the 60's. The kitchen cabinets were stained a light color and some ...
A: if the finish is sound and not visibly flaking or chipping, you could just clean well, and sand ...
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| refinishing oak table | 7/16/2008 |
Q: I would like to refinish my Great-Grandmother's oak dining room table( veneer I think) and chairs to ...
A: this type of finishing is possible, but it would depend on the type of wood, too. The table and ...
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| OLD pine table needs a lot of help! | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I came upon a table that I would like to restore. An 8 foot long dining table with a ton of ...
A: a prestain conditioner will help with the blotchies, but will also prevent the wood from taking the ...
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| staining | 7/15/2008 |
Q: My husband built a bookcase for me from Birch and Birch veneer. My job was to finish it. During the ...
A: If it was me, I would just accept it and clear coat it at this point if the husband likes it. Birch ...
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| OLD pine table needs a lot of help! | 7/14/2008 |
Q: I came upon a table that I would like to restore. An 8 foot long dining table with a ton of ...
A: hard to know if there is anything still living in it, and really the only way to kill anything in ...
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| staining | 7/14/2008 |
Q: My husband built a bookcase for me from Birch and Birch veneer. My job was to finish it. During the ...
A: you probably have a couple of issues here, and the biggest one is the fact that it sounds like the ...
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| painted furniture | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I just spray painted my oak kitchen and chairs set with Rustoleum's new Universal Black satin spray ...
A: I would use an Acrylic Urethane, (waterbased), I like the Absolute Coatings product called Last'n ...
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| Acrylic Lacquer | 7/11/2008 |
Q: Please can you advise me if i can re-spray (with black acrylic lacquer) an item of furniture made of ...
A: yes you can, just don't wet the piece too much when spraying around edges, and unfinished ...
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| antique cedar chest | 7/10/2008 |
Q: In 76 we bought a "lane"? cedar chest, at auction. We found a lable that said Sears & Roebuck but no ...
A: Sears usually didn't make furniture, it was made by someone else and sold by Sears, so yes, it could ...
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| painting furniture | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I read in some magazine about a spray paint specifically for furniture, giving it that great finish. ...
A: getting a great finish with a spray can has more to do with technique than the actual spray ...
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| oak flooring | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I have oak flooring, house built in 1960, dosent look bad but tired. Do you know anything about the ...
A: I have heard of the renewal kit, but I don't have any experience using it...it uses a chemical ...
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| Kitchen Cabinets and wood furniture | 7/9/2008 |
Q: My kitchen cabinets are solid wood, with a cherry/walnut finish. I think they are about 30 years old ...
A: the best way to refinish is to strip the old finish chemically, as sanding will not remove the ...
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| antique cedar chest | 7/8/2008 |
Q: In 76 we bought a "lane"? cedar chest, at auction. We found a lable that said Sears & Roebuck but no ...
A: if it is a Lane then they will be able to tell you the date, there should be a serial# and other ...
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| 6 panel solid oak interior door bathroom | 7/8/2008 |
Q: Is there a brush-on product to revitalize a sun or steam faded finish on a solid oak door? I saw one ...
A: it really depends on what the finish is. A door will probably have a different finish than the ...
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| sealing pine and ceder | 7/8/2008 |
Q: 1. I just put one coat of a sealer on my pine ceiling and it looks terrible. I dont want to stain, ...
A: what type of sealer did you use on the ceiling? As for the siding, an oil finish like Watco or ...
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| Refinishing wood-veneer pieces | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I have a coffee table that is made of a wood-veneer, and I am assuming it has polyurethane as well. ...
A: don't be afraid of a veneered piece, as long as the veneer is intact and not loose, treat it just ...
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| repairing broken dowel joints in bed posts | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I have a Henredon Aston Court four poster bed. Each post is built up of three sections that are ...
A: the dowels you speak of are actually an integral part of the turned post, that's how they maintain ...
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| Kitchen Cabinets and wood furniture | 7/6/2008 |
Q: My kitchen cabinets are solid wood, with a cherry/walnut finish. I think they are about 30 years old ...
A: I wouldn't use Lestoil on finished wood surfaces, as it contains chemicals not friendly to finishes ...
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| staining | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I installed 1/4" oak panels on the three open sides, and have started staining. I'm having an issue ...
A: welcome to the world of wood finishing!...You're dealing with different woods and wood density, and ...
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| Exterior Oak Beams | 7/5/2008 |
Q: My husband is a painter & decorator, he has a exterior painting job to do which involves some ...
A: linseed oil will darken them quite substantially, and won't protect them as well as some of the more ...
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| smoke damage | 7/5/2008 |
Q: what will clean black soot off of antique oak table without hurting the wood?
A: mineral spirits should clean off any soot that's on the surface, use a small pad made up of several ...
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| Sticky/Non moving gliders on wood dresser | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I have a new wood dresser that has wood rails (if that's what the term is for what they slide on)The ...
A: you could try rubbing a candle on the drawer guides, and you could even remove the metal guides if ...
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| Dining room set from 1953 | 7/3/2008 |
Q: My parents have a dining room set they purchased in 1953 that my mom said is either African or ...
A: not necessarily, as I said, Mahogany can bleach out to a real yellow color with sun exposure....and ...
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| water damage to cedar | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I have recently bought a condo that has skylights in my cedar plank vaulted ceiling. At one time ...
A: unfortunately there's no easy answer to your issue, as Cedar is a soft wood and the water marking ...
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| Dining room set from 1953 | 7/2/2008 |
Q: My parents have a dining room set they purchased in 1953 that my mom said is either African or ...
A: African or Philippine will mean it's Mahogany, which was very common for Dining rooms in that era. ...
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| Changing tv cabinet color | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I have a solid oak tv/entertainment center cabinet that is currently in a med oak finish. I would ...
A: I'm envisioning that you're after the black lacquer look, that's done with Oak...I happen to like ...
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| Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets | 6/29/2008 |
Q: My husband & I recently bought a house. The kitchen cabinets are in good condition, but are not our ...
A: Yours is the typical construction scenario, plywood carcasses with solid wood faceframes and doors ...
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| Product you Recommended | 6/29/2008 |
Q: This A.M. I had asked you about Wood Mode cabinets---what to use to get the luster back. You ...
A: always gratifying to know I'm actually giving out some right information here...lol...you can use ...
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| Cabinet painting mess | 6/28/2008 |
Q: My house was purchased with the kitchen cabinets painted white. Th paint chips off easily in ...
A: sorry to hear about your cabinets. I fear that you're right, but the worst part is that they ...
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| staining | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I stripped the paint off of our kitchen cabinets and sanded and cleaned them with tuck cloth. The ...
A: Hey David, boy is that a loaded question! Are you sure it's Oak? It would be uncommon to find Oak ...
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| Mahogany | 6/27/2008 |
Q: I hope you are able to help me, I have phoned companies and searched to web without any luck. I need ...
A: Hey Laura, I believe softwood like Pine is also graded on structural strength. I'm not really ...
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| Product you Recommended | 6/27/2008 |
Q: This A.M. I had asked you about Wood Mode cabinets---what to use to get the luster back. You ...
A: Hey Cheryl, Mothers or Meguires will probably just be waxes if they have Carnuba in them, and ...
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| Reviving luster of cabinet adjacent to dishwasher. | 6/26/2008 |
Q: Hope you can help me. I have cherry wood Wood-Mode cabinets finished in 'autumn' stain. (25 years ...
A: that's one way you can tell you have real Cherry cabinets, as Cherry is one of the few woods that ...
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| Mahogany | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I hope you are able to help me, I have phoned companies and searched to web without any luck. I need ...
A: not sure what you mean here, it's really more about the actual species of Mahogany and it's country ...
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| tung oil | 6/26/2008 |
Q: I just finished with second coat of pure tung oil on a white oak table top. It's beautiful, but ...
A: you'll have to use a Methylene chloride based stripper. Protect yourself, as this stuff is nasty, ...
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| bar top finish | 6/25/2008 |
Q: I have an idea, I just need some help with the execution. I saw in a shop in Florida, a floor that ...
A: usually this is accomplished with a two part pourable epoxy finish. You could use a good quality ...
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| Staining bamboo | 6/23/2008 |
Q: Could you point me to a stain product that would penetrate dry bamboo? I am willing to bleach and ...
A: Bamboo has a smooth, hard outer layer that will be difficult to get stain to stick to. It might ...
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| Refinishing an old oval gilded picture frame. | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I have completely stripped an old oval gilded picture frame that was painted green over gold. I ...
A: what you have there is a wooden frame with Gesso on it, which is a plaster coat used underneath ...
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| Our knotty pine needs a facelift! | 6/22/2008 |
Q: Greg, My husband and I live in a cedar-sided house built in the late 70s as a hunting cabin. After ...
A: if the paneling is indeed rough cut, meaning the surface isn't smooth, it'll make applying something ...
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| Protective top coat for new furniture | 6/20/2008 |
Q: We bought a bunk bed, if the wood gets dinged the finish (a pecan color we were told) easily flakes ...
A: no matter what you try to put over the existing finish, the problem is the adhesion of the layer ...
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| old pine boards for table | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I have some old (50yrs +) pine boards that was used as wainscotting in a restuarant. The wood is ...
A: sounds like a neat idea, but it's kind of a judgment call as to how to treat the wood to retain it's ...
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| black table top | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I have a black table top that had finger nail polish remover spilled on it. Now that area is a ...
A: I can't possibly give you detailed enough instructions without seeing the damage, especially if ...
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| refinishing oak cabinets | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I bought a house that has light honey colored oak cabinets throughout. They are not really my cup of ...
A: typical factory made kitchen cabinets made in the last 30 years or so will have a sprayed on finish, ...
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| Refinishing indoor table for outdoor use | 6/18/2008 |
Q: I have a rustic pine kitchen table; we have routed out the top and placed ceramic tile in the ...
A: there's no way to make your table really waterproof. Pine is a soft wood, and it will move quite a ...
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| how much it cost approx ? | 6/16/2008 |
Q: i am looking for someone to sanding the entire kitchen cabinets and restain color. and also what is ...
A: the cost to completely refinish a kitchen full of cabinets will be very close to replacing or ...
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| Refinishing Bedroom furniture! | 6/15/2008 |
Q: My wife has a bedroom set from "Rooms to Go" it is natural color with a glossy finish on it. How do ...
A: Hey Troy, if the finish is intact, and not peeling or flaking, you can clean it well with mineral ...
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| Split in butcher block counter top | 6/14/2008 |
Q: We purchased a home with a butcher block counter (not next to the sink) and on one edge, there is a ...
A: unfortunately, now that you've soaked it with oil, filler and/or glues won't stick to it. They need ...
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| mahagony and elmwood furniture | 6/12/2008 |
Q: I would like to know if I can use teak oil to maintain my mahagony and elmwood bedroom set. The oil ...
A: it really depends on the finish on the furniture, as an oil finish should only be used on an oil ...
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| Painting Cabinets | 6/12/2008 |
Q: Can I paint Maple Cabinets white - thinking about buying used cabinets but my wife does not like ...
A: yes you can paint cabinets, you just need to prep them properly and use a primer. Also be advised ...
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| White marks | 6/11/2008 |
Q: I have some kitchen cabinets that I sanded down & stained with cherry "darker" color. I placed 2 ...
A: Hey again Emad, you say you used an electric sander, does that mean you actually stripped the old ...
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| White oak in a bathroom | 6/11/2008 |
Q: What is the best product to apply to new oak in a bathroom (door, ceiling hatch, bath panel, cabinet ...
A: yes, it can be a bit confusing as there are a lot of choices out there, and many will give you good ...
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| water stains on mahogany coffee table | 6/10/2008 |
Q: Help! I had a vase full of water and flowers on our beautiful mahogany coffee table. Our cat must ...
A: sorry to hear about your table, the first thing to do is to let it dry thoroughly, if you're ...
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| spray painting | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I want to spray paint a dresser I have. It is wood and has old paint over it. Do I need to sand ...
A: I would at least clean it well and maybe lightly (scuff) sand it so your paint will stick well, ...
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| entertainment center | 6/9/2008 |
Q: I have a 3 piece entertainment center that will not fit togather flush.It gaps any way to fix this?
A: I assume the issue is the floor, so the only way to fix it is to shim up the sections until they fit ...
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| Rocking chairs | 6/8/2008 |
Q: Is there anything to do to keep a rocking chair from "walking or moving" over when you are sitting ...
A: While I can't really believe it moves when no ones rocking, it's probably due to uneven wear on the ...
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| Should I stain a cedar porch swing? | 6/7/2008 |
Q: I am going to build a porch swing and I am hung up on what wood to use. Assuming I can get it, I ...
A: Hey Josh, while Cedar is nice to work with and decay and insect resistant, it's a soft wood, and ...
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| what type of saw do I need? | 6/5/2008 |
Q: Good Afternoon, Greg. I selected you as a "specialist" because you state you can answer questions ...
A: I'm concerned that if you have a torn rotator cuff, you shouldn't be doing this type of work at all. ...
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| staining | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I have a solid oak entertainment center that is already stained and has a finish on it, but I want ...
A: a lot of people ask this question, but there is no easy way. It's not possible to change a finished ...
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| Milkwashed cabinets turned yellow | 6/4/2008 |
Q: Please help! We bought our house as a resale over 10 years ago. We believe the kitchen cabinetry to ...
A: these finishes take experience with the pickling technique, and spray equipment to apply the finish. ...
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| Milkwashed cabinets turned yellow | 6/3/2008 |
Q: Please help! We bought our house as a resale over 10 years ago. We believe the kitchen cabinetry to ...
A: A few things could be yellowing your cabinets. If they're all yellowing at the same degree, then ...
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| Glider Rocker Creaks Despite tons of Silicone Spray | 6/2/2008 |
Q: I have a Dutailier glider rocker which creaks. I cannot determine where it's coming from. I've ...
A: it sounds like the wooden frame may be loose. Sometimes if you use your hand, and hold it against ...
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| Painting | 6/2/2008 |
Q: After a prime coat and two coats of paint we are told that we also need a coat of polyurethane. For ...
A: I think this is overkill. Most modern paints, in a Satin or Semi gloss finish, are plenty durable ...
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| refinishing danish teak furniture | 5/31/2008 |
Q: Several of my teak pieces have water and other non-greasy stains. These are generally lighter areas ...
A: once an Oil finish is marked to this degree, it probably needs to be stripped and re finished...the ...
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| Children and wood doors | 5/30/2008 |
Q: and thanks in advance for any advice you may be able to offer. Our house has wood floors, 6 panel ...
A: Hey Rick, unfortunately Pine is very soft and does dent and ding easily. The only fix really, is to ...
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| Birch and Stain | 5/29/2008 |
Q: My brother built a computer area and bookcase (built in). The piece is very well built, but the ...
A: I'm assuming that you were using plywood, and Birch can stain blotchy. Unfortunately, the Gel stain ...
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| Applying wax after finishing | 5/28/2008 |
Q: I am refurbishing a park bench. I replaced the old slats with new red oak. I applied three coats of ...
A: I wouldn't bother waxing a piece that's destined for outdoor exposure, as the wax will not last very ...
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| French Polishing | 5/28/2008 |
Q: to learn the basics of french polishing. Many thanks.
A: I would wander over to the Taunton Press website and look up Jeff Jewitt. He has extensive ...
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| polyurethane dyes | 5/28/2008 |
Q: We have honey oak stair rails and bannisters in our home which do not match the carbonized bamboo ...
A: you're right to be leery...colored polyurethane is a product I wouldn't recommend at all, especially ...
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| antique mahogony dresser | 5/26/2008 |
Q: i have just finished stripping a mahogany dresser that has been in our family for at least 80 yrs. ...
A: it probably had an Analine dye stain on it, and was finished with lacquer. These dyes were famous ...
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| cedar patio furniture | 5/26/2008 |
Q: Can I use steelwool on outdoor cedar furniture? If so do I use it wet or dry? It is 8 years old and ...
A: I wouldn't recommend steel wool on your cedar furniture,any small bits left behind will rust into ...
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| antique wood rocker | 5/26/2008 |
Q: I have an antique wood rocker that my folks painted white and I want to strip it and refinish it. Do ...
A: yes I do that type of work, but I would recommend you have it stripped by a reputable stripper, as ...
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| 60+ yr old maple bed | 5/25/2008 |
Q: I inherited a maple bedroom set from my grandparents. Best estimate - 62 years old. It has a ...
A: it kind of depends on what look you want and how much work you want to do. You can just prep and ...
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| Changing an office swivel chair into a 4 legged base chair? | 5/22/2008 |
Q: Greg, I have a beautiful leather chair that has pneumatic seat height adjustment, knee tilt with ...
A: I'm not surprised that you've had to replace the base several times, as that base design is not ...
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| want a different stain on plaque | 5/22/2008 |
Q: Greg, I am making a plaque out of oak and put a red oak stain on it but it is way too dark. How do ...
A: are you sure it's Oak?...it's hard to get any stain to darken Oak like that, unless it's a dye based ...
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| Re finish my veneer cabinets | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I just moved and the cabinets in my home are a honey oak color. I want to stain them black. What ...
A: first off I would not recommend black cabinets, second, there's no way to stain Oak black, you'll ...
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| Door Repair | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I have a standard exterior brown stained door that has deep scratches from a dog. How do I get it ...
A: Hey Scott, if they're deep scratches, then the door will likely need refinishing, and they will need ...
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| Removing finish off new cabinets | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I'm trying to get a project finished with a really short turn-around time and I need to replace all ...
A: Hey Joe, first of all, the Oak factory finished cabinets will have a real finish on them, not just ...
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| Dining Room Table | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I have a dining room table that is oak, I want it to be black. How do I do it? Do I have to sand ...
A: if the finish is in good shape, then you can clean it, scuff sand it prime it and paint it if you ...
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| black rubber stain | 5/19/2008 |
Q: I placed a computer monitor on top of a newly delivered piece of bamboo furniture (a table). I ...
A: Hey John, surprised that it didn't remove the stain, can you actually feel if the stain is material ...
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| black rubber stain | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I placed a computer monitor on top of a newly delivered piece of bamboo furniture (a table). I ...
A: try a product called "Goo Gone", a citrus solvent product...dampen a rag stretched around a finger ...
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| Refininshing Kitchen Cabinets | 5/18/2008 |
Q: I have oak cabinets that have aged and I would like to bring them back up to a like new condition ...
A: I wouldn't sand them, and I certainly wouldn't suggest "lemon oil", which really is white mineral ...
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| oak table refinishing | 5/17/2008 |
Q: I wanted to put a new finish on my oak table it was dull looking, so I proceded to wash it down with ...
A: you'll have to strip it off completely and start again. That's really a good thing though, the ...
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| maple counter finishing | 5/16/2008 |
Q: I want to use 4/4 or 5/4 maple for counters in our kitchen and bath. What would you recommend for a ...
A: glad you have a Woodcraft store near you, and that you're supporting them, they're one of the few ...
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| maple counter finishing | 5/16/2008 |
Q: I want to use 4/4 or 5/4 maple for counters in our kitchen and bath. What would you recommend for a ...
A: that's pretty thin for a counter in a kitchen, and I'm not sure that Maple would be the best choice ...
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| scuff sanding painted furniture? | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I took have a dining set of oak furniture that I would like to update. However, I am thinking of ...
A: actually scuff sanding is referring to a light overall sanding to increase the "tooth" or adhesion ...
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| Restaining Coffee Table | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I have a coffee table that is a medium oak finish, has a glass top. Since I now have mostly white ...
A: I would recommend stripping the entire table to get the best results with what you're proposing, ...
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| uncaulking | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I have to correct a big mistake. I caulked doors and baseboard with a silicon based caulking. It ...
A: Hey Gabe, I'm assuming you want to remove this because you need a paintable caulk....and silicone is ...
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| Painting finished furniture | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I want to paint some 70;s bedroom furniture that is stained wood. Is there any way around the ...
A: I wouldn't use Epoxy paint on wooden furniture.It's expensive, doesn't repair well if you should ...
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| Painting finished furniture | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I want to paint some 70;s bedroom furniture that is stained wood. Is there any way around the ...
A: the first order of business is to clean the furniture well to remove grease, dirt, oils, etc. There ...
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| hardener | 5/11/2008 |
Q: ive just made myself a beautiful coffee table and i was just wondering if there was a solution that ...
A: Hey Steve, no, there is no magic solution you could use to give it protection...you're limited by ...
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| staining maple | 5/9/2008 |
Q: My brother and I are building kitchen cabinets made from maple we are to the staining stage, we ...
A: Maple can have issues with staining for sure, and good for you for trying it on a scrap first. Many ...
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| Repairing scratch on exterior door | 5/9/2008 |
Q: I recently finished an exterior door and surround made of Spanish Cedar with teak oil. Looks great! ...
A: Hey Ron, I would assume that if there was no staining involved, you could just use Teak oil to ...
|
| Adding a coffered ceiling to a room | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I have a 20 x 30 foot, two story great room which I think would benefit from the upgrade to a ...
A: these ceilings can be really beautiful, but they are very labor intensive, therefore quite ...
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| Sticky table finish | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I have a walnut dining table that I bought at auction 4 years ago. I think the auction people had ...
A: it sounds like what ever finish was on there has broken down, and now needs to be completely ...
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| Refinishing wood picture frames | 5/7/2008 |
Q: I have several gold finished wood picture frames that are pitted. (1) What is the best way to remove ...
A: it might be better to repair the pitted areas, and then refinish them, without stripping, craft ...
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| Oak Base Cabinet (Kitchen) | 5/7/2008 |
Q: My sister in law is in the process of purchasing her 1st house. On one of the outside bottom ...
A: you could use a colored filler and then match the finish, or in a worst case scenario, you could cut ...
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| Clear Coating new Furniture to protect the paint from Chipping. | 5/6/2008 |
Q: I just purchased an entire bedroom suite (Kathy Ireland line from Fingers) for my 2 year old ...
A: unfortunately, the reason it is prone to chip has probably more to do with what's under the painted ...
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| OLD Lacquer on Mahogany or possibly Brazilian Rosewood | 5/5/2008 |
Q: Good evening, and many thanks in advance for your help in this matter. I recently inherited an ...
A: If this is a piano by a known manufacturer, then I would contact them to date your piano....and they ...
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| help matching finish | 5/5/2008 |
Q: I own a rustic pine mexican hutch/buffet. Unfortunately someone moved their seat too far back from ...
A: many of these type of pieces have just a wax or even oil finish on them, but without seeing yours, ...
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| edging | 5/5/2008 |
Q: Can you please tell me the name of the item that covers rough wood edges? I just made a tabletop out ...
A: edge banding I think is what you're referring to, or edge molding....it is applied to the edges to ...
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| Spraygun for home workshop | 5/4/2008 |
Q: we've got a large-ish shed in the garden and we've been thinking about spraying furniture that my ...
A: I really have no idea of the type of gun you're looking at, the price really means nothing, although ...
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| Nevada with old furniture and 17 year old Westnofa bedroom set | 5/2/2008 |
Q: I live in Reno, NV. Until 1992, the average relative humidity was usually below 30 percent (might ...
A: the painted piece is most likely painted with oil paint, and over time it can develop the "lizard ...
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| Please help with my beams | 5/1/2008 |
Q: I have just found your site. I've just had my oak beams sandblasted and been advised to linseed oil ...
A: yes Linseed Oil will darken these Beams, and unfortunately Linseed continues to darken with age. ...
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| walnut desk and redwood dining set | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I just bought a walnut desk and a set of redwood dining set from someone who is moving so I got it ...
A: I would remove the Lemon oil with some mineral spirits and rags, then let dry for half an hour or ...
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| Filthy Wood Cabinets | 4/30/2008 |
Q: We are moving into a home that has filmy grime seemingly soaked into the wood finish (unsure what ...
A: it sounds like there's not much of a finish on these cabinets...you can use a cleaner like Formby's ...
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| walnut desk and redwood dining set | 4/30/2008 |
Q: I just bought a walnut desk and a set of redwood dining set from someone who is moving so I got it ...
A: I doubt that what you have is Redwood, perhaps Rosewood? Or maybe it's Red Lacquered? Anyway, I'm ...
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| old log bar | 4/29/2008 |
Q: my parents have had this old wood bar for many years...what i was woundering if there is anyway to ...
A: That's cool...so it could be a desert wood of some kind...I have never really seen this "style" ...
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| litening furniture | 4/29/2008 |
Q: is it possible to make a dark cabinet liter
A: It depends on a few things such as the type of wood, type of the original stain and finish, etc. ...
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| old log bar | 4/29/2008 |
Q: my parents have had this old wood bar for many years...what i was woundering if there is anyway to ...
A: Hey Steve, what a unique piece! Hard for me to tell from the pictures, do you know where in the ...
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| Removing clear coat finish | 4/28/2008 |
Q: We just had a custom media cabinet made in walnut. It has a clear coat finish and we are not happy ...
A: sorry to hear about your situation, but the time to decide on a color is before the unit is ...
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| Staining Pine Staircase | 4/28/2008 |
Q: I would like some advice as to the best way to stain my pine stairs. I recently looked under the ...
A: Pine stairs should be easy to prep and stain, the usual problem with pine, is that it tends to get ...
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| Wood tabletop epoxy spill | 4/27/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a round Drexel Heritage wood table. It has arranged patterns in the wood (like ...
A: It sounds like a Parquet top, and it is done with veneers. The super glue is a Cyoanacrylate ...
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| Recommendation for a durable finish to Kitchen Cabinets | 4/23/2008 |
Q: We have maple cabinets that were in the process of refinishing. Presently they are stained ...
A: unless you're really good with a brush, and have years of experience applying finishes with one, ...
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| refacing kitchen cabinets | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I am considering refacing my kitchen cabinets but am finding it rather expensive. My question to ...
A: laminate cannot be sanded off, it is a layered plastic and Phenolic high pressure material, and ...
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| refinishing cabinets | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I have moved into a 1999 built home. It came complete with the 90's blonde oak cabinets. How can ...
A: I'm sure the Oak cabinets are Oak,if they are raised panel doors, but the sides, fronts, and ...
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| Bleeched oak gone bad??? | 4/22/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a 4 yr old house and the bleeched oak cupboards have black marks all over it. ...
A: hard for me to tell what you've got there, it's possible that the wood grain could have some dark ...
|
| cigerette smell in wood | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I am receiving an Ethan Allen large oak china cabinet from my dad. it has sat in his house for 20 ...
A: this is a tough one because that smell permeates everything and because it's really a tar based ...
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| Sticky wood | 4/21/2008 |
Q: I run a bar and we have alot of wooden tables, they are all pretty old (mostly second hand) a number ...
A: this is most likely a combination of issues. The first is just the dirt and grime issue, sometimes ...
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| rain water stains on wood paneling | 4/21/2008 |
Q: We had a problem with a roof leak in our sunroom. That part is fixed, however, the rain/snow leaked ...
A: this type of staining is very difficult or impossible to remove, usually. Especially if the rest of ...
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| stripping lacquer of maple and refinishing | 4/20/2008 |
Q: I have 14 year old cabinets. They are maple with a clear lacquer finish. I have used citrus strip ...
A: the CitriStrip will work on lacquer, although it will work slower than a Methylene chloride ...
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| cabinet refinishing | 4/18/2008 |
Q: I recently had some remodel work done in my master bathroom, and in the process one of the workers ...
A: Hey Keith, It sounds like what he's telling you is correct, many of these cabinets have a toner ...
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| knotty pine | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a room in my home, built in 1960 that has tounge and grooved knotty pine. I doubt anything ...
A: aahhhhhhh, wouldn't that be nice if I could? Doing anything to this paneling while it's on the wall ...
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| restaining coffee table and end table | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a Broyhill coffee table and end table that is stained light maple. My daughter wants to ...
A: you'll have to strip all the finish off, not just sand. You need to get down to clean, bare wood, ...
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| Removing lacquer finish from cabinets | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have 16 year old solid cherry cabinets in my kitchen that have become faded in several areas from ...
A: the only way to do this is to strip the cabinets with stripper. You should be aware though, that ...
|
| Roble wood out door furniture | 4/15/2008 |
Q: I have an outdoor patio set that the care instructions say that I need to sand the use teak oil on ...
A: Hey John, wood furniture will need occasional maintenance, no matter what, but there are some ...
|
| Jewellery Armoir | 4/15/2008 |
Q: This is a new piece of furniture but one of the long doors is warped 1/4 to 1/2 " (the magnetic ...
A: I would take it out of the bathroom and return it. You might be able to temporarily better the door ...
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| FAUX WOOD FINISH | 4/13/2008 |
Q: I bought a round mirror with a wide faux mahogony edge. I really like everything about it except it ...
A: if you have the skills, you can do whatever you like to it...but doing a convincing faux wood grain ...
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| finish is very shiny | 4/12/2008 |
Q: i see you guys work with wood, so you'll probably find this sinful, but we bought a cabinet at ikea ...
A: it may never dry fully depending on what type of stain he used, and stain is only one element of a ...
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| How to paint IKEA cabinets | 4/12/2008 |
Q: My question is back in 1990 we purchased IKEA laminated kitchen cabinets and would now like to ...
A: I would not suggest painting over plastic laminate. You will have adhesion problems down the road, ...
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| New Hardware for Furniture | 4/10/2008 |
Q: I am looking to refinish my bedroom furniture and put on new hardware. My question is, how do I fill ...
A: Your hardware should be a standard size as measured between the holes, usually 3" on center. It's ...
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| Flexible caulk | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Steve Major answered a previous question from someone about filling cracks in wood with a wood ...
A: the reason you're not having any luck, is that there really isn't a product like that, that can ...
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| repair dents, scratches in cabinets | 4/8/2008 |
Q: We have kitchen cabinets with a factory baked on paint finish. While installing we found some ...
A: it's likely not quite a "baked on" finish, that's a term that is used really in metal ...
|
| hardside waterbed conversion | 4/8/2008 |
Q: We have a hardside pedestal bed with 8 underdrawers. Originally a waterbed, we converted to a ...
A: in my experience with these units, there is no easy way to convert them, because it all works as a ...
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| Refinishing a nice, old chair | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I recently began the process of refinishing a nice, old chair. I used stripper to get most of the ...
A: I would use the stripper again, as it should be used until you are right down to clean bare wood. If ...
|
| knotty-pine paneling | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I have a leak in a cement block basement wall, which is hidden by knotty pine paneling. I want to ...
A: Hey Greg, I assume the paneling is blind nailed through the tongue and groove on furring strips, so ...
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| refinishing kitchen cabinets | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I have some very yellow oak cabinets. I would like to make them maybe a cherry or brown finish. I ...
A: you cannot stain over a finished cabinet (or floors). You will need to strip off the existing finish ...
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| hardwood fllors | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I want to sand and stain my floors and then add polyurethane .Maple requires a pre stain ...
A: there's no way to post pic's on this forum, and I don't post my email here, because these replies ...
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| 1930's walnut table/desk | 4/6/2008 |
Q: We believe my husband's grandfather who recently passed built this table/desk. We are looking to ...
A: I assume you're speaking of an edge profile that looks like it was done with a router bit? I would ...
|
| deck stain | 4/6/2008 |
Q: Can you settle something for my husband and I? We have a deck in our backyard and have been using ...
A: Hey Michelle, Stain really doesn't "go bad", it can dry up or "skin" over but as long as the can is ...
|
| formica cabinets | 4/5/2008 |
Q: My kitchen cabinets are a typical 1960's dark Formica doors and face of cabinets. Is there anything ...
A: I would be tempted to tell you to just replace these old cabinets. Even if you could successfully ...
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| stain on antique cedar chest | 4/4/2008 |
Q: I have a rather frustrating question. My husband laid a brush on my great grandmothers 100+ year old ...
A: I checked the MSDS on Shout, and it said that all the ingredients are fully soluble in water. Which ...
|
| leather inlay table | 4/4/2008 |
Q: I was at a junk shop yesterday and saw a pair of small tables with damaged leather inlays. My ...
A: these tops are normally applied with a water based adhesive,(similar to wallpaper paste), to make ...
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| Refinishing a Dining Table | 4/3/2008 |
Q: My dining room table has been through a lot. About 7 years ago, a swarm of very large hornets burst ...
A: that was an ambitious first project! I think you could handle this refinishing, but I still think ...
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| Refinishing a Dining Table | 4/2/2008 |
Q: My dining room table has been through a lot. About 7 years ago, a swarm of very large hornets burst ...
A: it sounds like the finish is bad enough that it will need to be stripped. The solvents and ...
|
| repainting wood furniture | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I have NEVER painted or refinished anything (except if you count painting a wall!) in my life, so I ...
A: basically you'll want to clean the piece of any oils, waxes, grime, etc, which you can do with some ...
|
| refinishing bathroom cabinet | 3/31/2008 |
Q: I rented a old house on the lake over a year ago. I have a 7 1/2 ft. linen closet in the bathroom ...
A: Now I'm confused...so it does come off the wall, and it is painted, so you'll be stripping the paint ...
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| refinishing the top of an ehdtable | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I have a Ethan Allen end table. it is of the Georgian court style finish #225 it has some deep ...
A: Hey Greg, I'm not too sure what you mean, but stain and lacquer definitely should not be combined, ...
|
| pine chest water damaged | 3/30/2008 |
Q: my pint chest is very marked with a large black area due to a vase cracking. Foolish of me to have ...
A: if the mark is black, then it must have been wet for quite some time. The minerals and natural dirt ...
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| Appyling glaze to new furniture | 3/30/2008 |
Q: I'm hoping you can help me. A great cabinet maker just installed a new dining room hutch. It's a ...
A: Some maple can get blotchy when staining, so you can use a pre stain conditioner, but not a sealer ...
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| refinishing bathroom cabinet | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I rented a old house on the lake over a year ago. I have a 7 1/2 ft. linen closet in the bathroom ...
A: first I would make sure you have the blessing of the landlord to do such a job...secondly, if ...
|
| Appyling glaze to new furniture | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I'm hoping you can help me. A great cabinet maker just installed a new dining room hutch. It's a ...
A: usually the steps are : stain, sealer coat,Toner coat (colored sealer coat), glaze coat, sometimes a ...
|
| refinishing the top of an ehdtable | 3/29/2008 |
Q: I have a Ethan Allen end table. it is of the Georgian court style finish #225 it has some deep ...
A: Hey Greg, you won't be able to get a stain that will be the exact match. These finishes are usually ...
|
| Stripping kitchen cabinets | 3/27/2008 |
Q: Can you tell me where I can buy a commercial grade wood stripper. I understand that if I use such a ...
A: the best strippers are the most toxic, they have Methylene chloride as the main ingredient. They are ...
|
| Oak Bar Top | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I am attempting to build a small oak bar top for the gameroom. My plan is have two 1x6 oak pieces ...
A: if the pieces of Oak are at the right relative humidity when you build the bar top,(meaning dry) you ...
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| Refinish kitchen cabinets | 3/27/2008 |
Q: I have standard kitchen cabinets that came with my home when I purchased it I want to refinish by ...
A: the only sure way to make the Oak grain disappear is to strip right down to the wood and use a pore ...
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| Oak Table Top | 3/26/2008 |
Q: I have sanded a huge oak diningroom table down to tha bare wood. I am going to clean the room to ...
A: first of all, you should always strip off an existing finish with stripper, especially from a dining ...
|
| beams and posts | 3/26/2008 |
Q: I am at the point where i need to oil/seal the wooden beams and posts in our house. They are rough ...
A: anything oil based will darken the wood from slight to several shades depending on how dry they are, ...
|
| tile on cabinet | 3/26/2008 |
Q: For my son's preschool classroom project, the children painted 3x3 tiles and the teachers want the ...
A: Hey Sam, sounds like a cute project. I would use a construction adhesive like the Loctite PowerGrab. ...
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| refinishing wood cabinets and wood trim | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I'm on a tight budget and I have 2 re-finishing projects I'd like advice on. The first is with my ...
A: Hey Eric, in both cases it will be a better bet to strip right down to the wood. This is the only ...
|
| knotty pine | 3/25/2008 |
Q: We built a room in our barn that is all done in knotty pine and were wondering what is the best way ...
A: Watco is a "danish" oil or Tung oil finish available in clear or colors, and it would be a good ...
|
| stain job on unfinished doors | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I have a lot of experience as a painter, but recently I stained a pair of French doors and trim for ...
A: Hey Mike, sorry to hear about the quandry you're in...sounds like the doors are pine, which is ...
|
| 70's Kitchen Cabinets | 3/24/2008 |
Q: I just read one of your question/answers regarding a kitchen with dark 70's era kitchen cabinets. I ...
A: Painting the cabinets is an option, I'm not sure the inside needs to be done, and that will add a ...
|
| Old dried out furniture | 3/23/2008 |
Q: I have several pieces of older, maybe only 100 years or so, pieces of furniture. They set in my ...
A: it really depends on what the construction is. Contrary to what they'd have you believe, polishes, ...
|
| Cedar | 3/22/2008 |
Q: We are finishing our basement and on the bottom we are using cedar lumber. We was wondering what ...
A: Unfortunately, any type of oil stain will have a stench because of the oil and solvents involved. ...
|
| Pool Table Scratches | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I just bought a new pool table with a cherry finish. The table is currently heavily scratched from ...
A: I'm not too sure what to suggest from your description. This table may have a polyester or catalyzed ...
|
| Removing Cigarette smell from wood furniture | 3/20/2008 |
Q: Any suggestions on removing cigarette smoke smell from wood furniture? The room just smells like ...
A: there's no easy way to remove the smell, especially if it's from someone who smoked for years. It ...
|
| Prevent chipping | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I have a ring that is really important to me and it is wooden, it has like little flowers painted ...
A: the paint is most likely chipping because the wood is shrinking under it and/or it is just suffering ...
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| Questionable cabinet finish from 1983 | 3/19/2008 |
Q: typical 'builder grade' throughout. I have updated/upgraded nearly everything, and the kitchen ...
A: it is possible that you could have one of several types of finish there, they did start ...
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| Questionable cabinet finish from 1983 | 3/19/2008 |
Q: typical 'builder grade' throughout. I have updated/upgraded nearly everything, and the kitchen ...
A: my guess is that they were using conventional lacquers, but a finish from that era should strip off ...
|
| Help! | 3/18/2008 |
Q: We are building a new house and have just finished staining varnishing our oak wood trim. It turned ...
A: unfortunately, once you've applied the stain, it's difficult to remove from a soft wood like Pine. ...
|
| refinishing a drum | 3/18/2008 |
Q: i have a drum that is an aqua blue stain on birch wood.i need to have this drum restained to a green ...
A: I am a Drummer too, and have finished and refinished many drums and Drumsets. These higher end ...
|
| Kitchen gadget handle | 3/18/2008 |
Q: I am making a kitchen gadget with an apple plywood handle. The handle is not supposed to come into ...
A: first off, wooden handled utensils, knives, cutting boards,etc., are not considered "Dishwasher ...
|
| Outdoor Furniture Finish | 3/17/2008 |
Q: Greetings Greg, Last spring I made two half-log benches out of a black walnut log that had been ...
A: any type of surface finish, when constantly exposed to the elements, is pretty much destined to ...
|
| Paint stain on lacquered table | 3/17/2008 |
Q: One of our darling children have put some stains on our dining table from a marking pen which is an ...
A: if it is an oil based pen, then mineral spirits or Naptha will remove it. I doubt it is oil based ...
|
| Varathane on top of Minwax | 3/17/2008 |
Q: I was wondering if a person can stain fir boards with an oil based Minwax stain, and then apply a ...
A: Hey Dave, you probably could, but Minwax stains are an oil based stain, and they are notorious for ...
|
| water damaged wooden mirror frame | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I have two pieces of wood furniture that I bought at a thrift store and tried to ...
A: I'm a little confused by the question....the dovetail joints are usually found only on the sides of ...
|
| Wine Barrel | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I have a 20 gallon wine barrel that is dried out and i wanted to expand it and make the metal rings ...
A: Hey Rich, unfortunately, because most of these are made with green wood, you won't be able to expand ...
|
| refinishing wood furniture | 3/16/2008 |
Q: I saw a refinished piece of furniture that looked like pewter. the owner said that the person that ...
A: I can't imagine it would really take seven different paints,seven coats with primers, clear coats, ...
|
| aging butcher block | 3/14/2008 |
Q: We had a maple butcher block (custom made) designed into the end of our granite topped island. It ...
A: unfortunately the oil will block the absorption of the stain, so, if it was me, I would take a rag ...
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| Satin paint additive | 3/14/2008 |
Q: I am repainting my bathroom cabinets white. I bought satin paint, but I do not like the touch or ...
A: this is a question you'll have to go back to the paint supplier with, my guess is that they're going ...
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| aging butcher block | 3/13/2008 |
Q: We had a maple butcher block (custom made) designed into the end of our granite topped island. It ...
A: with all the dark shades, I can see how a new piece of Maple might seem a little .....bright. Since ...
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| Satin paint additive | 3/13/2008 |
Q: I am repainting my bathroom cabinets white. I bought satin paint, but I do not like the touch or ...
A: I'm not aware of a way to add gloss to a paint, other than to have the same color mixed in a ...
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| lightening a dark walnut paneling | 3/13/2008 |
Q: We have a home that was built in the 70's that has beautiful dark walnut paneling in every room. We ...
A: Unfortunately, pickling or dry brushing techniques are really only appropriate for light, smooth ...
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| Spill on custom wood cabinets | 3/12/2008 |
Q: A contractor just used expanding foam and gorilla glue in my ceiling to secure something and it has ...
A: it sounds like Gorilla glue to me, and it's a polyurethane based glue, so it will adhere really well ...
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| Kitchen gadget handle | 3/11/2008 |
Q: I am making a kitchen gadget with an apple plywood handle. The handle is not supposed to come into ...
A: an Acrylic Urethane should be fine, I think I would be tempted to use a catalyzable Urethane, like ...
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| Staining a pine bedroom suit | 3/10/2008 |
Q: I am wanting to stain a pine bedroom suite to a rich black for my boys room. I am unsure which kind ...
A: staining to a rich black color could be done, but it will require the use of a dye stain concentrate ...
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| Replacing damaged wood on china cupboard door | 3/10/2008 |
Q: My china cabinet glass door has the fancy wood designs on the front. Over time the wood became ...
A: I'm assuming you mean some type of fretwork designs that are common with some of the Eastern ...
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| waterproofing | 3/10/2008 |
Q: Greg, What product would be good to waterproof my dining room table? And what do I use to apply it? ...
A: the best way to waterproof is to put a piece of glass over it. Finishes as a rule are only "water ...
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| Staining new oak railing | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I am having a new oak railing installed up to my second floor. I just stained new four panel pine ...
A: on the second coat that you applied, did you sand again before applying it? I would have stayed with ...
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| wingback chair | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I would like to build a wingback chair and need a pattern or something to tell me how?
A: building a Wingback chair is a very ambitious project, and requires very advanced woodworking ...
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| cleaning and care of red oak paneling | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I have a home in a historic district with a beautiful red oak paneled library. The wood seems dry ...
A: This is a big job, and you'll need to evaluate what type of finish was on the paneling...my ...
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| Wood Discoloration - China Cabinet | 3/6/2008 |
Q: My husband and I have a dining room set, and a China Cabinet with a high luster. The set is 9 yrs. ...
A: it sounds like maybe you mean Bubinga, which is also known as African Rosewood. It's quite dark ...
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| oil poly | 3/6/2008 |
Q: What is the proper technique for application? I always get runs or bubbles even foaming. I am ...
A: it's necessary to stir because there are several components to the poly, Vehicle, resins, thinners, ...
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| Ethan Allen/Baumritter furniture | 3/6/2008 |
Q: My parents bought a lot of the subject furniture (all in nutmeg stain) in 1953. I want to sell two ...
A: I don't think Ethan Allen would ever sell a customer a stain anyway....and their "Nutmeg" finish may ...
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| oil poly | 3/5/2008 |
Q: What is the proper technique for application? I always get runs or bubbles even foaming. I am ...
A: typically urethanes don't polish well, and usually don't require it. There can be many reasons for ...
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| Change stain color on wood? | 3/4/2008 |
Q: We purchased a 1963 danish modern (we think teak) cabinet on Ebay, and when it arrived, we were ...
A: it does sound like someone put a colored oil finish on it, or refinished it at some point which is ...
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| Cabinet finish too glossy | 3/3/2008 |
Q: We are building a new house and our kitchen cabinets were custom built by a local cabinet maker. We ...
A: if it said "Satin" it should not be shiny off the gun, but perhaps he rubbed the finish out changing ...
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| Repair wood chair back | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I have 4 chairs that used to have cane webbing. The webbing has torn. I am thinking of replacing ...
A: they make something referred to as "wiggle" board, which is a flexible plywood. You'll need to ...
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| finishing products for wood ceiling paneling | 3/2/2008 |
Q: We are installing raw fir wood paneling on the ceiling of our vaulted living room/dining room. I am ...
A: "Danish" oil type finishes, like Watco, are drying oils that have resins (Phenolics), and other ...
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| curly maple | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I would like some advice on what is the best thing to use to stain curly maple. I have tried oil ...
A: yes, some hard Maples don't take oil stains too well, but remember you can use multiple coats, with ...
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| Old rocking chair with a creak | 3/1/2008 |
Q: I have an old rocking chair that creaks when rocking. We would like to use it for our twins we are ...
A: the creaking is from loose joints, and most likely the rocker joints. Take a rubber mallet or a ...
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| refinishing dark oak kitchen cabinets | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I would like to refinish our dark oak cabinetry in our kitchen and bathrooms. The cabinets are ...
A: if you want to keep them the same color, then I wouldn't strip them all the way down. You could ...
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| Wooden Kitchen Cabinets | 2/28/2008 |
Q: I have old wooden cabinets in my kitchen. I believe the finish has been affected by moisture ...
A: I'm afraid there really is no "magic" product when a finish reaches the end of it's useful life. ...
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| pickled oak wash | 2/28/2008 |
Q: I am stripping my baseboards, door trim & a few doors. I want to put a pickled oak wash on them. The ...
A: it isn't so much the recipe...it's the technique. The wood you're dealing with has pretty closed ...
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| oak bathroom cabinets | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I have oak golden cabinets in my bathroom and I want to change them. I am not sure if I want to ...
A: the best place to see the difference between an opaque finish (like paint) and stained, or "Cherry" ...
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| Removing Polyurethane | 2/26/2008 |
Q: How can I remove polyurethane from cabinets without removing the old stain? ANSWER: Hi Simone, you ...
A: The panels would have to be cut out from the back using a router. It has to be done pretty ...
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| Staining new oak railing | 2/26/2008 |
Q: I am having a new oak railing installed up to my second floor. I just stained new four panel pine ...
A: did he do just one coat I wonder? He may have to do a second. Also it's important to stir the poly ...
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| Removing Polyurethane | 2/25/2008 |
Q: How can I remove polyurethane from cabinets without removing the old stain?
A: you really only have one choice, and that's to strip the Poly off with stripper, and that will tend ...
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| I need help restoring my new dresser please | 2/25/2008 |
Q: This is a receipt for a question you recently asked at allexperts.com of Eileen Cronk. You should ...
A: unfortunately, the cologne has melted the lacquer, and while you can touch up the small spot with a ...
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| Dresser repair | 2/25/2008 |
Q: Hope you can help me. I moved recently and did not realize that the movers damaged my night table ...
A: it really depends on a few variables...like whether a touch up will be satisfactory, or whether they ...
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| Kitchen cabinets stained wrong | 2/24/2008 |
Q: We are remodeling a kitchen and have stained our cabinets. My husband had ordered the doors and ...
A: unfortunately, the time to get the stain right is BEFORE applying the clear finish. Once you sealed ...
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| Antique Dresser | 2/21/2008 |
Q: My Wife and I are about to have our first baby in just a few months. As we prepare a room and get ...
A: congrats on the impending addition. Unfortunately, the only way to get the surface clean is ...
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| warped crown molding | 2/19/2008 |
Q: is there any way to straighten or un-bow a piece of crown molding? I bought a piece of heavy MDF, ...
A: glad to hear you solved the problem with some kerfs along the molding. I apologize for the late ...
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| cabinet and drawer finish | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I have just had Kraftmaid cabinets installed. They are painted an off white with a dark glaze. The ...
A: first of all you should be aware that it's not paint you're looking at most likely....it's probably ...
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| trying to decide what color cabinet stain would go with chocolate dining furniture | 2/18/2008 |
Q: we are about to install unfinished oak cabinets into our small kitchen, my new dining furniture is a ...
A: that's a loaded question...it really depends on the look you're after. My one observation is that I ...
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| refinishing to match | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I have finished out a staircase with new "Pre-finished" hardwood flooring. Flooring material is ...
A: lacquer wouldn't be used on flooring material. It could be several other finishes, however. I would ...
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| Table refinishing | 2/17/2008 |
Q: I am in the process of refinishing a Dining room table that I believe to be oak. Once sanded the ...
A: Hey Chris, Oak is not usually "white" as you describe it...and it has very identify-able open grain ...
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| Kitchen remodel | 2/16/2008 |
Q: I just bought a house and wanted to do a whole new kitchen. 1. What books are best for beginner, ...
A: Hey Sean, I guess I would steer you towards the Taunton Press, as they have MANY books on ...
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| knotty pine and hardwood floors | 2/16/2008 |
Q: How do I clean and finish knotty pine wall that are fifty years old?It has not been finished. How ...
A: floors that old probably have alot of damage, dirt and ground in grime, and the only way to get them ...
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| Refinishing a wood gate | 2/15/2008 |
Q: I am embarking on a project to refinish our front gates. They are wood and looking for any ...
A: I would be looking towards a product made for decking. You want something designed for exterior full ...
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| spar varnish | 2/15/2008 |
Q: i have painted some tables with acrylic paint.some of it is white,in the past when i finish it with ...
A: oil based poly's will be yellow to amber right out of the can, and will yellow more over time. Spar ...
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| stain | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I have built a new cabinet in our kitchen. The other cabinets are 23 years old and in good ...
A: you can get Gel stains from Minwax too...in fact they are usually in the Minwax display where you ...
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| old 1950's formica (i think) topped kitchen table | 2/14/2008 |
Q: I have a 1950's black marble look formica (i believe) topped kitchen table that we use constantly - ...
A: unfortunately there's not much you can do to extend the life of your table. The material on the top ...
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| Delta shaper 43-355 & parts | 2/13/2008 |
Q: Hey I think this is a great website. Thanks. Okay I just bought a used shaper and I cant find ...
A: depending on the age of your shaper, it may be hard to impossible to find the parts you seek.The ...
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| faux finishing furniture | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I have a over-the toilet spacesaver that is made of MDF with some decorative carving. It is ...
A: there probably is a technique (s), but I doubt it would look like real Cherry. Most attempts I've ...
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| finishing oak kitchen cabinets | 2/12/2008 |
Q: I have oak cabinets that are quite old. They are a med oak color. I would like to use wood filler in ...
A: the only way to accomplish this would be to strip the cabinets, and even then, Oak just doesn't look ...
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| Wood Stain | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Do I just keep using Wilbond until i don't see any more residue or old paint of any kind or do I ...
A: ..the WilBond is just for a final wipe down, that's all...to make sure you get all the stripper ...
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| Wood Stain | 2/11/2008 |
Q: I accidentally put my question under answer. oops. Sorry. My husband said that 2 of the doors are ...
A: ...It really depends on the stripper you used...as always, read and understand the directions on the ...
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| repairing a 4 poster bed | 2/11/2008 |
Q: I have a 15 year old 4 poster mahogany bed. My husband tripped over a dog and grabbed one of the ...
A: this can be repaired, but it's probably a job for a professional...what you're describing sounds ...
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| Solif Teak Wood Dining Table | 2/11/2008 |
Q: this table sat in my garage for 5 years, and unfortunately, acquired some staining, some were ...
A: first of all...be careful when sanding because almost all of these tables are veneered, not solid. ...
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| Wood Stain | 2/10/2008 |
Q: I accidentally put my question under answer. oops. Sorry. My husband said that 2 of the doors are ...
A: Ok...what type and gloss level of Poly are you using? (satin, semi gloss,etc)...did you stir it well ...
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| Wood Stain | 2/9/2008 |
Q: I accidentally put my question under answer. oops. Sorry. My husband said that 2 of the doors are ...
A: I'm thoroughly confused...the chalky substance that you mention...is this on top of the poly? It ...
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| MDF VS WOOD | 2/9/2008 |
Q: I am interested in buying painted white wood cabinets for a condo on the beach. I was told the wood ...
A: All wood will expand and contract to a certain degree, but well made furniture is made from dried ...
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| maple kitchen table top | 2/8/2008 |
Q: I have a solid maple square table top placed over my existing table that wasn't real maple. I've ...
A: is the piece of Maple finished on both sides? Maple is prone to warp if it's not attached to a table ...
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| Wood Stains | 2/8/2008 |
Q: My husband I stained our wood cabinets with one color stain then decided to go darker with another ...
A: can you tell me what type of stains you used? Milky sounds fishy...I assume you mean a whitish haze ...
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| paint | 2/7/2008 |
Q: I saw a china cabinet and matching chairs I would like to purchase and the color finish is ...
A: Hey Chris, if you've been looking through these forums, this is discussed quite regularily...these ...
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| corner bench wood and finish | 2/7/2008 |
Q: my husband is building us a corner bench for a kitchen nook (I will upholster the seat); we ...
A: nice of your husband to do such a project. If you've read the other posts..(I'm getting tired of ...
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| Painting on wood stain | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I would like to know if it's possible to paint something decorative on an oil based stained wooden ...
A: if the stain is at least a few months old, then it should be ok to paint over it. I'd only advise it ...
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| square cabinet doors how to | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I'm building a curio cabinet (or trying to..) How is the best way to make the doors square. I have ...
A: yes measuring opposing corners on a diagonal will tell you if somethings out of square...but when ...
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| expresso stain | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I am getting new kitchen and bathroom cabinets made in birch. I would like them to be stained a dark ...
A: Of course you can paint them, but I'm not surprised that any cabinet maker scoffs at the idea, ...
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| Refinishing Outdoor Trim | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I don't know if you are the right person to ask about this, but from some of your previous answers ...
A: Hey Mark, the dark spots are indeed mold and mildew,and some woods like Oak will turn black with ...
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| Polishing Dining Room Table | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I have a large Amish-made dining room table with a "Resistivar" finish. It is heat and moisture ...
A: I'm not familiar with "Resistivar", but I'm pretty sure it's a catalyzed varnish. You should NEVER ...
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| staining oak cabinets | 2/4/2008 |
Q: I currently have oak cabinets and want to stain a darker color and hide the grain. Is this ...
A: you can have a close look at some of these specialty Kitchen finishes at your local "Big box" home ...
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| staining over stain? | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I stripped and stained our oak trim on our first floor...and stained it a red mohogany. But now ...
A: it depends on a few things...what kind of stain you used, and whether anything was applied over the ...
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| Oak table refinishing | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I am having trouble getting a uniform finish on an oak table I'm refinishing. I tried stripping it, ...
A: Ok Sharon, sounds like you did the right thing, is it fairly warm in the area you're finishing ...
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| Handrailing and Balaster repair | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I am looking to sell my home in a few weeks or so. I was wondering how I might make my handrail that ...
A: you could scrub the banister down with some mineral spirits and 00 steel wool, drying as you go ...
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| Oak table refinishing | 2/2/2008 |
Q: I am having trouble getting a uniform finish on an oak table I'm refinishing. I tried stripping it, ...
A: how long did you wait after stripping before staining? and did you do the solvent wash down, and let ...
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| Raising headboard | 2/2/2008 |
Q: I have been diagnosed with acid reflux disease,and the doctor recommended raising the head of my ...
A: I am not aware of a website where you would find such plans....this is a pretty specialized support. ...
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| Cafe doors won't swing | 2/2/2008 |
Q: Greg. I recently had the cracked corners of my swinging cafe (barroom) doors repaired. Now that ...
A: assuming that nothing was lost(like a spring)...is it possible he reversed the installation of the ...
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| staining oak cabinets | 2/1/2008 |
Q: I currently have oak cabinets and want to stain a darker color and hide the grain. Is this ...
A: Stripping them is the best idea, and sanding is also a good idea, although if the cabinets are in ...
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| staining problem | 1/31/2008 |
Q: I sanded through the top edge(about 1/4" in and 2" long) on a piece of walnut veneer plywood and now ...
A: Hey Gary, it sounds like you've sanded through the top ply into the next, or into the glue layer ...
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| expresso stain | 1/31/2008 |
Q: I am getting new kitchen and bathroom cabinets made in birch. I would like them to be stained a dark ...
A: it's very difficult for me to recommend a stain that will give you the exact color you're looking ...
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| Rejuvinate Cabinet restorer | 1/30/2008 |
Q: Just a follow up.....if I do nothing will Rejuvinate "dissolve" over time ? I am nervous with trying ...
A: I'm afraid it won't dissolve over time...it might "wear" off though if you clean your cabinets once ...
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| gummy finish | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I am stripping the varnish coat of woodwork from the early 1900's. Now I am having particular ...
A: this is old Alkyd varnish..one of the yuckiest finishes to strip as you're finding out. I would buy ...
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| Maintenance of wooden dining table | 1/29/2008 |
Q: We recently purchased an Elm dining table that has a white lacquered finish. We have been told that ...
A: the best way to protect your furniture is to monitor the relative humidity in the given area..in the ...
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| Hardwood Floor Refinishing 1921 house | 1/29/2008 |
Q: The heavy traffic areas of the hardwood floors are discoloured. I have several types of damage. ...
A: you probably have typical strip oak floors that are solid Oak and 1" or more thick.(depending how ...
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| Rejuvinate Restorer | 1/28/2008 |
Q: One of the cabinets is too glossy and I want to safely restore it. Not sure what the best way is. ...
A: Hey Doug, sorry you've run into a problem with Rejuvenate...I have always had this vision of people ...
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| Wood mode cabinet finish | 1/28/2008 |
Q: I have a set of wood mode cabinetsthat have a blond finish I think. A light stain , with a white ...
A: unfortunately trying to repair this type of finish is quite difficult, as you are learning. Wood ...
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| Couch repair | 1/28/2008 |
Q: My leather couch has 2 cross supports which have pulled lose from the front of the couch and their ...
A: if these boards popped out without damaging the rest of the couch, then they should be able to be ...
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| Use of clear coats | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I will definately look at the Watco product. Will the use of the Watco product eliminate the ...
A: Hey again Larry, yes an oil will not yellow like the paneling you've seen, but many things can ...
|
| Refinishing an old desk with Formica laminate | 1/27/2008 |
Q: WOW!!! I have read some of your past questions... and good lord are you ever knowledgeable!!! Okay ...
A: You could put a Formica top on it, but if you've never done it before, and used a router and ...
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| Painting over stained oak kitchen chairs | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I have an oak kitchen table and chairs that are in good condition. The table has a claw foot base ...
A: I'm not too sure what you mean by "an old rustic look" as that's pretty subjective, but you could ...
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| Black stains on pine | 1/26/2008 |
Q: I have a stained pine bedroom set which is about 15 years old. I bought it unfinished and stained ...
A: stripping is the best idea i think. After you've gotten back to the raw wood, sand smooth with some ...
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| Refinishing oak kitchen cabinets | 1/26/2008 |
Q: Maybe you can help me. My husband and I just paid a so called contractor we got through ...
A: where are in Ct. are you located? I'm sorry you got into this mess, though....did you see any of ...
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| Black stains on pine | 1/25/2008 |
Q: I have a stained pine bedroom set which is about 15 years old. I bought it unfinished and stained ...
A: could what you're seeing be knots in the pine? Pine knots are highly resinous, and they will ...
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| Glazing on Maple Cabinets | 1/24/2008 |
Q: I recently did a complete kitchen remodel and luckily I have a few strands of hair left on my head. ...
A: I think the only way would be to replace the drawer fronts with a different style, which are usually ...
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| Glazing on Maple Cabinets | 1/24/2008 |
Q: I recently did a complete kitchen remodel and luckily I have a few strands of hair left on my head. ...
A: in general the cabinets should look similar in the glazing technique, but it's possible that several ...
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| Painting a dining room table | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I had purchased a dining table from IKEA about 4-5 years ago and it is a real wood table. It is not ...
A: the best technique would probably be to spray the table with either an enamel or lacquer finish, but ...
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| kitchen cabinet door repair | 1/22/2008 |
Q: Our kitchen cabinets are mad of I believe mdf product. The doors that are used the most have ...
A: Hey Dennis, MDF is probably what you have, and there's no real way to repair this type of swelling, ...
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| wood selection and finishing | 1/22/2008 |
Q: I'm building an L-shaped bar with sink,bar frdige, kegerator. My bar top consists of 3/4 inch thick ...
A: Hey Steve, sounds like a beautiful project, glad you tried the Gel products, they're really great. ...
|
| stains on dark varnished wood | 1/22/2008 |
Q: we have in out living room dark wood varnished cabinets and over time various marks have appeared, ...
A: if the cabinets are Lacquered, the Blush eraser should work, but only to eliminate the whitish haze. ...
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| finishing new oak cabinetry | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I am an amateur woodworker- probably at the intermediate level. I am about to begin my dream ...
A: Hey Ron, without a doubt I would strongly consider Shellac. It also depends on what color you want ...
|
| painting kitchen cabinets | 1/21/2008 |
Q: Here's the scenario: A friend of mine is repainting his kitchen cabinets. He is using professionals ...
A: .I wonder if we've met? I think a satin finish is fine for a kitchen, and the flatter the sheen the ...
|
| Installind drawes | 1/21/2008 |
Q: I have a pine kitchen table measuring 90cm x 150cm. I would like to install a drawer underneath at ...
A: to install a drawer in an existing table apron, (I'm assuming there is an apron running around the ...
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| pine cabinets | 1/20/2008 |
Q: We're building a log home and I prefer color cabinets because of all the wood elsewhere. I first ...
A: congrats on the log home, they're beautiful. I'd shy away from Pine for kitchen cabinets, much ...
|
| 1970's style wood paneling | 1/19/2008 |
Q: I need a source for two sheets of 1970's style wood paneling for a repair. Any help you can give me ...
A: I don't believe you'll be able to find 35+ year old paneling anywhere...they do limited production ...
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| refinishing oak wood | 1/19/2008 |
Q: whats the best way to refinish the oak baseboards and trim in my 50 year old home.The wood is ...
A: Hey craig, the best way would be to carefully remove the trim, strip the pieces and sand, stain if ...
|
| Bring out the beauty in kitchen cabinets | 1/19/2008 |
Q: My wife uses Murphys soap to clean the cabinets with but they do not have a good luster to them. ...
A: Murphy oil soap is not recommended for finished kitchen cabinets I don't believe, it will build up ...
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| over sink kitchen cabinets losing thier grip | 1/18/2008 |
Q: Basement Apartment, Rental, 450 sq. ft., 100 yr old brick house... 7feet 6"inches of cabinets (3@ ...
A: sounds like it's a miracle these haven't fallen off the wall. These sound like inexpensive cabinets ...
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| wood selection and finishing | 1/17/2008 |
Q: I'm building an L-shaped bar with sink,bar frdige, kegerator. My bar top consists of 3/4 inch thick ...
A: sounds like a cool project. There aren't too many choices that will go with walnut that will save ...
|
| Staining Red Oak | 1/17/2008 |
Q: I will be making a jewelry box out of red oak and im not sure what stain to use. I want the red oak ...
A: you could use a few things to add red. The ideal one is a dye stain like something from Behlen's ...
|
| Ethan Allen finish repair | 1/16/2008 |
Q: Recently one of my Ethan Allen Heirloom Collection mate's chairs was damaged on the seat by metal ...
A: sorry to hear about your chair, but the scratches may not have gone through the lacquer clear coat. ...
|
| Can I "spot stain" walnut cabinetry? | 1/16/2008 |
Q: ..I'm in the middle of having new kitchen cabinetry installed. I'm a big fan of wood grain, but my ...
A: Many woods can have a lot of grain and color differences, and it's the cabinetmakers' job to grain ...
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| New Maple Cabinets have white "film" | 1/15/2008 |
Q: I hope you can help. We've just refinished our entire kitchen, using a design/remodeling company. ...
A: sorry you're having an issue with a brand new installation, I have never heard of this type of ...
|
| Shellac, Lacquer or Poly | 1/14/2008 |
Q: I am refinishing a ranch style table and chairs set (6 chairs). I have it come to the point where I ...
A: most poly's that you buy for furniture are modified Alkyd varnishes with polyurethane, and you ...
|
| oil based painted cabinets | 1/13/2008 |
Q: My oil base painted cabinets have developed sort of uneven blotchy spots ( perhaps from to much ...
A: it sounds like to me they've been cleaned too much! I think what you're seeing is the paint surface ...
|
| wooden kitchen table | 1/12/2008 |
Q: We have a wooden kitchen table with benches...from local "box store"...purchased many years ago and ...
A: Mineral oil from the Pharmacy will not really ever dry, and will build up and get gooey/and or ...
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| Restained Kitchen Cabinets - Too Dark | 1/12/2008 |
Q: Our oak kitchen cabinets were recently sanded down and restained. After the contractor applied the ...
A: how are they applying this lacquer. If it is lacquer it should really smell...like nail polish ...
|
| Darkening woodfiller in pine logs | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I have just bought a half log home that had large nail holes smeared and filled with an almost ...
A: hey Phil, if the filler has poly over it, then it will be harder to color, but I would buy an NGR ...
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| Weather Protecting | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I am buying some chairs to match my existing dining set. The chairs come as a set with a 48” ...
A: sounds like a nice set, but I would not recommend putting a table like this outside on a screened ...
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| closet doors | 1/10/2008 |
Q: I recently moved into a log cabin type home in Maine. The house was built in 2007 and is pine ...
A: unfortunately, just hanging up 3/4" boards as doors is not a good idea, because they will warp 9.5 ...
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| butcher block counter top | 1/10/2008 |
Q: We installed a butcher block counter top in our rental unit, and the first tenants had no problems, ...
A: You don't mention if the counter was finished in any way. Maple is prone to mold/mildew growth, and ...
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| Restained Kitchen Cabinets - Too Dark | 1/10/2008 |
Q: Our oak kitchen cabinets were recently sanded down and restained. After the contractor applied the ...
A: sorry to hear about your cabinets...I would assume that the stain is not the final result...there ...
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| 1950s wood trim | 1/9/2008 |
Q: In our 1958 quad-level home all of the trim and doors have the same finish that is hard to describe. ...
A: Often the trim of this era was just varnished or shellacked, no stain. I think finished wood trim in ...
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| joints in kitchen cabinates | 1/8/2008 |
Q: We have had a custom kitchen made and it as amazing. However we have concerns about the hair line ...
A: what you're being told is essentially correct, wood will move no matter how you try to prevent ...
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| Finishing Furniture | 1/7/2008 |
Q: Please help. I just purchased some beautiful high-quality unfinished furniture for my bedroom. ...
A: You're definately on the right track then, I'm glad you didn't go ahead and finish the ...
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| Finishing Furniture | 1/7/2008 |
Q: Please help. I just purchased some beautiful high-quality unfinished furniture for my bedroom. ...
A: Oak and Maple are very different woods, both in the grain structure, density, and the way they will ...
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| Maple Table Top Stain | 1/7/2008 |
Q: .. I have a solid maple table top with a natural stain that has two stains in it from my son's ...
A: Hey Brooks, this is a tough one, as any variations of red coloring are very difficult to remove. If ...
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| revarnish front door | 1/4/2008 |
Q: My front door is made of wood with many moldings and a beveled, leaded glass insert, The front of ...
A: Hey Ralph, Hard for me to advise you not knowing how badly weathered your door is and what type of ...
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| Cherry China Cabinet & Buffet | 1/3/2008 |
Q: Greg, Happy New Year! I purchased a cherry china cabinet and buffet that has some damage to the ...
A: you can buy Cherry veneer at a few places like Woodcraft: ...
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| Bubbled up stain on dark mahogoney or cherry wood dinning room table | 1/3/2008 |
Q: My son and his friends were playing on my dinning room table and something was spilled or a hot ...
A: sorry about your table, but it sounds like they put a hot pan on it from what you describe. If it ...
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| Restoring a mid-century lounge chair | 12/31/2007 |
Q: Hey Greg, I recently picked up a nice Baumritter walnut lounge chair (off the side of the road ...
A: I like Citristrip, which can be found at H.Depot and elsewhere. It has no Methylene Chloride ...
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| Restoring a mid-century lounge chair | 12/31/2007 |
Q: Hey Greg, I recently picked up a nice Baumritter walnut lounge chair (off the side of the road ...
A: nice find! One of the things I love most about shellac, is that it is so repairable down the road. ...
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| Cabinet Re-finishing | 12/29/2007 |
Q: Have NEW natural cherry cabinets with a clear lacquer finish. The painter assured me this would be ...
A: Hey Scott, Lacquer is an OK choice for cabinets, but is not what I would call "super hard". It ...
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| table top finish | 12/29/2007 |
Q: I bought a new dining table that has a cherry dull finish. It scratches every time I move something ...
A: there really isn't any "product" you can put on your table, short of a piece of glass. Care must be ...
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| drawer slides | 12/28/2007 |
Q: I would like to know if I can convert the 40 year old wooden drawers in my kitchen cabinets to ...
A: Hey Gary, here's a link to Rocklers site...this picture should explain most of the story. Again you ...
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| drawer slides | 12/28/2007 |
Q: I would like to know if I can convert the 40 year old wooden drawers in my kitchen cabinets to ...
A: the real issue when doing a retrofit like this is the clearance of the drawer sides to the cabinet ...
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| Guy Chaddock Dining Table | 12/26/2007 |
Q: We have a dining table that got some water on it and subsequently soaked through the finish between ...
A: sorry to hear about your table. I'm a little confused about what you describe as "bubbled up". Do ...
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| new wood tables | 12/24/2007 |
Q: we have bought a new oak dinning table with one of these new dark Matt looking finishes it looks ...
A: I'm surprised to hear the finish marks so easily, as usually these finishes are pretty ...
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| Stickiness on table | 12/24/2007 |
Q: I purchased a round rosewood table at a furniture store 1 + year ago as my kitchen nook table. I ...
A: my guess is that it was finished with an oil finish, as most of these are. The clorox could possibly ...
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| Checkering on Rifle Stock | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I purchased a used Browning rifle the other day and the stock is in great conditon and beautiful ...
A: Hey Roy, a lot of Brownings used an oil finish on their stocks, but I have read that some were ...
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| Bathroom cabinet refinishing | 12/21/2007 |
Q: I need to refinish the front of my oak cabinets in the laundry room and bathrooms. They have been ...
A: ..the best most aggressive strippers are the ones with Methylene Chloride in them...they're also the ...
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| Bathroom cabinet refinishing | 12/20/2007 |
Q: I need to refinish the front of my oak cabinets in the laundry room and bathrooms. They have been ...
A: I think the best way to approach this would be to strip the existing finish off. This will remove ...
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| refinishing stain | 12/20/2007 |
Q: my wife recently ran onto a Amish chest at a auction. The chest has a rich dark finish on pine. The ...
A: Hey again Gray, I don't think "gel" is a way to describe a finish....sounds like you mean that the ...
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| M1 carbine | 12/19/2007 |
Q: Hey Greg thanks for the info you gave me on my m1 carbine stock.I just have one more question.I ...
A: Hey Keith, oops...I've done that before. If the stain is now dry, it might be too late to just ...
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| options for painting/staining cabinets | 12/19/2007 |
Q: I would like to change the look of my kitchen cabinets. they are in excellent condition but are ...
A: there are a number of posts here in the forum about your issue. Feel free to read some other posts, ...
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| refinishing stain | 12/19/2007 |
Q: my wife recently ran onto a Amish chest at a auction. The chest has a rich dark finish on pine. The ...
A: Hey Gray, the only way to match it is to do what you're doing...strip it first and then determine ...
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| Refinishing | 12/18/2007 |
Q: I have a rather large jewelers cabinet I inherited from my uncle. I have done a fair amount of ...
A: from what you're describing, it sounds like the piece was stained with an Analine dye popular in the ...
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| stains on dining table | 12/18/2007 |
Q: My son left a bowl of soup on our finished wood dining room table. Now where his chicken soup had ...
A: it's possible that the mark was there, and again, the finish could be a number of finishes depending ...
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| stains on dining table | 12/18/2007 |
Q: My son left a bowl of soup on our finished wood dining room table. Now where his chicken soup had ...
A: it's hard to believe that chicken soup could remove either varnish or lacquer, if the finish does ...
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| Cherry kitchen cabinets | 12/17/2007 |
Q: I have raised panel Cherry kitchen cabinets that are showing their age. The original finish is ...
A: the original finish was probably a multi step, lacquer based, cabinet finish. Often when applying ...
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| stains on dining table | 12/17/2007 |
Q: My son left a bowl of soup on our finished wood dining room table. Now where his chicken soup had ...
A: first off make sure that all the soup is off the surface of the finish by using a damp cloth, with ...
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| oak bar | 12/15/2007 |
Q: . we have a large oak bar in a brand new condo we purchased. The people that put it in spent $13 ...
A: sorry you don't like the Oak, because there is no relatively painless way to change the bars ...
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| Using plywood | 12/13/2007 |
Q: I made a bathroom vanity out of Brazilian mahogany, and now I want to build a larger set of cabinets ...
A: Hey Mike, sorry for the late reply....good mahogany plywood will be dense enough to nail and glue ...
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| Dresser Drawer bottom | 12/13/2007 |
Q: Most of the less expensive dressers (Ikea) have drawers that have a bottom that is made out of some ...
A: Hey Tony, the closest thing you'll be able to find easily is 1/4" Masonite...it's brown and composed ...
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| Update heritage Oak Cabinets | 12/10/2007 |
Q: We have beautiful Heritage Oak Kitchen custom cabinets that were installed 16 years ago. They are ...
A: new hardware is a nice way to update the look of good cabinetry...the only other way is to refinish, ...
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| Wood Table | 12/10/2007 |
Q: I came up with this idea for my old dining table - and just do not know if it is possible! I am ...
A: if the porch is covered from ANY rain/snow etc., then you should be able to refinish the table to ...
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| Staining New Woodwork | 12/9/2007 |
Q: Greg my wife and i are trying to save some money on a new house build by painting and staining ...
A: WoW,... to get a really professional job on the kitchen cabinets, they really need a proper ...
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| gun stock | 12/8/2007 |
Q: I am trying to find some info on refinishing a gunstock and thought I would try here.I have an old ...
A: Hey Keith, guess it depends on how big the missing piece is. A small area could be filled with some ...
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| Spraying Lacquer on a new piece of furniture | 12/8/2007 |
Q: My husband and I had a custom made entertainment cabinet built for our living-room. The cabinet ...
A: Hey Casey, congrats on having an enterprising husband...applying lacquer takes some learning, but ...
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| Staining New Woodwork | 12/7/2007 |
Q: Greg my wife and i are trying to save some money on a new house build by painting and staining ...
A: that's a loaded question as there are many types of stain you could use, and things like cabinets ...
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| kitchen cabinets wood vs mdf | 12/7/2007 |
Q: i have a question regarding new kitchen cabinets in a new house we are currently building. i am just ...
A: MDF is stable, but it is sawdust and glue, basically. Kitchen cabinets made of wood are perfectly ...
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| Carving and Finishing | 12/6/2007 |
Q: Greg, I made a jewelry box for my daughter out of Tiger Maple. I carved her initials in a monogram ...
A: Hey Doug, sounds like a great gift and heirloom, The way to stop this is to use a thin sealer coat ...
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| finishing-flyspects | 12/6/2007 |
Q: What is FLYSPECT finishing? Trying to match old cabinets that have this finish on them. How is it ...
A: Hey Leroy, it's fly-specked...as in specks from flys...it's a term used loosely to describe ...
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| kitchen cabinets wood vs mdf | 12/6/2007 |
Q: i have a question regarding new kitchen cabinets in a new house we are currently building. i am just ...
A: I think the real wood cabinets would definitely look best, and the difference is the construction as ...
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| bed design | 12/5/2007 |
Q: My daughter wants me to build a bed that is a commbination of a captain's bed a platform bed and a ...
A: I would consider putting the drawers under the trundle, on the bottom, as I think it will be easier ...
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| Furniture Veneer Removal | 12/4/2007 |
Q: I have a 40 yr. old dresser that I would like to refinish. The sides and base are solid wood, but ...
A: You could paint it..faux marble it, or even veneer it...it's plastic, so you'll just have to treat ...
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| wood filler | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I have two questions I have asked them separately. What would you say was the best wood filler, to ...
A: Hey Tom, typically I like the latex based fillers like the Elmer's Carpenters..the ones in the tubes ...
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| Furniture Veneer Removal | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I have a 40 yr. old dresser that I would like to refinish. The sides and base are solid wood, but ...
A: ..I am a little confused as to what you're describing....could it be a laminate...formica like ...
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| gun stock | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I am trying to find some info on refinishing a gunstock and thought I would try here.I have an old ...
A: Hey again Keith, you could strip it if you want to with varnish remover, but, as I suggested, I ...
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| How to tell what wood old cabinets are made of | 12/2/2007 |
Q: Recently bought a ranch house built in 1958. Kitchen cabinets, woodwork, doors and wood floors were ...
A: there are books that can help you identify the wood species,the library may be of help, I'm ...
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| gun stock | 12/1/2007 |
Q: I am trying to find some info on refinishing a gunstock and thought I would try here.I have an old ...
A: Hey Keith, I believe these stocks were finished with an oil finish.....Tung and/or Linseed Oil ...
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| Refinishing Kitchen cabinets | 12/1/2007 |
Q: My wife and I are refinishing our kitchen cabinets. They are oak as best as we can tell. We have ...
A: I agree with you on the sanding....it does however open up the grain a bit to allow stain to soak in ...
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| Refinishing Kitchen cabinets | 11/30/2007 |
Q: My wife and I are refinishing our kitchen cabinets. They are oak as best as we can tell. We have ...
A: Hey Arthur, if the cabinets stripped cleanly and look even in color overall, you may not need to ...
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| Kitchen Cabinet | 11/28/2007 |
Q: Would like to make it narrow for small place Approx. 12". What's the best way to get the door apart? ...
A: a tough proposition. That type of coped joint is really well designed... and it's designed to be ...
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| door refinish | 11/27/2007 |
Q: My wooden door has been weathered by the elements on teh exterior side predominantly on the lower ...
A: Hey Mike...another loaded question...it depends on how much you have to sand, and what condition the ...
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| door refinish | 11/27/2007 |
Q: My wooden door has been weathered by the elements on teh exterior side predominantly on the lower ...
A: Hey Mike, it kind of depends on what the finish on the door is. Most factory made exterior doors are ...
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| shellac, pouring | 11/26/2007 |
Q: Can I thin shellac pretty thin like maybe a half pound cut and then pour it onto the countertop? ...
A: that's the epoxy...here's a link. http://www.woodworker.com/cgi-bin/FULLPRES.exe?PARTNUM=293-001 To ...
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| Damaged "rush" chair seat | 11/26/2007 |
Q: My mother's cat had an "accident" and ultimately the color was stripped off of a section of the rush ...
A: Hey Jamie, you probably can do a repair to the area of the stain, but often these seats are ...
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| shellac, pouring | 11/26/2007 |
Q: Can I thin shellac pretty thin like maybe a half pound cut and then pour it onto the countertop? ...
A: Hey Kerry, shellac won't do this well...for several reasons including the ones I mentioned. Any ...
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| Furniture Springs | 11/25/2007 |
Q: My wife and I started noticing that when we sat on the couch we seemed to be sagging so I removed ...
A: Hey Chuck, Those springs are usually attached on top of the frame rails, and tensioned using strings ...
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| shellac, pouring | 11/24/2007 |
Q: Can I thin shellac pretty thin like maybe a half pound cut and then pour it onto the countertop?
A: Hey, Kerry not too sure why you'd want to do this. First off, shellac will not stand up well as a ...
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| Refinishing Ethan Allen furniture | 11/24/2007 |
Q: I have a 25 year-old set of Ethan Allen Custom Room Plan furniture in a white finish that has turned ...
A: your Ethan allen furniture likely has a lacquer finish on it. Ideally, the old finish should be ...
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| circular saws | 11/24/2007 |
Q: ..I know this is going to sound like the dumbest question,but Iam not familiar with power equipment. ...
A: Hey Ronn, I have experienced this type of 'kick back' as well..Two things come immediately to mind. ...
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| finishing raw mahagony doors | 11/23/2007 |
Q: We have two doors to be hung on a barn-door-type rail system. They are solid mahagony. Can you ...
A: This sounds like an interesting application. You definitely don't want to be able to see into the ...
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| finishing raw mahagony doors | 11/21/2007 |
Q: We have two doors to be hung on a barn-door-type rail system. They are solid mahagony. Can you ...
A: that's really the best way, as it's important to finish the whole door, under any hardware,and ...
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| Painting kitchen hardware | 11/20/2007 |
Q: I have 30 year old kitchen cabinets in very good condition that I plan on painting. I would like to ...
A: ..you can't tell laminate by the feel...you'll have to look along the edges carefully and see if you ...
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| couch repair | 11/20/2007 |
Q: I bought a couch at a road side sale. One foot of the couch, a plastic screw-in type, has broken. ...
A: Hey Doug...are you sure that the "teeth" your looking at aren't a separate piece of hardware?...a ...
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| couch repair | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I bought a couch at a road side sale. One foot of the couch, a plastic screw-in type, has broken. ...
A: Hey Doug, sorry for the late reply. Most of these plastic feet are attached with an integral Lag ...
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| Painting kitchen hardware | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I have 30 year old kitchen cabinets in very good condition that I plan on painting. I would like to ...
A: an enamel and a clear coat is the way to go...you just need to clean the hardware, and a scrub with ...
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| how to darken an oak table | 11/19/2007 |
Q: I am looking for some help. I have a classic pedestal oak table with six chairs. I've had it for ...
A: in order to darken the finish, you'll need to strip it off and then sand the wood to accept a new ...
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| Our kitchen cabinets were stained too bright and too orange!!! | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I need help! We have new kitchen cabinets made of hard maple. We chose a solvent based stain, ...
A: I'm very sorry to hear of your kitchen conundrum..Unfortunately I can't get pictures on this site, ...
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| kitchen cabinets | 11/18/2007 |
Q: I recently installed new kitchen cabinets and I am not happy with the natural maple color-too light. ...
A: it's a shame you don't like your cabinets, and because they are most likely finished in a multipart ...
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| Antique wooden chair seat replacement | 11/16/2007 |
Q: My mom has a set of antique wooden dining room chairs that were originally built with cane bottoms. ...
A: your question makes perfect sense as this is a common problem, and recaning is becoming very ...
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| refinishing rails | 11/15/2007 |
Q: I have a quick question about refinishing some rails I have in my home. The rails are going up the ...
A: If you strip the rails well, you really shouldn't need to do that much sanding. A belt sander is WAY ...
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| Replace veneer on sewing machine cabinet | 11/14/2007 |
Q: I received my g-grandmothers treadle sewing machine with the cabinet. It is in poor condition. The ...
A: the veneer is probably glued on with hide glue, and it is water soluble. An old steam iron is the ...
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| Wood Finishes |
