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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Questions Answered by Expert Kirk Ryan
| Subject | Date Asked |
| older wood headboard | 9/12/2010 |
| Q: Is it possible to adapt a wood headboard that uses wood rails to be used with a metal frame? A: It can be done, usually it has to be done using "bolt connectors." Someone would have to probably ... | |
| Repair | 9/9/2010 |
| Q: I have an unfinished piece of cherry plywood that I'm going to put a clear finish on, but there are ... A: The easiest thing to do, is to get some wood filler. Try to get something as close to natural cherry ... | |
| water spots on oak dining table | 8/30/2010 |
| Q: This is a light oak finish & am planning to stain it dark. Will staining it dark take care of the ... A: Well, there is a good chance that if the water spot is minor, it may not have penetrated all the way ... | |
| kitchen cabinet doors | 8/13/2010 |
| Q: I recently moved out of a rental. While living there, my daughter attached a self adhesive baby lock ... A: There are many products out there that can help to remove the adhesive. I would explain the ... | |
| Scan ladies dresser; ball bearings falling out of sliders | 7/4/2010 |
| Q: Over the years, the ball bearings have been falling out of the drawer slides making it difficult to ... A: 1. Once the ball bearings start falling out there is no way to fix it. The runner will need to be ... | |
| buying furniture | 6/29/2010 |
| Q: i bought a coffee table that is a nutmeg finish color and the top opens to be like for eating and ... A: From what I can tell, the nutmeg is more of a brownish stain with a warm look. The natural oak will ... | |
| new kitchen cabinet choice | 6/22/2010 |
| Q: We are updating our kitchen. We have been remodeling our home over the years and have always stayed ... A: Interesting situation. I would be open to the new cherry stains that are available to you. There are ... | |
| Damaged Bunk Bed | 5/17/2010 |
| Q: I Recently Bought A Bunk Bed. I Did Not Realize Till A Few Days Later On One Side There Were Many ... A: I was unfamiliar with the pecan finish. But after looking at a few pictures, kind of shocked how ... | |
| furniture peeling | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I have two identical nightstands that are both peeling/bubbling in the same spot on both ... A: There are two possibilities that could be causing this. The first is moisture is somehow getting ... | |
| spots on furniture | 4/15/2010 |
| Q: I have marks on my ash and maple table tops caused by felt tips attached to the bottom of a radio ... A: You could try to use a triple zero steel wool or even softer grade if possible. Also I would ... | |
| Spraying/lacquering old mahogony table, chairs and sideboard | 4/8/2010 |
| Q: I have decided to have my late grandparents old oval shaped table, sideboard and six chairs which ... A: I think the black might be a good idea. Your concern with the white is correct, eventually it might ... | |
| cleaning oak furniture | 3/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a 25 year old bedroom set that needs a good cleaning. The finish is fine,but I don't know ... A: You should be able to find an oil/conditioner that is specific to oak. This will be very good for ... | |
| Beautiful Mahogany Table Needs Veneer Top Refinished | 2/22/2010 |
| Q: I'm absolutely sick about the damage to our beautiful, heavy mahogany table. It's massive, with ... A: You can try getting a furniture oil/conditioner that is specific to Mahogany. Also a very fine, ... | |
| repair tracks and or plastic glider piece | 2/18/2010 |
| Q: the plastic glider piece that is under the dresser drawer is broke so it does not open properly it ... A: You would probably have to hunt down a furniture store that carries those type of plastic glides. I ... | |
| Position of dinner table in relation to the window | 1/29/2010 |
| Q: Our (approximately square) living room has a large window that spans pretty much an entire wall. We ... A: There really isn't a set rule here. Some straight and narrow designers would agree that having it ... | |
| dinning room table jammed | 1/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a dinning room table that has to leaves. I can not get my table open to remove the leaves. ... A: I would recommend having a professional look at it. It could be something causing it to jam up ... | |
| windsor chair | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a windsor chair that's in in the family for over 50 yrs. My dad bought it home one day saying ... A: A picture would help me to confirm that it is an actual windsor chair. The "scandinavian" version of ... | |
| cleaning rock maple tabletop | 1/14/2010 |
| Q: I had a flannel-like pad on my table and when I went to take it off, the top is all fuzzy. What can ... A: Try using a nice soft cloth with a furniture oil/conditioner that is made for the type of wood that ... | |
| butcher block | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: We just purchased a butcher block cart from IKEA made of birch. Should I stain or treat this before ... A: Butcher block is usually natural wood that is not sealed. They sometimes treat it to help it resist ... | |
| teak coffee table repair | 10/20/2009 |
| Q: I think I have a teak laminate coffee table with a small chip on the surface and the underlay is ... A: Well, if you can find a really good repairman, they would probably remove that whole piece of veneer ... | |
| Value of Hekman entertainment ctr. | 9/28/2009 |
| Q: We need to sell above which is about 20 yrs. old. It is a beautiful piece with lovely wood inlays. ... A: I'm not familiar with that piece. But I had to write you back to say, WOW! It looks incredible! It ... | |
| rocking recliner | 9/22/2009 |
| Q: how can i stop the rocking motion on my recliner? Thank you for any help you can give me. ... A: Some recliners have a lever on the side that could lock it into place. But for more simple recliners ... | |
| spot on table | 9/3/2009 |
| Q: I thoughtlessly sat a bottle of rubbing (isopropyl) alcohol on an antique table. It left a white ... A: Try finding a furniture oil that is specifically made for whatever type of wood it is. Try oiling ... | |
| color for kitchen cabinets | 9/2/2009 |
| Q: We just finished stripping our oak cabinets down to the bare wood. I want to do minwax Jacobean ... A: It has been said that darker cabinets can actually have an effect that makes the kitchen look ... | |
| new dining table | 8/25/2009 |
| Q: I bought a new dining room table about 2 years ago and it still has a terrible odor. It makes the ... A: I'm not sure what type of wood the table is made out of, but you can try to buy a conditioner or an ... | |
| Water damage to birch table surface | 8/6/2009 |
| Q: I have a gorgeous Heywood Wakefield dining table made of birch wood. A couple of days ago, the vase ... A: I don't know of anyone in the New York area. But the good news is that it sounds like it is not ... | |
| cedar box | 7/30/2009 |
| Q: I have a small cedar box that i got and there was some sort of adhesive on the top. I took my time ... A: Try using a "triple zero" steel wool. You can also try using the steel wool in conjunction with a ... | |
| stuck wooden drawers + | 7/29/2009 |
| Q: Kirk, Thanks in advance for being available to answer my question. I inherited from my mother ... A: 1) Oiling or conditioning wood is always a good idea to prevent drying/cracking especially with ... | |
| furniture buttons | 7/26/2009 |
| Q: How do you remove the furniture buttons that cover the screws on furniture? A: Sometimes the "plugs" are actually glued in, so reupholster shops are forced to break them out. But ... | |
| Cutting on furniture and preventing damage | 7/14/2009 |
| Q: I am going to cut my TV cabinet down so I can place a new wide screen TV on top. I want to make 4 ... A: Circular saw would be best. Set to not too high above surface of wood. Should cut clean. Sometimes ... | |
| dining chair backs | 7/13/2009 |
| Q: I have six dining room chairs that I am assisting in reupholstering. The seat cushion is no problem ... A: It is recommended to remove the existing fabric when reupholstering. Does the chair back have ... | |
| cabinet, counter and wall colors | 7/10/2009 |
| Q: Hope to explore your thoughts. I just has a new counter installed (coral roca laminate by ... A: I like the idea of going with a light beige, but I also think a darker beige or khaki may be good ... | |
| Is Linseed Oil safe on veneered wood? | 7/8/2009 |
| Q: I have an old bed frame that is veneer on top of solid wood (not sure what type of wood). I would ... A: Well tung oil is mainly used by professionals who are refinishing. Linseed oil is good, but not the ... | |
| repair wood table fininsh | 6/18/2009 |
| Q: There was scented oil/ liquid potpourri from a warmer spilled on my Wood Dining Table. The stuff eat ... A: I'm afraid the finish has been ruined pretty badly and the table would have to be refinished to make ... | |
| Dresser drawers | 6/17/2009 |
| Q: Kirk, I recently moved and I think my 3year old pottery barn dresser got warped somehow in the ... A: Since you live in the Boston area I recommend you contact my repairman. He can come right out to ... | |
| Stripping/Staining Cabinets | 6/16/2009 |
| Q: We have light wood cabinets, with a shiny stain on them I want to strip them and make them a darker ... A: Typically the cabinets would have to be sanded back to their natural wood surface. Then you can ... | |
| Fixing office chair | 6/9/2009 |
| Q: I have a typical office chair that has an adjustable seat for up/down. It also tilts and has a tilt ... A: I had the same problem with my chair at home. The first thing you want to check is the tension on ... | |
| Is it wood? | 6/2/2009 |
| Q: The back of the piece of furniture I just bought has what I believe to be press board. It is dark ... A: I know that some companies started cutting back on using real veneers for the "back panels" on ... | |
| Do Not Remove Label | 5/29/2009 |
| Q: While shopping for a new sofa recently I was in a discount furniture store in Georgia and noticed ... A: You know, I noticed that myself recently while I was shopping in small shops in NC and VA. They had ... | |
| enamel table top | 5/27/2009 |
| Q: I just rescued a beautiful old enamel top kitchen table. I have stripped the beautiful wooden base ... A: I would recommend using a "triple zero" steel wool and try to smooth out the top the best you can. ... | |
| Refinish Oak tabletop | 5/19/2009 |
| Q: My husband sanded our oak table using three different grits as per instructions, he then wet the ... A: Why oh why did he wet the table? You should have cleaned the table before anything else with a ... | |
| kitchen cabinets | 5/3/2009 |
| Q: I am getting new kitchen cabinets installed. I have chosen birch wood with nutmeg stain. It is open ... A: Trying to match is tough and it may come out to be a near miss. I think a contrast may be better ... | |
| Bubbled paper veneer | 4/21/2009 |
| Q: I got a headboard which I knew was Sauder type. It was raining when we picked it up, and I didn't ... A: You may not be able to save this one. When you get bubbles like that on solid wood its still worth ... | |
| Table leaf | 4/12/2009 |
| Q: . How are you? I have a round pedestal base table. It has two leafs. One of the leafs will not close ... A: Well I would try adjusting the slide mechanisms that bring the table together with the leafs. You ... | |
| furniture | 3/29/2009 |
| Q: I just bought a mahogany dinning table and a couple of drops of the scented oil got on my table now ... A: I have heard of this happening before. Unfortunately I think that the oil does permanent damage. If ... | |
| Superficial scratch marks on top of bedroom dresser | 3/26/2009 |
| Q: I was told that Bees Wax would work to remove the above. However, it didn't remove it entirely, ... A: I'm not sure what type of wood you have, but there should be an oil that they make for it. Usually ... | |
| water stain on wood | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: I have a newer(2 yr old) dresser - appears to be natural light oak. Someone left a water bottle on ... A: Try a conditioning furniture oil specially made for oak. Also get yourself some "triple zero" steel ... | |
| unusual table | 3/25/2009 |
| Q: i was recently given a beautiful coffee table.the person who gave it to me knew nothing about it.i ... A: If I'm correct than the table has a good amount of sealer on it, which makes it look like an almost ... | |
| unusual table | 3/24/2009 |
| Q: i was recently given a beautiful coffee table.the person who gave it to me knew nothing about it.i ... A: I have seen these tables at the high point market in NC. This is a market where all the big ... | |
| Dresser drawers stuck | 3/17/2009 |
| Q: I recently moved into a new condo where my bedroom faces a creek. When I moved in, I placed the ... A: Soap? I have never heard that before. I would try to use "Butchers Wax" or something like it. This ... | |
| dresser drawer guides | 3/11/2009 |
| Q: I have a dresser my mom bought, probably in the 1960-70's from Sears, there is no identification as ... A: Sounds familiar to me, but also sounds like an old style runner. I would try schockmetal.com. They ... | |
| bed frame | 3/2/2009 |
| Q: I got a great deal on a sleigh bed. But, it is missing the bed frame and side boards. What do you ... A: We have a simple sleigh bed here at my store that is just made of a headboard, a foot board, and 2 ... | |
| noisy bed | 2/26/2009 |
| Q: I recently purchased a new bedroom set and the bed makes so much noise it is keeping up at night. It ... A: You will have to really zone in on where the sounds are coming from. They could be caused by ... | |
| Bramin Scandinavian Furniture Drawer Slides | 2/1/2009 |
| Q: I bought a Bramin teak bedroom furniture set in 1984 at Form in Teak in Burlington, MA. It has been ... A: My grandfather is the owner of Form In Teak. :-) I have heard about Bramin many times. They are ... | |
| Hinges on MDF Cabinet | 1/30/2009 |
| Q: The kitchen cabinet is made of MDF with a white veneer over top. One of the hinges has broken off - ... A: The best way to repair this is as follows. The area of effect (damaged area) should be drilled out ... | |
| Leather repair | 1/15/2009 |
| Q: Kirk! Just discovered a 1/2in v-shaped cut in my leather sofa (have 2 kids,but noone owned up to ... A: Unbelievable! Tell them you have santa on speed dial, and santa always knows who really did what. ... | |
| hardwoods with veneers | 1/11/2009 |
| Q: We recently bought a lovely bedroom set from The Roomstore. It felt like solid wood in the store, ... A: Veneer is becoming more and more common these days. Its a thin layer of real wood that is layered ... | |
| too much oil? | 12/22/2008 |
| Q: Kirk: I have a heavy teak plank table. I put teak oil on it yesterday, and have been attempting ... A: The instructions say let soak for a day !!!? To me it seems crazy because I tell people to let ... | |
| non toxic stain not covering filler or glue spots | 12/21/2008 |
| Q: My dad built a beautiful crib for me and my husband was to stain it. Because I am 8 months pregnant ... A: This is a tough situation. When I am staining a natural wood, I always make sure there is no glue ... | |
| dresser stain | 12/19/2008 |
| Q: During our recent ice storm I used an old fashion oil lamp and set it on a new Vaughan-Bassett ... A: Sorry to hear your in the dog house, I will get you out. :-) Ok, I want you to go to a hardware ... | |
| Bedroom set | 12/16/2008 |
| Q: My 95 year old aunt just passed and she gave her home to me. I was cleaning her bedroom and was ... A: I can give you an idea of what it would cost new... but not familiar with the old. Night Stand ... | |
| Middle Kitchen Table | 12/10/2008 |
| Q: I have a lovely middle island with a wood finish in my kitchen - its only two years old and my ... A: Sounds like the island probably has a lacquer sealer on it. So what your seeing is the oil drying in ... | |
| Cleaning mahogany dining table | 11/29/2008 |
| Q: My housekeeper used Endust to clean our mahogany inlay bordered table and now it has dull waxy ... A: You could try some very fine steel wool. You can get it at a local hardware store. I would use ... | |
| refinishing melamine cabinets | 10/25/2008 |
| Q: paint, and add hardware to my melamine cabinets. My house has a lot of great old character, so i ... A: I don't know much about mouldings. But I do know that for best results you will want to sand off any ... | |
| Buffing out surface scuffs | 10/24/2008 |
| Q: The expert can't answer your question. Your Question was: I recently purchased a floor model table ... A: I would try to get some furniture oil or conditioner. See if applying an oil specifically for maple ... | |
| water on oak table | 10/19/2008 |
| Q: how do I get a water stain off my oak dining table?i A: It usually depends on how bad the water damage is. If the stain is a white color, this means it ... | |
| 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: 3-4 months isn't too bad. But I highly recommend oiling the wood before storage. If the wood has a ... | |
| kitchen cabinets | 10/13/2008 |
| Q: I would like to know what materials can be used instead of wood to replace old metal kitchen ... A: A lot of people are using "melamine" cabinets these days. Melamine is a fake wood look. So basically ... | |
| dresser drawer repair | 10/2/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to find a plastic stop for a drawer that screws on the back of the dresser drawer and ... A: Well, if you lived in the Boston area, I'd say "bring one in!" But in any case, I would try to get a ... | |
| dresser drawer glides | 9/28/2008 |
| Q: We have a 1950's dresser which does not have drawer glides, and the drawers are difficult to open ... A: Well, you could get your own runners and try installing them. To purchase runners online try ... | |
| 1979 China Cabinet | 9/22/2008 |
| Q: I just purchased a china cabinet off eBay. It is painted white, but has some chipping paint (which ... A: Yes, tricky wording that she used. I believe if she bought it new in 1979 it actually may have been ... | |
| Lacquer repair | 9/14/2008 |
| Q: I recently moved and the pople that helped me move used clear packing tape to tape a piece of ... A: It can be repaired pretty easily if it was just the lacquer that came up. I hope none of the stain ... | |
| ugly bedroom furniture | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: My daughter's boyfriend bought a hideously ugly bedroom set from EBay that looks to be right out of ... A: Well I can understand its a bit shocking because there isn't much like that out there anymore, it ... | |
| My grandmother's dining room set. | 9/9/2008 |
| Q: I have the dining room set my grandmother had made in Philadelphia around 1925. Two end arm chairs, ... A: They sell furniture oils specifically made for certain wood types. So you could try to find ... | |
| My grandmother's dining room set. | 9/8/2008 |
| Q: I have the dining room set my grandmother had made in Philadelphia around 1925. Two end arm chairs, ... A: Solid Mahogany from 1925! Wow! That's good stuff. Probably impossible to find anything like that ... | |
| Water stained oak furniture | 8/15/2008 |
| Q: We recently had a leak. We put down pots and pans to gather the water. Once it was repaired, we ... A: You can try a furniture oil specially made for oak wood. The oil may help to pull out any water or ... | |
| 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 an oil ... A: I wanted to be careful about how I answered this, so I did quite a bit of research first. I have ... | |
| Dansk bedroom set | 8/11/2008 |
| Q: Recently I found a bedroom set at a consignment store marked Dansk. After much Internet time I found ... A: Yes, Dansk furniture is more well known as Dansk Mobler. I own a Scandinavian Furniture store, we ... | |
| chair repair | 8/10/2008 |
| Q: where can i find a lift handle to raise my recliner. the handle broke in half. A: I wonder if you can go back to the store where you bought the chair? Maybe they can contact the ... | |
| Removing Ink on Leather Sofa | 8/9/2008 |
| Q: I recently ordered a leather sectional and there is a little black spot on it that looks like it ... A: There are two products you can try. The first one is just a normal leather cleaner/conditioner. ... | |
| black stain on oak dresser | 8/8/2008 |
| Q: My daughter left a wet cloth on our dresser w/out me being aware of it and when I found it and ... A: You can try oiling it. You need to find a furniture oil that is made for the specific type of wood ... | |
| wood table | 8/5/2008 |
| Q: Like a dummy, I laid a wet shirt on our wood table to dry - when I woke up this morning, the shape ... A: No no, your not a dummy. This is a common mistake that many, many people make. Luckily you seem to ... | |
| Bassett Dresser Problem...HELP! | 7/8/2008 |
| Q: We have a ~10 year old Bassett Dresser and a scented oil diffuser bottle just spilled on the ... A: Sorry, but it looks like you will need to contact a professional to have that top refinished. They ... | |
| Chair corner braces | 6/28/2008 |
| Q: I'm building some dining room chairs for myself. The references I've found talk about screwing in ... A: 1.) Yes adding wood glue is always a good idea, most of the chairs I have at my store are glued ... | |
| question regarding repuholstering chair - Can't seem to find screws!!? | 6/25/2008 |
| Q: I bought these nice antique-ish chairs that I wanted to reupholster. But upon inspecting it ... A: Can you email me pictures of the chair? Especially the underneath part. A few pictures of the bottom ... | |
| furniture in brutal cold | 6/7/2008 |
| Q: We have a summer home in Maine where the temps can go below zero degrees. Last winter we tried to ... A: In the dry air of winter, furniture usually dries out and gets dry marks or even worse can get ... | |
| Stain/ finished cabinets worn | 6/3/2008 |
| Q: We have a new home (2 years old) with cherry finished cabinets. On all the cabinets that get used- ... A: I think if you have the time, it would be worth it to start all over. The problem is your going to ... | |
| how too | 6/2/2008 |
| Q: Ryan: I have a simple question but the problem has been very frustrating. My husband was shaking an ... A: Most people will tell you that you have to bleach it and then refinish the wood. I would try two ... | |
| table | 5/28/2008 |
| Q: here's my problem. My wife put a plug in air freshener on our nice kitchen table. It leaked and we ... A: I would recommend trying "triple zero steel wool" which you can get at a hardware store. See if you ... | |
| removing stain from table | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I knocked over a bottle of red wine at the start of a dinner party & could not remove cloth etc to ... A: It depends on what kinds of table it is. I'm going to assume its exposed wood. If so, I would try to ... | |
| marble table | 5/26/2008 |
| Q: I have a beautiful black marble table and I'd like to know if there is any special oil or wax to ... A: The only thing I found was to use a mild detergent solution which is basically dish soap. Also you ... | |
| oak roll top desk | 5/9/2008 |
| Q: I have and antique oak roll top desk. I cannot get the roll top to open. My question is how do I get ... A: It depends on what type of roll top desk it is. The danish roll top desks tend to use "tambor" wood ... | |
| stripped screwhead | 5/3/2008 |
| Q: I am trying to replace a screendoor handle. However, the old handle has 2 screws (Phillips) that ... A: Ok, option #1 - if you try a Canadian screwdriver (square head) it may be able to still grab ... | |
| Chair Repair | 4/30/2008 |
| Q: I have two old chairs that need their seats repaired. Over time both wooden seats have split along ... A: If you could email me pictures that would help. I need to determine if it is solid wood or not. ... | |
| protective finish on wood furniture | 4/24/2008 |
| Q: We have a small wooden table (from Target)with some kind of finish on it, don't know what it is, ... A: Poly is really good and can be used to add extra protection. There may be some kind of sealer on ... | |
| 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: Great question. There are 2 good ways to remove odors from furniture. The first method is a nice ... | |
| Pickled oak table, chairs and hutch | 4/8/2008 |
| Q: I am wanting to "modernize" our pickled oak table chairs and hutch by staining a black....have never ... A: The first thing you have to do is sanding. You have to sand off the current stain/color that is on ... | |
| outdoor kitchens | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: last year I built an outdoor kitchen with cabinets I had. I painted them inside and out with outdoor ... A: I wonder what area you live in? How bad are your winters? I am in New England, and we get some bad ... | |
| leather tabletop | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: We are sorry, but Eileen Cronk wasn't able to answer yourHi there, I have a round leather topped ... A: If its just leather damage you may be able to have someone come out and fix the leather. In my time, ... | |
| new leather chair | 4/7/2008 |
| Q: I bought a new leather chair. When I picked it up, The armrest looked crushed. The manager said ... A: If done right, that may be a good idea. I have seen it done well. Usually they steam or iron to try ... | |
| removing adhesive from wood cabinet | 4/6/2008 |
| Q: Several years ago I attached a spice holder to the interior of my kitchen cabinet door, using the ... A: Start with a razor blade or knife and get most of it off as you can without hurting you or the ... | |
| Shelf Removal | 3/21/2008 |
| Q: I have an Ethan Allen Armoire. It is a two piece that uses alem screws to hold the top to the ... A: Allen wrenches,... also known as Alum wrenches. You should be able to get a smaller one at a ... | |
| Removing Cigarette smell from wood furniture | 3/20/2008 |
| Q: Any suggestions on getting cigarette smoke smell out of wood furniture? The things I've tried are ... A: This is one of my favorite questions so far. I have lived with smokers in the past, and I hated it! ... | |
| Wobbly Round Pedestal Kitchen Table | 3/19/2008 |
| Q: We purchased a round wood table 4 years ago with a big pedestal underneath. It was solid, no problem ... A: There are two things that can cause this. 1.) The biggest thing is the table being level. Maybe in ... | |
| Cabinet Backing | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I want to add to an existing wall unit but cannot find the backing material used on the wall unit. ... A: Your best bet would be to try a furniture store. Here at my store(boston, MA) I have many back ... | |
| dodgy bed frame | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought a bed frame from an independent local business, which required a certain amount of ... A: A bushing is something that is set into the wood that a bolt would connect to. It would be metal and ... | |
| dodgy bed frame | 3/17/2008 |
| Q: I recently bought a bed frame from an independent local business, which required a certain amount of ... A: Sorry to hear of your trouble, hopefully I can help. Well I can be honest and say that not a ... | |
| Cherry Wood | 3/16/2008 |
| Q: Our kitchen, which is about 4 years old, has a lot of cherry cabinets. When we put them in, we did ... A: Natural wood changes with sun light and air, stains typically do not. If it is a very light stain, ... | |
| Splits and cracks in oak desk | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: I recently acquired an old oak desk which had been sat in a shed for quite some time. Moved it ... A: If it is a solid wood desk, it may be tricky. Usually with solid wood, cracks are like glass cracks. ... | |
| Can I keep my woodwork..... | 3/15/2008 |
| Q: ..We just purchased a home built in 1948 It has charm and character...I have a honey oak shiney ... A: In my opinion if the woodwork in the house is all a nice warm color, then yes, darker wood furniture ... | |
| nail guns | 3/3/2008 |
| Q: For furniture building what gauge nail gun do I need? Im considering a 16 gauge or 18 gauge nail ... A: I have never used a nail gun when building furniture. I know it sounds old school, but we have ... | |
| kitchen doors | 3/2/2008 |
| Q: I can't make up my mind whether to go with white painted maple doors or white painted MDF doors. ... A: A lot of people are making the switch to MDF. Its a big change in the furniture world. People are ... | |
| Staining a Crib | 2/26/2008 |
| Q: I recently got a crib from a buddy of mine and it's painted white. I was thinking of stripping it ... A: Well I have a power sander here with different settings, and just to make sure I don't go to crazy, ... | |
| drawer slide for dresser | 2/24/2008 |
| Q: I have a "Florida" brand dresser that has a broken drawer slide. They are center-mounted, ... A: Have you tried schockmetal.com? That is the source where I get all of my replacement runners from. ... | |
| Staining a Crib | 2/21/2008 |
| Q: I recently got a crib from a buddy of mine and it's painted white. I was thinking of stripping it ... A: I would try using a light power sander at first to really make a dent as far as sanding goes. It ... | |
| Wood floor gaps | 2/17/2008 |
| Q: Recently I have noticed gaps developing between some of our wood floor slats. What options do I have ... A: I am no expert at wood floors. But I went to homedepot.com/tv and they had a good answer there. They ... | |
| furniture | 2/11/2008 |
| Q: I have wood floors so to protect my floors i bought the felt pads for the sofas so it won't damage ... A: Sounds like the floors are really smooth and nice too! Instead of felt to protect the floors I would ... | |
| squeaks | 2/5/2008 |
| Q: i have a new lazy boy recliner and it has a wood on wood squeak that i would like a remedy for. th e ... A: If you can locate the area where the squeaking is coming from, I would suggest trying some ... | |
| stain | 2/4/2008 |
| Q: We have a grandfather clock that is a light oak color. We have redecorated and now the other ... A: With re-staining and refinishing furniture its a lot like cars. The best paint job is going to ... | |
| fix leather cushion on loveseat | 2/2/2008 |
| Q: I have a leather loveseat that has attached cushions and one of the cushions, the stuffing is pushed ... A: If you are skilled in the way of sewing/stitching I would say you could give it a try. But I would ... | |
| Dining room table | 1/31/2008 |
| Q: The sliding mechanism for table expansion on our 30 year old teak dining room table no longer works. ... A: Oh you are lucky my friend. Since your in CT and I'm just up in Boston MA. I have someone for you. ... | |
| COUCH IS SAGGING | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I HAVE A COUCH THAT I ABSOLUTELY LOVE BUT I'VE NOTICED SOME SAGGING. WAS WONDERING WHAT WOULD CAUSE ... A: I need more details. Is it the cushions that are sagging? When you sit down you sink in too deep? ... | |
| covering an old stanford desk with formica laminate??? | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I just bought an old stanford heavy duty solid wood desk. It is 45" wide by 85" in length. Would ... A: Is it Nicole or Nicholas? :-) Just noticed the 2 names. Yea I just don't see the point of buying ... | |
| scratch in wood dresser | 1/28/2008 |
| Q: I have just put a couple of scratches in an old dark walnut stained dresser. Can I repair this ... A: If the scratches are thin and light, I would suggest using "triple zero" steel wool to smooth down ... | |
| covering an old stanford desk with formica laminate??? | 1/27/2008 |
| Q: I just bought an old stanford heavy duty solid wood desk. It is 45" wide by 85" in length. Would ... A: It is possible to do. You would have to find someone who knows how to do it. I must also warn you, ... | |
| leather swivel rocker recliner | 1/26/2008 |
| Q: My leather swivel rocker recliner has trouble staying stationary it wont stop swiveling It turns ... A: If you look under the recliner(under the base) you may notice some sort of mechanism that allows the ... | |
| dining room table | 1/8/2008 |
| Q: I have a dining room table that was given to me by a family member. The table looks old. It has a ... A: There are still tables like that being made, so I would guess its not too old. If the table is ... | |
Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks
Answers by Expert:
Kirk Ryan
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
I can answer many questions about furniture, buying, selling, repairing, and many tricks I have learned over the years. I can also give advice on decorating, color schemes, room designs and layouts.
Experience
My family owns a Scandinavian furniture store here in Massachusetts, I have been working with furniture for 10 years.
Education/Credentials
I went to Johnson and Wales University for business and graduated high school.
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