AboutGreg Scholl Expertise Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects,Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings of all kinds.
Experience Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Sold, built, serviced, setup Home,Industrial and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools, and offered instruction on use and care as well.I even have some Trade show Demo experience.
Organizations none at this time.
Publications Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how"), local newspapers as well
Education/Credentials Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field.Seminars by Major tool manufacturers, Delta, Powermatic, Performax, Porter Cable, Skil/Bosch to name a few.
Past/Present Clients Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT.(the Antiques capital of CT.) Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.), local Museums and Historical Societies.
Question We have 1950-60's Hallmark mobile home (10x50). The interior is a beautiful solid birch paneling. The finish is light yellow and starting to flake. Would like to clean, but not remove all the finish, or strip the whole place. Do you have any suggestions for cleaning / refinishing products.
Answer Hi Audrey, my guess is that you have a plywood there, not solid wood...and it's probably lacquered. You can clean it with mineral spirits or a wood cleaner like Formby's- http://www.formbys.com/products/buildup_remover.cfm
Your paneling may have a colored lacquer toner coat if the areas that are flaking are noticeably lighter in color, and there's no easy way to repair that without getting into major restoration...if, when wet with the cleaning solvent, all the flaking areas reblend with the finish and disappear, then it could be recoated and rejuvenated with a coat of lacquer.......hope that helps a little- regards- Greg
