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,wood species recognition,usage,etc.
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 This is the second time I need to refinish my front exterior wood door. It seems that the polyurethane that I have been using is not holding up to the afternoon sun or the elements. What is the best product that I can apply to the door so it will last longer than a couple of years. Also, should I be using a varnish and spraying it on. Your insights would be greatly appreciated.
tanner
Answer Hey Tanner, this is always a loaded question...what type of wood is the door, and what type of poly did you use. There are different grades of exterior varnishes available, but any wood finish exposed to the elements, will eventually fail. I like using a brush when applying an exterior varnish or Poly, as it helps to push the finish into the wood pores, making the most contact with the wood.It's also imperative to finish the end grain on the bottom and top of the door with 3 coats, and that's really only possible by removing the door.Now that the old finish has failed, it's imperative to strip it off completely, and to sand and re-prep the wood to take a new finish, and to do that right is a big job, especially if it's blackened, gray, or discolored. You can also contemplate a penetrating finish, which are different than varnishes and poly, as they don't sit "on" the wood, but penetrate and harden from within the wood. Therefore they don't peel, flake, and chip.....but the door would really need to be chemically stripped well, and sanded, to use one of these now.Post back- regards- Greg
