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 QUESTION: We have just built a new barn and the barn walls and ceiling are 1x6 knotty pine T&G. I want it to look great, and stain evenly. Should I use something like a Cabots clear or a verithane finish? There is a probably 6,000 linear feet of T&G and I don't want to mess it up...and don't really trust my contractors knowledge on the subject. Any help you can provide is greatly appreciated. Do I need to apply any pre-stain (like Bix), some guy I was talking to said that pine doesn't stain evenly and without prestaining would look uneven and blotchy. Help!!!
ANSWER: Hey Will, there are many ways to finish paneling like this, and it may or may not need a conditioner depending on the type and color of the stain.Cabots clear and Varathane are clear...so it's not an issue with being blotchy. The only way to know, and an important step in a project like this, is to do some samples of your finishes to see what you like and how it will look. Have your contractor help you select a few ideas, and different products, and then do some samples on the same material. I would tend towards an oil stain type product that can be applied easily, doesn't have a noticeable gloss, and can be reapplied. The technique used to cover that much area will also be important, also, to make sure you get even coverage and blending.Hope that helps a little, but every situation is different. Post back if need be, and experiment, that will lead you where you need to go. - Greg
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QUESTION: Greg,
Thanks for the input. A quick follow-up: Once the 1x6 knotty pine T&G is up on the walls do I need to wait for any amount of time before putting the Varathane Poly on it (to limit cupping)? Some of the boards when delivered had gotten rain on them and want to make sure I do all I can to keep it from warping and cupping. The contractors have already installed most of it, will letting it air out (while already installed) help anything or is it better to get the Varathane on as soon as possible? Thanks for your insights.
Answer What they do is more important then what you do.....as in they need to let the material acclimate to the environment for several days before installing it, especially if it got wet....just like flooring, it shouldn't be brought in to the area and immediately installed.....I assume it's all blind nailed, on the tongues side only.......have you done a sample as I suggested with the Varathane? to make sure it's as you want it to be, and that finishing it will be successful? I'm not sure I'd pick that product.......make sure it is what you want BEFORE you start in on it......
