| Subject | Date Asked |
|
| Weathered finish for oak furniture | 11/20/2009 |
Q: I would like to know how to replicate the look of the oak bookcases and casement cabinets displayed ...
A: This is a nice look, certainly accomplished with some type of multi step process that even a Pro ...
|
| warped chestnut dining table | 11/19/2009 |
Q: As I read over your answer, I'm wondering if maybe I didn't give enough information. The table top ...
A: To deal with a warp over a surface requires some major woodworking knowledge, ability to evaluate, ...
|
| Swollen window | 11/18/2009 |
Q: I have a wooden window that wont close. Think the window has swollen with all the rain (typical ...
A: yes, of course it's ok to plane the window...and it's likely that's the only way to make it fit, but ...
|
| Stain over 30 year old stained beams | 11/18/2009 |
Q: I have rough cut beams in the ceiling of the living room. They are about 30 years old and were ...
A: Not sure why asking another Painter in would be "impossible"...it would be smart to have a Pro eye ...
|
| Weathered finish for oak furniture | 11/18/2009 |
Q: I would like to know how to replicate the look of the oak bookcases and casement cabinets displayed ...
A: there is a definite technique to getting a finish like these...and it's a closely guarded secret by ...
|
| refinishing ash front door | 11/17/2009 |
Q: We need to touch up our Ash front door that has lost some of its finish over time although it is ...
A: it's "scuff", and it will kind of depend on how bad the weathering is on the door. Since it's Ash, ...
|
| finishing 60 year old fir wood | 11/17/2009 |
Q: I have a 60 year old piece of fir wood that I want to finish into a bar top. I have cut it and ...
A: the holes and knots can be filled with a stainable wood filler, unless they're really deep and big, ...
|
| refinishing ash front door | 11/16/2009 |
Q: We need to touch up our Ash front door that has lost some of its finish over time although it is ...
A: if the bulk of the finish is intact, not badly flaking, peeling, etc., you could clean the finish, ...
|
| a white-ish color that shows up when putting on final coats of satin | 11/16/2009 |
Q: I am SO stumped. I am refinishing antique doors for our new house. They are sanded & stained to ...
A: if you used Minwax stain over ANY traces of old finish you will have issues with proper drying of ...
|
| Stair finishing with stain & paint | 11/14/2009 |
Q: We have just gotten new stairs, and have just stained the treads. We want to paint the risers ...
A: I wouldn't poly over the paint. Oil based polyurethane will have an amber/yellowish cast that will ...
|
| Kitchen cabinet veneer | 11/13/2009 |
Q: What is the best way to measure and cut 1/8 inch thick finished wood veneer panels to fit the ...
A: Hey Jeff, a tablesaw is the best tool for this, with the right blade....as far as measuring that ...
|
| Mirror-like Finish with Danish Oil? | 11/13/2009 |
Q: I recently bought a half-finished rifle-stock which I wanted to finish myself. The stock material is ...
A: you won't be able to get a mirror like finish with a Danish oil product. Penetrating oil finishes ...
|
| Warped chestnut dining table | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I have an antique chestnut table which we'd like to repair - the table top has warped and pulled ...
A: trying to straighten this type of top is major, advanced woodworking. It likely can't be ...
|
| Stain over 30 year old stained beams | 11/11/2009 |
Q: I have rough cut beams in the ceiling of the living room. They are about 30 years old and were ...
A: of course you can, but you need to experiment a bit to get the right product. It's likely that, if ...
|
| Staining | 11/10/2009 |
Q: I was given a set of bedroom furniture and I stained over top of the original finish, because ...
A: as you've found out, you can't stain over an existing finish....you'll have to remove the stain with ...
|
| preserving pine boards | 11/10/2009 |
Q: Our builder used pine construction boards for exposed beams in our living room. They allegedly had a ...
A: Minwax Light really has no color, but they shouldn't really be turning gray.....you could apply a ...
|
| teak wood finishing | 11/10/2009 |
Q: Six months ago I built some teak wood cabinets my pool area, the finish is holding up nicely except ...
A: It's probably moisture that's causing the white streaks, more than sun...if you built up too thick a ...
|
| guitar staining | 11/9/2009 |
Q: my son is building a guitar with a mahogany body. want to stain with oil based stain, can we paint ...
A: I wouldn't use acrylics under lacquer if that's what you're using for the clear...is this an ...
|
| Installing European (concealed) hinges | 11/9/2009 |
Q: I have 16mm chipboard that I am trying to install European (concealed hinges) They require a 35mm ...
A: Hey Bill, typically, most of those hinges are designed for 19mm (3/4") doors, and that would be the ...
|
| Trouble applying Marine Spar Varnish | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I have been applying many coats of varnish to different types of wood. I sand between coats and use ...
A: I would suspect your tack cloth, especially if it's leaving residue on your hands...try eliminating ...
|
| Trouble applying Marine Spar Varnish | 11/8/2009 |
Q: I have been applying many coats of varnish to different types of wood. I sand between coats and use ...
A: But did you start with a clean bare surface, what I'm trying to get at is if there was any old ...
|
| stripping and refinishing wormy chestnut | 11/7/2009 |
Q: I have been given a small amount of wormy chestnut. Sadly, this beautiful wood was "pickled" or ...
A: it will depend on how deep the pickling has gone into the grain, is the back of the boards pickled ...
|
| Finish on dining table | 11/7/2009 |
Q: Table age is 85 years, very good quality. Finish is french polish, last renewed about 15 years ago. ...
A: I think you're on the right track, I am Varnishing a dining table right now in the shop, so your ...
|
| paint piano | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I want to know if I can use minwax polyshades to stain it a mahogany color. Do I need to sand it? ...
A: Is this the original finish do you think? And what's your skill level, as piano refinishing really ...
|
| Table saw problem? | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I'm a bit new at this type of tool so may be missing something obvious. I needed to miter ...
A: Somethings bent somewhere, but it may not be adjustable.....I've seen these saws tumble before, and ...
|
| paint piano | 11/5/2009 |
Q: I want to know if I can use minwax polyshades to stain it a mahogany color. Do I need to sand it? ...
A: I wouldn't suggest using Polyshades over an existing finish, unless you're sure what that finish ...
|
| Staining Oak Veneer Plywood | 11/3/2009 |
Q: On a recent project for a window bench seat, I unfortunately sanded through the oak veneer trying to ...
A: Hey Tim, you've probably sanded into the glue layer, and it will not take the stain, no matter what ...
|
| Worm holes | 11/3/2009 |
Q: I have an antique French armchair (Voltaire) c. 1875. I'm not sure what wood it's made of but it's ...
A: the soft wood can be reinforced with a product like Minwax's Wood Hardener, a clear liquid that ...
|
| Warped Table Leg | 11/2/2009 |
Q: I hope you can help. I have an older 3-legged table made of Chestnut. It appears to have been ...
A: I'm afraid there really isn't anything you can do with a warp that bad. A good furniture maker or ...
|
| Woodworking power tool question... | 10/28/2009 |
Q: Mr. Scholl, This is probably a real simple, basic question...but what's the difference between a ...
A: A planer usually refers to a thickness planer where one thicknesses stock with multiple passes ...
|
| Why is Oil Varnish being changed to sythetic Varnish? | 10/28/2009 |
Q: Why is Oil Varnish being changed to synthetic Varnish? Problem I am having: I am an artesian and ...
A: I think you need to broaden your horizons as far as your sources go. Places like Lowes, Homedepot, ...
|
| Why is Oil Varnish being changed to sythetic Varnish? | 10/27/2009 |
Q: Why is Oil Varnish being changed to synthetic Varnish? Problem I am having: I am an artesian and ...
A: Spar varnish is typically designed for exterior use and is not a good choice for finishing ...
|
| Table saw problem? | 10/27/2009 |
Q: I'm a bit new at this type of tool so may be missing something obvious. I needed to miter ...
A: No problem Kevin, if you have a digital camera and can send me a pic of the blade contacting the ...
|
| stain not drying | 10/26/2009 |
Q: a friend applyed min-wax oil base stain over existing stained picture frame and it wont dry (been 2 ...
A: Hey Dick, Minwax cannot be used over an existing finish...it will not dry properly if at all. If she ...
|
| Table saw problem? | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I'm a bit new at this type of tool so may be missing something obvious. I needed to miter ...
A: on a full sized table saw the blade arbor is mounted to the table with a trunion system attached ...
|
| Laminating panels using Gorilla glue | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I am proposing laminating an "over radiator" shelf the dimensions of which are 52in.x 5in. My plan ...
A: what's the concern over that open time? It should be fairly easy and straight forward to apply the ...
|
| Stain of hardwood floors | 10/25/2009 |
Q: I bought a house that was built in 1945. I LOVE THE HOUSE. The person who had it before me put ...
A: did you wipe off each coat thoroughly? It sounds like you didn't and this stuff will never dry. You ...
|
| Old Oak Door for Restaurant | 10/23/2009 |
Q: Greg, I have a 100 year old 2 1/8 inch thick oak door that I would like to refinish for the ...
A: Hey Bill, 1. A good paste type Varnish remover is the best way to strip the door. Use a Methylene ...
|
| floor refinishing | 10/21/2009 |
Q: I put Minwax oilbased stain on my oak floor and after 24 hrs it is still tacky. I did not take off ...
A: you can only use Minwax stain on bare wood, meaning NO traces of old finish. This means the floors ...
|
| Blotchy finish with Danish oil on table top | 10/19/2009 |
Q: Regarding our (nearly new) oiled oak table. I applied a very light coat of olive oil to the table ...
A: It takes many hours for a Danish oil to dry (12-24).I would try washing the top off with mineral ...
|
| router table as jointer | 10/18/2009 |
Q: guess iam not as good as these woodworkers on tv who do it right the 1st time---when ever i set up ...
A: Ahh, I get it now...yeah, I think you need to readjust the outboard fence to the gap you're getting, ...
|
| Blotchy finish with Danish oil on table top | 10/18/2009 |
Q: Regarding our (nearly new) oiled oak table. I applied a very light coat of olive oil to the table ...
A: ....did the Danish oil dry? When applying a drying oil like that you shouldn't leave it on that ...
|
| taper cut on jointer | 10/16/2009 |
Q: when ever i a run a 3/4" board on edge(3/4" side on bed) a few times across the cutting head i end ...
A: Hey Dick, it's gotta be one or the other...or a combination. Are you using a magnetic knife jig to ...
|
| strength of ply | 10/13/2009 |
Q: Dan
A: Hey Dan, the strength lies in the number of ply's more than the face veneer....Birch and Beech are ...
|
| oak table finish | 10/9/2009 |
Q: I have an old oak table with many dings and gouges that I want to retain. The problem is that they ...
A: what is the finish on the table? Typically you'll have to deal with that as well if you want to go ...
|
| Dirty Cedar | 10/8/2009 |
Q: I have recently acquired an old cedar chest. I'm assuming about 92 years old. The chest is all ...
A: is this a commercially made chest? You can try some mineral spirits and 0000 steel wool, but what ...
|
| Color changes in pine paneling | 10/8/2009 |
Q: We have tongue-and-groove pine paneling throughout our living room which we love. We recently moved ...
A: unfortunately what you're seeing is oxidation and color change from UV light, as you surmised, and ...
|
| refinishing my front exterior wood door | 10/7/2009 |
Q: This is the second time I need to refinish my front exterior wood door. It seems that the ...
A: Hey Tanner, this is always a loaded question...what type of wood is the door, and what type of poly ...
|
| 43 year old slab of wood | 10/7/2009 |
Q: I have a slab of cedar approx 4 ft wide 7 ft long and 4 inches thick that my father cut about 43 ...
A: that's a serious chunk of wood...I would steer you towards a modified Tung oil product called ...
|
| moisture content readers | 10/5/2009 |
Q: please advise what is the best & differences between using a prong/needle & flat /surface moisture ...
A: Hey Gary, I can't tell you which brand meter is better, and you'll find the non pin, radio frequency ...
|
| finishing an exterior door | 9/29/2009 |
Q: I had my 65 year old entry door chemically stripped of paint down to what appears to be bare wood. ...
A: It does look like Fir or maybe Hemlock, both Pines....so it might exhibit an orangish cast when ...
|
| varnish remover | 9/29/2009 |
Q: Ho, I am stripping oak wood trim in an old home. I have taken off layers of paint and now am using ...
A: Oak is a tough one when it comes to paint residue. You could find a really fine Brass brush, ...
|
| Splitting wood table top | 9/28/2009 |
Q: I have been working for this client for years. They have a outstanding, and I mean outstanding ...
A: Funny, but this top looks like a veneer to me, and that would conceivably be on a plywood ...
|
| deck staining | 9/28/2009 |
Q: Ihave been staining a deck,and having a problem with a color difference between deck and ...
A: you definitely need to work across the deck board by board to keep lap marks at bay, and the newer ...
|
| finishing an exterior door | 9/27/2009 |
Q: I had my 65 year old entry door chemically stripped of paint down to what appears to be bare wood. ...
A: Hey Jay, If it isn't exposed to weather or direct sun, a good interior stain would probably suffice, ...
|
| Refinshing an Oak table | 9/27/2009 |
Q: the table has been prepped and stained. it's not an heirloom piece. can i just apply a clear beeswax ...
A: Hey Rob, neither of those will give you much protection, but are acceptable finishes...but if you ...
|
| Cherrywood dining table | 9/26/2009 |
Q: The cherrywood dining room table I wrote about is not an antique. It is about 5 years old. It has a ...
A: Hmmmm...not too sure what's going on there, if you look underneath the top, is the bottom coated ...
|
| tacky surface | 9/26/2009 |
Q: I have just put a coat of oil base stain over an existing although clean surface. It is not drying. ...
A: yes, I would wipe off the stain well with a cloth saturated in Mineral spirits, drying as you go. ...
|
| Sanding/finishing butcher block countertop | 9/25/2009 |
Q: My builder sent my 30 yr old butcher block top to a company that sanded it by machine. I have ...
A: Waterlox and urethanes are food safe finishes, even though they are solvent based, once fully cured ...
|
| Sanding/finishing butcher block countertop | 9/25/2009 |
Q: My builder sent my 30 yr old butcher block top to a company that sanded it by machine. I have ...
A: a wide belt sander like this could be using a fairly aggressive grit to sand something like this, ...
|
| Splitting wood table top | 9/24/2009 |
Q: I have been working for this client for years. They have a outstanding, and I mean outstanding ...
A: I am a little familiar with the Greene and Greene style and name. As to why it split, dryness beyond ...
|
| Final coat of poly | 9/23/2009 |
Q: It's Rebecca again, I have a final question. I just finished the third and last coat of poly. The ...
A: Poly does not finish sand or polish well, as it's just the nature of it, also, each layer is ...
|
| Stripping varnish in a very large area | 9/23/2009 |
Q: Greg, I have a room that is finished with varnish for indoor pool. I need to refinish that room as ...
A: Wow, I don't think Pine would stand up to sand blasting as the Spar is pretty tough, and in order to ...
|
| Stripping varnish in a very large area | 9/22/2009 |
Q: Greg, I have a room that is finished with varnish for indoor pool. I need to refinish that room as ...
A: Wow Rich, I can't imagine trying to strip that much wood, it will take weeks, and gallons and ...
|
| refinishing wood beams | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I asked you a question a month or so ago. I took your advice and bought Waterlox and am finishing ...
A: I think you may be overdoing it a bit....there's really no need for the conditioner, or the ...
|
| Polyurethane woes... | 9/21/2009 |
Q: I bought an old table (1960's), stripped, sanded, and preped it to perfection. I stained it with ...
A: Glad to help, and yes the dry times on the product are usually for reference only...and high ...
|
| Applying a finish | 9/21/2009 |
Q: What is the best method to applying a stain to large book cases made from Red Oak plywood. A rag, ...
A: Hey James, to cover large areas, spraying is the best method, working in sections and wiping down as ...
|
| Polyurethane woes... | 9/19/2009 |
Q: I bought an old table (1960's), stripped, sanded, and preped it to perfection. I stained it with ...
A: If the poly was lightening the stain, then it was not dry enough to apply the second coat and the ...
|
| Decking Angles | 9/16/2009 |
Q: I have a border of trex going around a deck. Picture a square deck off house, but the outside 2 ...
A: So then to make a 32 degree angle you need to cut each at 16 degrees to avoid that issue...then ...
|
| same stain two different colors on floor | 9/14/2009 |
Q: Why did my newly sanded hardware floor come up in two different colors even though the same mini wax ...
A: Minwax, like all other stain and finish manufacturers has been forced to reformulate their stains to ...
|
| follow up picture | 9/14/2009 |
Q: This is in response to a question asked earlier about my grandmother's desk. I am sending a ...
A: As I thought, these are the lid supports, and they're held on with a single screw usually. The only ...
|
| furniture repair | 9/14/2009 |
Q: My grandmother's old secretary desk which has an open-out desk has holes where the hinges attach to ...
A: is it the hinges or the front supports? Many of these desks have folding supports that are hinged ...
|
| painting over | 9/13/2009 |
Q: In the late 60's and early 70's it was popular to paint old wooden furniture with an "antiquing kit" ...
A: Yes I would use the primer, especially if you use the gray primer, as it will increase the grip and ...
|
| painting over "antiqued" furniture | 9/13/2009 |
Q: In the late 60's and early 70's it was popular to paint old wooden furniture with an "antiquing kit" ...
A: you can be pretty sure that this would be an oil based paint if it's that old.....and you could ...
|
| weathered/stained outdoor oak gates | 9/12/2009 |
Q: i am a self employed maintenance man here in southampton u.k. i have been asked by one of my ...
A: stripping these type of outdoor finishes can be a challenge, and trying to sand off a finish is ...
|
| Used Minwax Polyshade on outside porch floor | 9/9/2009 |
Q: The hardwood flooring on my outside covered front porch of the home I purchased was in need of ...
A: sorry to hear you did this, your only recourse would be to strip this off now with stripper. Because ...
|
| Cutting particle board... | 9/8/2009 |
Q: Mr. Scholl, I want to use particle board (with a white veneer) for a shelf, but I need to trim it up ...
A: I'm assuming you're meaning the typical Melamine MDF panels available at a Home Center. The trick is ...
|
| refinishing woodwork | 9/8/2009 |
Q: Apparently, when I bought my home some of the woodwork was not completed. It was stained in kind of ...
A: since you didn't tell me where in the country you are, I can't really help.....most painters will do ...
|
| oil based -vs- solvent based spar varnish | 9/7/2009 |
Q: For many years I've used and been very satisfied with an oil based spar varnish sold by Ace ...
A: they are correct, solvent based Varnishes are oil based Varnishes. The only real difference is that ...
|
| Cutting V grooves | 9/3/2009 |
Q: I'm trying to cut a piece of wood 1/2" x3/4" x7 3/4" and route a 90 degree v groove into it on ...
A: I guess I would be inclined to suggest stacking a number of them together, square,maybe 6-8 pieces ...
|
| Cutting V grooves | 9/2/2009 |
Q: I'm trying to cut a piece of wood 1/2" x3/4" x7 3/4" and route a 90 degree v groove into it on ...
A: do I understand that you're trying to route the V groove into the end grain? If so the best way is ...
|
| staining new barn | 8/31/2009 |
Q: In June, I had my barn board and batton sided with hemlock. I love the natural look and was told to ...
A: I would steer you towards a penetrating product like the Flood CWF-UV. You want to stay away from ...
|
| Prepping old oak | 8/28/2009 |
Q: In a 5/18/09 posting a reader asked about restoring a weathered ice-box ("Restoring very dry, old , ...
A: Sorry for the late reply.....you've asked MANY questions here, and frankly, it could take pages to ...
|
| Refinishing outdoor wood bench | 8/28/2009 |
Q: I cleaned the bench with deck cleaner then sanded it with power sander and finished with fine ...
A: hopefully you've applied a product designed for exterior use....like a deck or outdoor wood stain. I ...
|
| Prepping old oak | 8/27/2009 |
Q: In a 5/18/09 posting a reader asked about restoring a weathered ice-box ("Restoring very dry, old , ...
A: tough for me to provide step by step instructions without knowing what it is you're refinishing, and ...
|
| Refinishing exterior Oak Doors | 8/25/2009 |
Q: I'm in the process of building a new house. In anticipation of this, a couple of years ago I ...
A: Hey Wayne, I'm afraid I'm having a hard time trying to figure out what I'm looking at in the ...
|
| about finnishing wood | 8/25/2009 |
Q: My husband and I made a log bed from pine wood after we put polyurethane on it the bed turned black ...
A: you can't just build with "green" logs and then finish the wood with polyurethane. The wood has a ...
|
| irish blackthorn walking sticks splitting | 8/23/2009 |
Q: Greg, I have two Irish blackthorn root walking sticks which have begun to split vertically, just ...
A: Hey Chuck, I think that sounds like a good course of action...he's probably talking about a Spar ...
|
| Oak Handrails | 8/21/2009 |
Q: Am trying to find a 6 foot long red oak handrail with routed ends not cut ends and I can't find ...
A: Hey Bill, I have never seen it for sale this way, as most people will need a run longer than 6'. ...
|
| Refinishing front legs of chair | 8/19/2009 |
Q: Thought maple finish on chair (ball and claw foot with leaf at knee)was showing natural wood), but ...
A: What you're describing sounds like "toning", which is the process of spraying on colored lacquers. ...
|
| DINING TABLE FINISH | 8/18/2009 |
Q: My dining table has lots of light scratches to the gloss finish-there are no scratches to the wood ...
A: I'm sure that's a lacquer top, and some of the fine scratches can probably be buffed out, but that's ...
|
| Beeswax finish on oak table | 8/17/2009 |
Q: We just ordered an oak dining table - we are living in Germany and it is being made in Belgium. I ...
A: You would have to strip off the Beeswax with a chemical stripper, then lightly sand before ...
|
| broken rocking chair | 8/14/2009 |
Q: I have a nice rocking chair that needs repair. The connecting piece of wood that joins the legs of ...
A: this is most likely because the whole base is loose, and will need to be disassembled and reglued as ...
|
| Appropriate finish for recently built baby crib | 8/14/2009 |
Q: Greg, My wife and I are expecting our first child this fall. I decided to build the crib myself, ...
A: Hey Zach, congrats on the impending bundle of joy..lol. First off I hope you were careful to do your ...
|
| cabinets | 8/14/2009 |
Q: We have light maple cabinets in our kitchen. I'd like to stain them a darker color. They are ...
A: yes staining Maple can be tricky as it blotches and is unpredictable. But the real issue is the ...
|
| Antique exterior wood doors | 8/12/2009 |
Q: I need help! We are refinishing 100 year old exterior oak doors. We hired someone to do the work for ...
A: first off I would have to say I'm a bit confused by "We are refinishing 100 year old exterior oak ...
|
| Help w/woodcraft project. | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I am working on a prototype lamp that has a wood base w/slot for an etched glass/acrylic piece on ...
A: I'm sure there are many ways to accomplish that....where have you looked?I would start with a ...
|
| Finishing Hickory Flooring | 8/11/2009 |
Q: I understand due the texture of hickory that we shouldn't try to stain. My wife wants a little more ...
A: I have never heard this about wood flooring before, Hickory is very hard and therefore doesn't stain ...
|
| Finish on a Cedar bar top | 8/9/2009 |
Q: Hey Greg. I am a frequent visitor of your site and always respected your great advice to others. I ...
A: Hey Kurt, unfortunately nothing will toughen up a soft wood like Cedar, and you're right a thick, ...
|
| Spot refinishing Rocking Horse repair. | 8/5/2009 |
Q: We have a Rocking Horse made in 1992 by S&S Woodcarvers. Six months ago the front foreleg had been ...
A: please excuse the late reply, as I was in Maine working on my Summer cottage. What did your attempts ...
|
| Inlaid wood trim highlighting | 8/4/2009 |
Q: I want to highlight the inlaid rose and leaf pattern on a ceiling wood trim, with a final golden oak ...
A: The best way would be to use a glazing technique on the molding after it is finished. you want the ...
|
| Repair Finish on Kitchen Cabinets | 8/3/2009 |
Q: I had a painter told me he could not sand the doors and re-stain them a lighter color because the ...
A: Hey Bill, the panels actually look like Birch to me, and the frames do look like a Pine of some ...
|
| Using an indoor teak table outside? | 8/2/2009 |
Q: We have a teak table intended for indoor use that we now want to use outside. It's not one of the ...
A: most interior Teak furniture is not solid wood, and is instead, veneered over a substrate like MDF ...
|
| Absence of Mandrel | 7/30/2009 |
Q: Greg. I wonder if you can help me figure out a perplexing problem about a lathe I recently bought. ...
A: the 1/2" spindle is a toughie, typically a "hobby" sized spindle, and I've never seen accessories ...
|
| wood splitting | 7/27/2009 |
Q: I have this piece of wood I've found and let dry out aprrox 3 yrs before touching it(found out later ...
A: Hmmmm...." a bunch of clear" won't help with anything living in it, and Termites, especially, will ...
|
| renewing rough cut cedar, etc | 7/26/2009 |
Q: Greg, Thanks for kindly offering your service to DIYs like me. 8-D My home is 25 years old, and ...
A: Cedar doesn't strip well in my experience, as it's so soft that it tends to soak up the stripper and ...
|
| Refinishing a teak veneer credenza | 7/25/2009 |
Q: On the advice of a local "green" home supply store I used an all-purpose degreaser on it to clean it ...
A: at this point I would use a stripper and strip it of all the old finish. That's what they should ...
|
| dry wood | 7/25/2009 |
Q: I have a very old cabinet that has been sitting around for years in the damp barn and now in the dry ...
A: I wouldn't use pure Tung oil, but an oil finish like Watco would work. Just don't hope that this ...
|
| Golden frame color change? | 7/20/2009 |
Q: I have a mirror with golden painted wood frame around it. Is there anyway I can take off the golden ...
A: If it's Gilded, it's not an easy task, and depending on how intricate the frame is it can be ...
|
| Vomit smell in old crate | 7/18/2009 |
Q: I have an old crate from an industrial site - which I have now made into a chest of drawers for my ...
A: yes, there are hazards including molds, insects, and possible other contamination that may have ...
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| care of objects made of balsa | 7/15/2009 |
Q: At my Church, we have a statue about 7 feet tall. It has been there for about 15 years. Is there ...
A: I doubt it's Balsa, as Balsa is way too soft and fragile for a statue. There are a few ways you ...
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| Kitchen Cabinets | 7/15/2009 |
Q: Help! I would like to refinish my 23 year old cherry cabinets. I don't want to change the color ...
A: this is a loaded question, and one we get quite often, it's possible that your cabinets are lacquer, ...
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| wood finishes | 7/14/2009 |
Q: What is the difference between Spar Varnish and Spar Urethane? I work in a hardware and am asked ...
A: basically it's the types of resins used in the varnish, traditional Spar has an Alkyd base, with ...
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| adding paint to a routed sign | 7/14/2009 |
Q: I recently began making routed signs for friends. At craft fairs and on-line I see signs that have ...
A: I have seen this technique, after routing the sign, they spray paint over the letters and ...
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| Chess sets | 7/12/2009 |
Q: I have a few ideas for designing chess sets. I haven't constructed any, but I would like to try, ...
A: I would steer you towards Taunton Press. Many of their books/videos are for advanced to Pro ...
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| polyurethane | 7/12/2009 |
Q: My son has built a bar and would like to cover it with pictures taken over the years at various ...
A: conceivably you could just put many coats of poly over them, but you'll have a hard time ending up ...
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| Chess sets | 7/11/2009 |
Q: I have a few ideas for designing chess sets. I haven't constructed any, but I would like to try, ...
A: I'm assuming you mean out of wood, and if you have little to no experience as a woodworker, this ...
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| Removing Stain - Maple | 7/8/2009 |
Q: We recently had new maple stairs installed. Used painter recommended by stair builder and he ...
A: I'm surprised there's any veneer at all on a staircase...the best way is not to sand at all, but to ...
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| Wood floor poly finish | 7/7/2009 |
Q: We recently had our wood floors finished with a light stain and three coats of satin ploly. The ...
A: it is common practice to use a Gloss layer to build the finish, and then use the desired gloss level ...
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| refinishing bird eye maple dresser | 7/7/2009 |
Q: I have acquired a bird eye maple dresser that needs some attention. The top& side of the dresser and ...
A: it will refinish just like any other piece of furniture, and there are MANY ways to do that...I'm ...
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| Refinishing beech veneer surfaces and timber flooring | 7/4/2009 |
Q: I have kitchen cupboard doors and kickboards made from European Beech veneer. I would like to ...
A: I can't even guess about the typical finish for kitchen cabinets in Australia, but it's possible ...
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| refinishing | 6/29/2009 |
Q: I am about to refinish some all wood kitchen chairs. The seats are curved or molded for form ...
A: I wouldn't be concerned about "body heat" doing any damage to a finish. Depending on your skill ...
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| Cedar Chest Stains | 6/29/2009 |
Q: We recently acquired a Rooster Line cedar chest that is in excellent shape except for the lid. It ...
A: Hey Tom, if the stains are whitish that probably means there is/was a thin finish (like lacquer) on ...
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| Paint on Plywood | 6/28/2009 |
Q: Greetings! I'm in the process of making my new home. I would like get my kitchen cabinets painted. ...
A: yes,of course plywood can be painted.....durability of standard Acrylic/Latex paints in a kitchen ...
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| painting over pine tongue and groove | 6/27/2009 |
Q: , I live in an old house that has pine tongue and groove covering all walls in the "chopped" up ...
A: A proper primer and paint job is the same as painting several coats of primer...and will last longer ...
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| restain maple cabinets | 6/27/2009 |
Q: I have maple cabinets in my kitchen I think the stain is a honey maple color. They are over 10 ...
A: almost all kitchen cabinets are finished with a multi step finishing schedule that includes , but is ...
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| pre catalyzed lacquer stain | 6/24/2009 |
Q: I have to stain 2 cherry wood corbels to match my new kitchen cabinets. The cabinet manufacturer ...
A: stains are not in a cat lacquer base. Sounds like he sent you a toner,for small touch ups, which is ...
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| refinishing a wood laminate dining table | 6/23/2009 |
Q: We have a wood laminate table that has many places scratched off through the years. We'd like to ...
A: You should be able to strip it and refinish easily, as long as we're talking about a real wood ...
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| repairs to a footboard on a bed | 6/22/2009 |
Q: I have a footboard that has split where the bed rail attaches to it. How can that be repaired? My ...
A: it can be glued back together if the split is intact and the pieces all fit together....they can all ...
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| Maple Lacquer Clear Satin | 6/14/2009 |
Q: We are having maple cabinets custom made. When the cabinet maker sprayed Lacquer finish to our ...
A: I can't really advise you on what type of putty...no matter what it says on the can, (made for ...
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| Beech Doors and Oak floor | 6/13/2009 |
Q: We just installed new Oak hardwood floors and a few days ago we had our solid beech doors delivered ...
A: The problem you're going to have is that Beech is very hard and of low porosity, with almost no ...
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| Beech Doors and Oak floor | 6/12/2009 |
Q: We just installed new Oak hardwood floors and a few days ago we had our solid beech doors delivered ...
A: I'm afraid that what you want to do is not really possible. If you wet the Beech with some mineral ...
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| bannisters | 6/10/2009 |
Q: My house is 20 years old and the railings were originally bleached for that white stain look & then ...
A: sure they can be stripped, and if they were "pickled",(which is what it sounds like) it is not a ...
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| Table Top Finish Repair | 6/9/2009 |
Q: I spilled oil from a reed diffuser bottle on a wood table top. It soaked the felt bottom of a table ...
A: it's very likely that some or all of your stickiness is the finish itself, and not glue from the ...
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| teak wood table | 6/8/2009 |
Q: I need some advice for my teak wood kitchen table. This table is 20 years old and has been oiled ...
A: You can take some mineral spirits and rags and wipe down the chairs and table to remove the excess ...
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| Using MinWax Winter White stain over dark wood | 6/1/2009 |
Q: I have a question about staining my recently opened-up ceiling. House built in 1868, and have opened ...
A: I wouldn't clean them with anything but a brush attachment on a vacuum. ANYTHING you put on them is ...
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| Old Icecream Maker | 5/31/2009 |
Q: I have an old icecream maker from the 1950. It is held together with three metal rings. Well the ...
A: When something made from wood is allowed to shrink to this state, it's not possible to "put the ...
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| Using MinWax Winter White stain over dark wood | 5/29/2009 |
Q: I have a question about staining my recently opened-up ceiling. House built in 1868, and have opened ...
A: the stain will likely soak in and disappear, without giving you much effect at all. It will likely ...
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| protecting hand railing on deck | 5/28/2009 |
Q: We just put a new deck on our house last summer, the floor being trecks (sp?) and the hand railing a ...
A: You'll need a pretty tough stripper to remove Spar and it will be a sticky gooey job, but any good ...
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| to finish, or not to finish, parawood | 5/24/2009 |
Q: i recently bought a small piece of unfinished furniture made of parawood. i have heard of the ...
A: I wouldn't suggest not finishing any piece of furniture that will be used. It will get dirty and ...
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| protecting hand railing on deck | 5/23/2009 |
Q: We just put a new deck on our house last summer, the floor being trecks (sp?) and the hand railing a ...
A: first of all Knotty Pine will age rather quickly no matter what you put on it...it is not an ideal ...
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| How Do I Make An Outside Plaque for House | 5/22/2009 |
Q: I just purchased 2'x2'x1/2" piece of birch wood - I want to draw a picture on the wood, then cut it ...
A: You'll really only find Pine exterior plywood at the local Home Center, and only certain grades will ...
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| mineral spirits on teak table | 5/19/2009 |
Q: We recently purchased a new teak dining table. Earlier this morning I put some mineral oil on its ...
A: Mineral oil is a non drying oil, and a poor choice for a tabletop, and it will be tough to remove ...
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| Restoring very dry, old , weathered oak wood icebox | 5/18/2009 |
Q: I recently acquired a 1923 Leonard oak ice box that has been sitting on a back porch in TX for 50+ ...
A: you can't really "get moisture back into the wood"...wood will always try to equalize to it's ...
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| Indoor Danish Teak Dining Table | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I just "inherited" the table described above. It is in good condition but looks to have had ...
A: Mineral spirits will clean off the oil to a point, but depending on how "dry" the surface is, it may ...
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| Indoor Danish Teak Dining Table | 5/17/2009 |
Q: I just "inherited" the table described above. It is in good condition but looks to have had ...
A: this type of furniture is usually finished with an oil finish. But these oils finishes are comprised ...
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| How Do I Make An Outside Plaque for House | 5/16/2009 |
Q: I just purchased 2'x2'x1/2" piece of birch wood - I want to draw a picture on the wood, then cut it ...
A: It sounds like you've purchased Birch plywood. If it is, it's not suitable for exterior ...
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| Finish on a hope chest. | 5/16/2009 |
Q: I am building a hope chest out of Scandinavian soft pine. It looks good so far. I have decided to ...
A: They're very similar, but the Arm-R-0seal will be a flatter sheen, and because these are oil based, ...
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| Finish on a hope chest. | 5/15/2009 |
Q: I am building a hope chest out of Scandinavian soft pine. It looks good so far. I have decided to ...
A: I thought there would be a substantial difference in color....so it's really up to what you want ...
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| Finish on a hope chest. | 5/15/2009 |
Q: I am building a hope chest out of Scandinavian soft pine. It looks good so far. I have decided to ...
A: I wouldn't poly something like this at all, especially if your exposing a rough cut surface.I would ...
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| Wood Preparation | 5/15/2009 |
Q: I am a planning to paint all the internal doors, fitted wardrobes and frames in my new house. The ...
A: sounds to me like you're on the right track, although if it's in the budget to have these stripped, ...
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| Pine T&G walls and Ceiling in barn | 5/5/2009 |
Q: We have just built a new barn and the barn walls and ceiling are 1x6 knotty pine T&G. I want it to ...
A: It'll probably move around a bit, gaps, small cracks....can happen. The real concern with a surface ...
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| Pine T&G walls and Ceiling in barn | 5/5/2009 |
Q: We have just built a new barn and the barn walls and ceiling are 1x6 knotty pine T&G. I want it to ...
A: What they do is more important then what you do.....as in they need to let the material acclimate to ...
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| Raw linseed oil on dried out wood | 5/5/2009 |
Q: I was hoping to get a second opinion. I have a 7 year old oil painting on a 1/4" birch panel that ...
A: when woods cells have dried out so much that the piece has cracked, there's no way to "moisturize" ...
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| Pine T&G walls and Ceiling in barn | 5/3/2009 |
Q: We have just built a new barn and the barn walls and ceiling are 1x6 knotty pine T&G. I want it to ...
A: Hey Will, there are many ways to finish paneling like this, and it may or may not need a conditioner ...
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| joining boards for shelving | 5/2/2009 |
Q: I am putting in oak shelving into an old armoire. I have to join 2 boards together to be wide ...
A: good fitting, (properly planed), boards, glued edge to edge, should be fine for a shelf that's ...
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| Lacquer finish for desktop | 4/29/2009 |
Q: I was planning to spray lacquer finish on my mahogany built-in desk top in order to get a high ...
A: I would stick with the oil/varnish blend, which will eventually build to a film for more depth as ...
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| Making a Pedal Car | 4/26/2009 |
Q: I'm currently working on making a pedal car of some sort both for entertainment and for minor ...
A: Interesting question and pursuit....but I think that if I were going to build something like this, ...
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| plastic wood | 4/25/2009 |
Q: I was trying to find some information on the history of plastic wood, the resin filler that comes in ...
A: I have no idea what the history of it is..and there are many types, solvent based, latex ...
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| Finishing an untreated oak stair handrail | 4/25/2009 |
Q: I am just installing some new light oak handrails on the staircase in the house. I really like ...
A: I would strongly advise that you finish them, as they will get dirty and possibly be a splinter ...
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| Cedar lumber | 4/23/2009 |
Q: Am thinking on building a pergola with cedar, I've shopped around and I found lots of guys in my ...
A: it's a good question, and it'll likely depend on your climate, and what dimension lumber you're ...
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| mahogany secretary | 4/21/2009 |
Q: We acquired a veneered mahogany secretary for a reasonable price, as it is varnished and has pretty ...
A: I'm really not acquainted with any Restorers in Norwalk, but I would suggest you phone a few ...
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| wood drying | 4/10/2009 |
Q: I just picked up a couple slabs off of the butt of a big maple log and want dry them to make rustic ...
A: Hey Brian, the real key is to dry them slowly over a year or so, and that's the hard part. They need ...
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| Filing holes in Antique Bookcase | 4/8/2009 |
Q: I have contacted you previously on our antique bookcase. We have put beeswax on it and use elmers' ...
A: I'm glad it's working out, but next time make sure to keep the wax as the absolute last step...after ...
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| painting over stain | 4/7/2009 |
Q: am in need of finding a easy way to strip my lower great room that is completely paneled. It is ...
A: what you're proposing can't be done easily or cheaply..(unless you do it all yourself...)The Pine's ...
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| Filing holes in Antique Bookcase | 4/7/2009 |
Q: I have contacted you previously on our antique bookcase. We have put beeswax on it and use elmers' ...
A: Are you saying that you've waxed the piece and now your trying to paint over the waxed surface?? Is ...
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| Wood stainning | 4/6/2009 |
Q: It seems no matter how careful I am, I always have some glue squeeze out when I assemble my ...
A: Hey Bob, if you're really thorough about wiping the wet glue off, you shouldn't have that ...
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| Staining red oak flooring | 4/2/2009 |
Q: I am wanting my red oak floors to have a warm feel to them. I have been contemplating Early ...
A: I can't possibly tell you what any stain will look like on your floor, as there are so many ...
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| hickory hardwood floor with saw marks | 4/1/2009 |
Q: we just put down a new hickory floor with saw marks. My husband sealed it with dura seal, but I ...
A: trying to color a floor that's been sealed already is your problem, any coloration you desire really ...
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| pine boards | 3/29/2009 |
Q: I have just had pine placed along the wall of a stairwell and I have thought of two ways to finish ...
A: On Pine I wouldn't use a "conditioner", as the problem you're going to have is getting the pickling ...
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| pine boards | 3/27/2009 |
Q: I have just had pine placed along the wall of a stairwell and I have thought of two ways to finish ...
A: I would suggest Minwax's Pastel line of products, they make a product called "Winter white" or ...
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| refinishing bath cabinets | 3/27/2009 |
Q: I have oak cabinets in my bath plus tub surround...the cabinet maker did a beautiful job....but I am ...
A: no, liquid sandpaper will not do the job, you'll have to completely strip off the old finish down to ...
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| end table | 3/22/2009 |
Q: I'm attempting to stain an end table with inlaid marble top. The problem is the wood trim, which ...
A: Trying to repair an area like this with an oil stain on a hard wood, just is a pain, if possible at ...
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| Poly drying | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I have a night stand made out of birch veneer plywood. I applied standard Minwax stain, let that dry ...
A: Sorry Greg, I guess I wasn't reading your question properly....it can happen if I'm behind and ...
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| Poly drying | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I have a night stand made out of birch veneer plywood. I applied standard Minwax stain, let that dry ...
A: did you remove the existing finish? You can't use an oil stain over ANY traces of existing finish, ...
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| sanding and restaining scratched bed | 3/15/2009 |
Q: I sanded all the scratches out of the foot board and head board of my sons bed. (dog) Then I used a ...
A: chances are stain alone is never going to match the original finish, and the only way to make it ...
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| Cracked seat in chair | 3/10/2009 |
Q: I have an old chair that was painted black and trimmed in gold on the legs and around the seating ...
A: Unfortunately, you can't keep the seat from drying out again.....and the more often you create this ...
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| Teak retro furniture | 3/9/2009 |
Q: Some are solid and some veneered. Some have stains and some just need oiling. The stained units I ...
A: I wouldn't use a varnish on these pieces, as it will prevent any subsequent coats of oil finish from ...
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| Antique wood cleaning | 3/7/2009 |
Q: I attached a picture of a clock I purchased recently. It has alot of years of cigarette smoke ...
A: you could try some mineral spirits on a soft white cloth like a diaper, or t-shirt material. Make a ...
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| staining cabnets | 3/5/2009 |
Q: I am renting a house for free as long as we do work on it. We eventually want to but it because the ...
A: your cabinets have a finish on them, and not just a stain. Typically, you can't stain over a ...
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| in a 'pickle' | 3/2/2009 |
Q: We have recently put an addition on our home in CT and pickled the pine ceiling. There is a beam ...
A: you'll have to scrape it off probably, if the beam is as rustic and rough as I think it may be....a ...
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| Inlay on stained surface | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I have done many inlays in cherry etc. that don't require any staining. I would like to inlay into ...
A: It's compatible, yes, but shellac will seal the surface against the oil soaking in, which can be a ...
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| Inlay on stained surface | 3/1/2009 |
Q: I have done many inlays in cherry etc. that don't require any staining. I would like to inlay into ...
A: Staining should always be done right before finishing, after all sanding/scraping is complete...the ...
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| Wooden Bread Rolling Board | 2/27/2009 |
Q: Scholl, I want to make a wooden board for hand rolling bread. I was thinking of using Maple. But, I ...
A: hard Maple is the best, and preferred choice for food prep blocks. It has no open pores to harbor ...
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| Black specs | 2/26/2009 |
Q: I have been sanding back some mahogany drawers and whilst stored in the carport overnight during a ...
A: it sounds like some type of splashing or dripping from a source containing rust, corrosion, or ...
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| using tru oil or arrow wood finish over paint | 2/25/2009 |
Q: I am painting a gun stock and wish to know if tru oil or arrow wood finish can be used over an oil ...
A: these oil finishes are like "long" oil varnishes, containing polymerized resins that cure into a ...
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| Staircase Bannister | 2/24/2009 |
Q: We have a 5 yr old house and I think the cleaning lady used one of those wipes with clorox on the ...
A: You could go that route, but I would inquire with a long standing, reputable Antique dealer. They ...
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| oak versus parawood | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I have an old family oak table that has been refinished. I am distressing and finishing chairs to ...
A: Parawood is a cousin of the rubber tree, and I do not like the stuff, personally. It is cheaper, but ...
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| fixing the finish on a two-toned pub table | 2/24/2009 |
Q: I'm so glad I found you on this site, and hope you can help me. I just bought (and ruined)a ...
A: hard to see from your picture, but this looks like a grain painted, opaque kind of finish, so ...
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| Staircase Bannister | 2/21/2009 |
Q: We have a 5 yr old house and I think the cleaning lady used one of those wipes with clorox on the ...
A: did she use this often or just once?...the "grayness" sounds more like dirt and grime, and normal ...
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| wood warping | 2/20/2009 |
Q: will ash wood warp ---that has a moisture content of 6% to 8% and is machined to close dimensions, ...
A: Hey James, are you asking if it will warp in 12-24hours? Not unless subjected to a huge difference ...
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| Musty smell in wood | 2/20/2009 |
Q: I have a very clean but damp basement and need to replace my wood stairs due to the smell in the ...
A: I've never heard of anyone having to replace an entire staircase because of smell...You could treat ...
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| staining without top finish | 2/18/2009 |
Q: I have always protected stained wood with multiple coats of finish such as polyurethane. Minwax ...
A: No. Most pigmented stains have a sealing effect because of the binders and vehicle that the pigment ...
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| water damaged solid teak table-oiled | 2/18/2009 |
Q: I have a solid teak dining set with an oval table. The table has marks-water stains I think. Looks ...
A: it's doubtful the set is solid, as almost all of this stuff is veneered. It can be hard to tell as ...
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| dye stains | 2/17/2009 |
Q: I am in the process of building a bedroom set of cherry. All of which is comprised of heart/sap ...
A: there are a few ways to minimize the "blotchies", a prestain sealer is the best way. A wash coat of ...
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| repairing veneer | 2/10/2009 |
Q: I am refinishing a full size post bed that has veneer insert in the footboard that is bubbled up and ...
A: I can't make the solution one way or the other. You either fix it correctly or you don't. You have ...
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| two tone stain on veneer,or multi color | 2/5/2009 |
Q: how can i stain a single piece veneer in two tones and still get crisp tight lines.old methods.i ...
A: Hey Brent, masking techniques using high quality 3M tapes,like the Clean Green line, is the best ...
|
| put gloss lacquer over flat lacquer | 2/4/2009 |
Q: I finished one door in my kitchen with the wrong finish (flat) Can it be changed to have a gloss to ...
A: Hey Chris, sure you can just lightly sand with some 400-600 and shoot the desired gloss over ...
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| finish | 1/28/2009 |
Q: I just stained a coffee table and end tables with Minwax Golden Oak and I was wondering if I need to ...
A: I would suggest an oil finish. Formbys makes a low gloss Tung oil finish, you can find it in Ace, or ...
|
| half door | 1/28/2009 |
Q: I have steps going to my family room I also have a 1 year old grandson. I would like to put a half ...
A: Hey Jim, I can't recall ever seeing a half door for sale, so you could either buy a whole door and ...
|
| repairing gooseneck rocker | 1/26/2009 |
Q: I have an old rocking chair and one arm has come off. It was attached with dowels one on each end ...
A: the best way to repair it is to drill out the old dowels and reglue it using new dowels. this is the ...
|
| treated decking | 1/26/2009 |
Q: My deck is about 12 years old, I put a solid redwood color stain on several years ago.I have ...
A: my suggestion is to never use a solid colored stain on decking...if you've tried to strip, and then ...
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| Refinishing a cedar chest | 1/25/2009 |
Q: It appears to be solid cedar with what looks like white paint as a finish. My mother in law used to ...
A: Cedar is a non porous wood, soft, but very smooth with tight grain. It sounds like an "Antiquing" ...
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| refinishing pine table | 1/25/2009 |
Q: I bought a gorgeous pine dining table set from a couple at their garage sale. They'd raised their ...
A: I wouldn't use mineral oil on furniture, as it isn't a drying oil and will cause problems, as it ...
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| veneer finishing | 1/23/2009 |
Q: I'm using a pomele sapele veneer in a furniture project and have no real idea how to apply a finish ...
A: yes this is beautiful stuff. If you don't want to stain, then an oil finish will be the best for ...
|
| White Pine Tongue and Groove Paneling | 1/22/2009 |
Q: My husband and I are building a cabin and would like to put white pine tongue and groove paneling on ...
A: a waterborne Acrylic Urethane would be the best choice, as it's the clearest finish you could use. ...
|
| burled wood Hurricane Ike damage | 1/21/2009 |
Q: During Ike,roof fell-in onto my favoirte wardrobe which had burled wood on each of the doors and ...
A: so sorry about your damage,it's possible they did stain it darker to blend the overall look...many ...
|
| cutting window trim | 1/19/2009 |
Q: I am installing trim around triangular windows. The angle I need is 67.5 my mitre saw only goes to ...
A: Hey Chris, you'll have to make a tapered jig that gives you the extra 7.5 degrees.....make sure to ...
|
| Restoring an antique tea chest | 1/18/2009 |
Q: I am wanting to restore a tea chest that came to Australia from England possibly a few hundred years ...
A: I would strongly caution you against doing things like sanding an original finish and replacing ...
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| Polyurethane bubbles | 1/16/2009 |
Q: I am putting polyurethane on the top of a wood table (grand fir) and have put layers with sanding ...
A: Minwax stain is notorious for not drying thoroughly in cool or damp environments, and can take more ...
|
| replacing chair leg | 1/14/2009 |
Q: I have an old oak dining chair that has a broken leg. I want to replace the leg, but the angles of ...
A: Hey Matt, this can be some challenging, and fairly advanced, woodworking, you'll need to use the old ...
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| problems with lacquer finish on kitchen cabinets | 1/13/2009 |
Q: Greg, About a year ago my husband and I had maple kitchen cabinets custom made and installed ...
A: it sounds like moisture spotting. Conventional lacquers aren't really designed for high moisture ...
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| table | 1/13/2009 |
Q: We purchased an S. Bent and Sons dining room set, brand new in the 1980s. A selling point was the ...
A: If you weren't careful to hand dry the finish after wiping it down each time, it will affect the ...
|
| Beechwood Backsplash | 1/13/2009 |
Q: We are pleased with the results but are having trouble finding beechwood backsplashes. We bought our ...
A: it's entirely possible that your "Beech" counters from Ikea, are not actually Beech, as I have seen ...
|
| table | 1/12/2009 |
Q: We purchased an S. Bent and Sons dining room set, brand new in the 1980s. A selling point was the ...
A: It sounds like the finish is reaching it's usable life span to me. That is over 20 years after ...
|
| Old Rocker Repair | 1/7/2009 |
Q: I have 2 old all wood rockers (20 years)and they had been left setting on a porch where water was ...
A: 2" must be almost all the way through the runner...the best way to repair this would be to replace ...
|
| Disassembling armoire | 1/3/2009 |
Q: I purchase a beautiful wood armoire and there has a molding that is not allowing me to bring it ...
A: there may not be any other way, and the molding can probably be removed, but it is likely glued and ...
|
| Staining Oak Veneer | 1/2/2009 |
Q: I recently bought an unfinished Murphy bed in plainsawn red oak and am planning to stain it. The ...
A: what you're describing sounds like the grain. Plywoods are cut radially off of a log in one long ...
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| Repair oak where stain didn't take | 12/29/2008 |
Q: I need to spot in some stain under polyurethane and it is not working. I have sanded very well and ...
A: I'm not sure what you mean by "spot in some stain under Polyurethane".....could you elaborate on ...
|
| Drum Refinishing | 12/24/2008 |
Q: I've read a reply that you have written about refinishing drums. My questions is how do I get a fade ...
A: Hey Brent, you really can't get a sunburst or fade effect with stain. These effects are done with ...
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| wood floors | 12/22/2008 |
Q: i used one coat of high gloss polyurathane on my hardwood floors without sanding first because the ...
A: A floor does need sanding in prep for refinishing, as polyurethane relies on a mechanical bond to ...
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| Polishing Oak Table | 12/21/2008 |
Q: I have an Australian Oak dining table that is approx 90 years old. We have just moved to Bangkok ...
A: Hey Mathew, there is no magic solution that can repair a crack...the trick is to prevent the wood ...
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| gumwood refinishing | 12/8/2008 |
Q: Is it ok to use Tung Oil as a clear finish for gumwood doors and trim? I plan on using a 70/30, ...
A: sure, you could use Tung oil, but I would tend to steer you towards a commercially prepared finish ...
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| bringing back a finish | 12/3/2008 |
Q: Greg, I have an old British Grandfather clock that I'm trying to bring out the finish on. After ...
A: it's possible that the finish on the upper half has been subjected to more cleaning, waxing, ...
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| Painting or Glazing a banister | 12/3/2008 |
Q: I'm getting ready for a project on are banister. First the banister is a light oak and the house ...
A: I would clean it first with some 0000 steel wool and mineral spirits, drying as you go. Then sand it ...
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| staining over stain | 11/29/2008 |
Q: I want to refinish pine cabinets that are already stained and in decent shape. Not sure of what may ...
A: I have had many complaints about Restorz-it, and heard many horror stories, my advice is stay away. ...
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| staining over stain | 11/25/2008 |
Q: I want to refinish pine cabinets that are already stained and in decent shape. Not sure of what may ...
A: are these kitchen cabinets? I would never recommend going over an existing finish this way, really, ...
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| pine furniture rot? | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I have my grandparents pine dining room table that is over 100 years old. On one side it looks like ...
A: I doubt this is rot, it sounds more like the finish is degrading, especially as you describe the ...
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| Rocking Chair rocks back TOO far | 11/23/2008 |
Q: I have an old wicker rocking chair, and when someone sits in it, the chair rocks back too far, to ...
A: sounds like the rockers are too short for the chair. You'll probably have to remake them a little ...
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| hinges for folding table top | 11/23/2008 |
Q: We need to have a larger dining table top for the hoildays. I plan to use 3/4" plywood and cut ...
A: a "butt" type hinge will work, but they'd have to be cut into the tops from underneath to be flush ...
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| bringing up the old wood finish | 11/20/2008 |
Q: Greg, I have a very old Grandfather Clock (circa 1860) which is in need of a facelift! I would like ...
A: this really depends on how bad the finish is. It's most likely shellac, and some old shellacs can ...
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| Stripping Minwax stain | 11/19/2008 |
Q: I need to strip the stain out of a maple kitchen table because my mother wants me to restain it a ...
A: any good stripper should strip an oil stain from Maple. Some strippers advertise that they are ...
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| Restaining veneer kitchen cabinets | 11/17/2008 |
Q: My kitchen veneer cupboards are about 35 years old and yet they are very strong, I feel like i am ...
A: what you're proposing is a HUGE job. The cabinets will need to be stripped down to bare wood. They ...
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| REPLACING RUG FOR HARDWOOD RED OAK STAIRS | 11/17/2008 |
Q: I placed the new stair flooring now we are ready to sand and stain in place. How do I sand and ...
A: some tips as follows: Use wood filler very sparingly, it can get into the pores and you won't get it ...
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| Polyurethane covered photos | 11/16/2008 |
Q: I am wanting to put a picture on a plaque and cover it with ployurethane what do I need to do to ...
A: Hey Eddie, I would look at a product like this. You can find many sites around the net where you can ...
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| Wood stain | 11/12/2008 |
Q: Recently build desk of fir/pine. Began finish process with dark mahogony stain. Not completely ...
A: Hey DJ, as long as the first coat is completely dry you definitely can use another color to shift ...
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| Wood finishes | 11/10/2008 |
Q: How can I tell what finish is on the woodwork in my house?I'm not sure if its shellac,stain or ...
A: Hey George, typically in older homes, varnish is the main thing one finds, you can check if it's ...
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| mohagany | 11/9/2008 |
Q: I have a exterior deck that is made of Philippine mahogany that is fading and I what to make it look ...
A: Hey Eric, you'll need to use a Deck brightener solution and/or stripper, and then depending whats on ...
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| Tacky staining | 11/8/2008 |
Q: I read your answer to Anne whose problem with staining is similar to mine. I tried to restain an ...
A: Hey John, this is a common problem, and the stain probably will not dry. You need to strip the old ...
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| staining oak handrails | 11/7/2008 |
Q: We are staining our handrails and after applying the stain the wood is very rough and needs to be ...
A: This is the reason that water based stains contain Glycol ethers, to help with drying too fast and ...
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| Changing Stain Colors | 11/5/2008 |
Q: I recently picked up a table and chairs in very nice condition but we want to re-Stain them the ...
A: you don't want to sand off a finish, you'll want to strip it., It could be poly, lacquer, or even an ...
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| staining oak handrails | 11/4/2008 |
Q: We are staining our handrails and after applying the stain the wood is very rough and needs to be ...
A: what type of stain are you using? It sounds like you need to be sanding to a finer grit, say 150 ...
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| Painting over caulking | 11/1/2008 |
Q: What is the secret of painting over silicone sealant? The sealant I have clearly states it is ...
A: is the caulk fully cured? what you're describing sounds like reticulation where the paint goes on ...
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| wood fence finishing | 10/30/2008 |
Q: I have built a new privacy fence around my property made of Cedar pickets. I want to preserve the ...
A: Hey Scott, thats how you explain it....they use these types of finishes, and they do need ...
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| wood fence finishing | 10/30/2008 |
Q: I have built a new privacy fence around my property made of Cedar pickets. I want to preserve the ...
A: do not varnish an outdoor Cedar fence. First of all Cedar is quite resinous and will not allow the ...
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| polyurethane smell | 10/29/2008 |
Q: how do you eliminate or reduce the smell? It is being applied next door and the odor is coming into ...
A: some oil based Urethanes are quite smelly..the only way to cut it down is to introduce more clean ...
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| finishing plywood | 10/29/2008 |
Q: Want to put paneling on garage ceiling. Home Depot has moisture ret paneling (I think it's birch on ...
A: it sounds like it's the typical thin panelling that is finished, and I wouldn't stain or finish over ...
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| Attempted to refinish pine dining room set | 10/27/2008 |
Q: ...And it was a very bad idea lol. The wood was already cheap and uneven to begin with. It all ...
A: the problem is that you didn't strip the old finish off. This is a MUST when trying to refinish ...
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| wood stain | 10/24/2008 |
Q: I have a wall with "picture-frame" paneling that has been a hideous color (kind of blond) for 30 ...
A: Old varnish can be quite difficult to remove, even with a good ,(fairly toxic, smelly) varnish ...
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| planer | 10/24/2008 |
Q: i have a delta 12 1/2" planer (tp305) i used it for the first time today and i am getting "big" dips ...
A: this sounds like end snipe, where the back roller drops off the board at the end of the pass and the ...
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| wood stain | 10/23/2008 |
Q: I have a wall with "picture-frame" paneling that has been a hideous color (kind of blond) for 30 ...
A: yes it's a huge undertaking, and you'll have to determine what the finish is on there now in order ...
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| burl faced kitchen cabinets | 10/21/2008 |
Q: I just received my delivery of custom made kitchen cabinets for our kitchen renovation. My wife and ...
A: Hey Jim, first off let me try to dissuade you from posting a phone number in a public forum, not a ...
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| oak table to refinish and stain | 10/21/2008 |
Q: i have a solid oak table and would like to sand the varnish off and stain it black and then apply a ...
A: the first thing to do is not to sand it, but to strip the old finish off completely with stripper. ...
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| refinishing | 10/19/2008 |
Q: i sanded my floor it is oak and i used miniwax finish on it it was a semi gloss can i use for last ...
A: no it won't "haze up", but I wouldn't recommend using a High Gloss on a floor. Not only is it ...
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| repairing sideboard | 10/17/2008 |
Q: I have bought a second hand sideboard in a medium oak colour. It has lots of scratches on it and a ...
A: that's a loaded question! It's extremely difficult for me to know if you have the capability to do ...
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| Oak table | 10/15/2008 |
Q: I sanded the finish off an oak dining table, first using 60 then 150 then 220 grit sand paper. I ...
A: I would use an Acrylic Urethane. It's the most "water white" choice and will have no amber cast, and ...
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| Birch paneling finish restoration | 10/15/2008 |
Q: We have 1950-60's Hallmark mobile home (10x50). The interior is a beautiful solid birch paneling. ...
A: my guess is that you have a plywood there, not solid wood...and it's probably lacquered. You can ...
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| door staining | 10/13/2008 |
Q: i just recently bought a stable door for my cottage and have painted it with a white woodwash but ...
A: oils and oil based varnishes will be amber to yellow. A polyurethane will be less, but still has the ...
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| Bent/Stuck pin | 10/12/2008 |
Q: I have a spinning wheel and I need to repair the wheel (it was knocked over and has split where the ...
A: you'll need to drive the pin back in...there's no way to compress it as you're doing that...tha act ...
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| water-damaged teak table | 10/12/2008 |
Q: There was a leak we didn't know about, and the table sat wet for a few weeks (covered in felt that ...
A: after it dries out thoroughly, you'll have to strip the top, sand, and refinish (and maybe stain), ...
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| remove pickling stains form 150 yr old oak staircase | 10/12/2008 |
Q: Staircase was strippped in 1960 and pickled then tung oiled .Treatment stopped in 1995,and now new ...
A: none that I can really recommend...it might be possible to remove the bulk of the finish by ...
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| Bent/Stuck pin | 10/10/2008 |
Q: I have a spinning wheel and I need to repair the wheel (it was knocked over and has split where the ...
A: this type of thing can be a bit trying, but you'll just have to proceed to carefully knock it out. ...
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| Staining wood cabinets | 10/9/2008 |
Q: I am refinishing the cabinetry in my kitchen. Everything is going fine, except when I removed all ...
A: The ghost is probably caused by oxidation and/or UV light, and the only way to remove it is to sand ...
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| wood restoration | 10/8/2008 |
Q: One of the collections I deal with is furniture, and later will be more hands on in terms of ...
A: one wouldn't use lacquer over varnish or shellac or vice versa, you have to know what you're dealing ...
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| Bent/Stuck pin | 10/7/2008 |
Q: I have a spinning wheel and I need to repair the wheel (it was knocked over and has split where the ...
A: I think you'll have to drive out the pin with a pin punch. This is a straight punch about 6-7" long ...
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| Drum follow up | 10/7/2008 |
Q: Greg, it's a Campbell brand lacquer (not sure which one). So far I've tried MEK to strip it, with ...
A: Tom, you need a methylene chloride, paste type, varnish remover, toxic stuff, but will strip almost ...
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| Epoxy Resin | 10/7/2008 |
Q: ..I live in Maracaibo, Venezuela. In spite of all de petrochemicals around us, I don´t know of ...
A: what you've seen is a pourable Epoxy finish..there are many different ...
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| Unfinished banister and newell | 10/6/2008 |
Q: I have an unfinished red oak banister and newel post that I am trying to refinish, I have ...
A: Oak does not lend itself to the look you desire. It has a deep, defined grain, with deep pores, and ...
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| Rustic Pine Mexican Furniture | 10/5/2008 |
Q: I need to make custom shelves to match a room of Rustic Pine Mexican Furniture. How to finish the ...
A: I'm guessing it's and oil finish, as it looks like a flat finish, and not a surface type finish. I ...
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| Lathe spindle question | 10/2/2008 |
Q: My father loved woodworking, especially working with his lathe. He passed away a couple years ago ...
A: Hey Jerry, Two things, first off is the speed, it sounds like you might be at a higher speed, which ...
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| Spot sanding unfinished floors? | 9/30/2008 |
Q: I have a question about unfinished floors. We just laid approx 150 sq ft of unfinished red birch ...
A: I wouldn't spot sand a newly laid floor like this. The floor needs an overall sanding to blend and ...
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| loftbed | 9/28/2008 |
Q: The dimensions are 71in. high. 113in. long, and 84in. wide. It has to be free standing, able to hold ...
A: Hey Mike, there's no way to do this without a pretty massive frame, that would have to be through ...
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| cutting a scroll in thick wood | 9/27/2008 |
Q: I am building a pergola using 21 4"x10"x16' beams. What is the best way to cut the scroll on the end ...
A: Hey Greg, Those are pretty massive beams, and I don't know of a way to cut a neat scroll in 4" thick ...
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| Oak Table | 9/21/2008 |
Q: I am in College and I custom made a coffee table. Its a thin sheet of oak over plywood with stain ...
A: Hey William, Epoxy is pretty tough stuff, and would hold up better to heat, but you still risk ...
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| stained beech benchtop | 9/20/2008 |
Q: we installed beech benchtop from Ikea last year and used the wood sealant they supplied. We ...
A: I am not familiar with what they supplied you, did they tell you what the product was? It sounds ...
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| wood finishing | 9/19/2008 |
Q: I used 2 coat polyurethane on my antique hardwood floors I have only applied the first coat and it ...
A: 60 hours??? wow......unfortunately, floors of this age would probably have had wax applied to them, ...
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| paint dining room set | 9/17/2008 |
Q: I have an oak dining room set including table with glass insets, chairs with cane insets on backs, ...
A: I am not Chris, but I'll answer the question. The ultimate way to do this would be to spray the set ...
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| how to cut a pine stump | 9/15/2008 |
Q: i am wondering what is the best way to cut a pine stump without the bark falling off. . its a 3 ft ...
A: I assume you mean you want to crosscut slabs from this stump, and being that it's Pine, it isn't the ...
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| Refinishing a door | 9/13/2008 |
Q: Greg, our front door is original to the house (about 50 yrs old) and we assume the finish on it is ...
A: if it's the color that's fading, you can't fix it properly without stripping. You have to get down ...
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| Paste wax issue | 9/11/2008 |
Q: we have a fairly new maple kitchen table made by Candal. It is not a cheap table. Anyway we ...
A: paste wax will always make a surface very shiny, and it can be difficult to apply evenly and buff ...
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| refinishing hardwood floors | 9/10/2008 |
Q: I need some advice on redoing our hardwood floors in our home, the floors that are in here are in ...
A: if these floors are that old, they should probably be evaluated by a floor finishing pro, as they ...
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| Staining Bubinga | 9/9/2008 |
Q: I recently started a guitar buliding project consisting of african mohogany and a top of bubinga. ...
A: Bubinga is a beautiful wood, and most people leave it natural. In guitar finishing, dye stains are ...
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| Staining hickory hardwood flooring | 9/9/2008 |
Q: We just had 2700 sq. feet of hickory hardwood flooring installed in a new construction project. We ...
A: Hey again Bob, I don't think the Bona DTS is that dark....it really sounds more like an sealer that ...
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| Mahogany Doors | 9/8/2008 |
Q: I am a lumber sales rep and recently have sold a $12,000.00 front double door and a 4,500.00 ...
A: the answer's really pretty simple..... "(The doors sat around at our lumberyard and/or at the ...
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| Gel Stain Can Tipped on Carpet | 9/8/2008 |
Q: We had an accident where the gel stain can tipped and of course ran right off the edge of the paper. ...
A: It's possible, but again, these are stains....and that's what they're designed to do, and because ...
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| Gel Stain Can Tipped on Carpet | 9/7/2008 |
Q: We had an accident where the gel stain can tipped and of course ran right off the edge of the paper. ...
A: sorry about the late reply, I'm assuming I'm rather late for this question...the only way to remove ...
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| Staining hickory hardwood flooring | 9/6/2008 |
Q: We just had 2700 sq. feet of hickory hardwood flooring installed in a new construction project. We ...
A: he's right in that dyes would be a real headache to use on a floor, and it's not really an option. ...
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| Large cracks on wooden table top | 9/4/2008 |
Q: Please helps, my beautiful wooden table top have several large cracks in it (I brought it back from ...
A: I'm sure it can be fixed, but I'm all the way up in CT., so I can't tell you who to contact in your ...
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| radial arm saw | 9/4/2008 |
Q: hi i am looking for a manual for a sears radial arm saw model # 113197751 i know you can ...
A: I'm not sure why you're looking for a way around that, but it is true that many manuals are not ...
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| Contractor put wrong stain on floors | 9/1/2008 |
Q: Oh boy... We have an OLD house built in 1903. It has beautiful white and red oak floors that were ...
A: Many stains are being reformulated to comply with the new V.O.C regulations, but apparently ...
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| Old painted sign | 8/31/2008 |
Q: I have an old painted sign that I want to keep in its original state. The problem is most of the ...
A: there is no magic solution for something like this, you'd have to be able to treat the wood under ...
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| Contractor put wrong stain on floors | 8/30/2008 |
Q: Oh boy... We have an OLD house built in 1903. It has beautiful white and red oak floors that were ...
A: sorry to hear about your predicament. I can't believe that he didn't let you approve the color ...
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| Drum refinishing | 8/26/2008 |
Q: Hey I was reading a previous answer on drum refinishing and had a few questions of my own. I have a ...
A: the first thing you'll need to do is to strip the hardware and the finish off of the shells. A good ...
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| Protective coat on top of maple plywood. | 8/26/2008 |
Q: I have read that Maple plywood is difficult to stain. I do need to change the color of the wood ...
A: Plywoods tend to be more stainable, as their veneers are so thin they don't absorb stain as heavily. ...
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| varnishing new wood | 8/25/2008 |
Q: I have volunteered to finish woodwork for my son and daughter-in-law. They have added a new kitchen ...
A: it depends on what type of wood you're finishing....as always I would advise working on scrap first ...
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| Skin Oils and Smudges | 8/24/2008 |
Q: I have a table that is made of Rubberwood and Alderwood. There are smudges and skin oils that will ...
A: It really depends on the finish involved as to how to proceed. First of all, throw away the Pledge, ...
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| finish for maple furniture | 8/23/2008 |
Q: I am building an outdoor furniture piece out of maple. What would you suggest that I use for ...
A: I would really not recommend Maple for an outdoor project. It's quite unstable as compared to many ...
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| restain kitchen cabinets | 8/21/2008 |
Q: I want to refinish my 2 year old kitchen cabinets, they are an oak color and the doors and front of ...
A: I would not recommend you try to refinish these...what you're describing is a vinyl veneer ...
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| clear coat on table wont dry | 8/20/2008 |
Q: I used a resin clear coat on a table --the one that you buy that is equal to 60 coats of ...
A: are you sure you mixed in the hardener properly and thoroughly? It sounds to me like you have a real ...
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| floor finishes | 8/19/2008 |
Q: i have applied 6 coats of danish oil to my floor it has become sticky as i did no wipe of the excess ...
A: ..hmmmmm...six coats without wiping off??...I think sanding would be useless at this stage....it'll ...
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| Beech veneer: staining and finishing | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I have a new bathroom cabinet/vanity made of Beech ply/veneer. I want to stain it deep, rich, dark ...
A: you can't use an oil stain like this, each coat has to be wiped off completely. If you leave the ...
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| Polyurethane floor finish | 8/19/2008 |
Q: I'm asking this question for my daughter. She sanded her floors and then applied a coat of clear ...
A: .....I would think an NMP stripper like CitriStrip would be the best bet. I think it would be safe ...
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| balsa wood on a lathe | 8/17/2008 |
Q: I am working with balsa wood on a 3 speed mini lathe by Craftsman and wonder if I can use a chisel ...
A: I have never dared to mount Balsa on a lathe...it has such a low density factor that I don't believe ...
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| chopping block | 8/14/2008 |
Q: I am interested in making a 3ftx4ft chopping block to mount on a pig cooker that I am building. My ...
A: Hey Jeff, the best chopping blocks are Northern Rock Maple, and end grain blocks. These are hard to ...
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| Thinning Oil Based Wood Stain | 8/8/2008 |
Q: Why do manufactures of oil based wood stain, not recommend thinning their product? I find adding ...
A: the reason the manufacturer doesn't recommend it is that it will thin out the color density as well. ...
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| changing the color of kitchen cabinet stain | 8/5/2008 |
Q: .I would like to know if it is possible to add a "pickled" affect to already stained oak cabinets? ...
A: the particular style is "raised panel", and yes, you could mask off the area and add some color or a ...
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| changing the color of kitchen cabinet stain | 8/5/2008 |
Q: .I would like to know if it is possible to add a "pickled" affect to already stained oak cabinets? ...
A: it is not a simple DIY job, as pickling or staining cannot be done over an existing finish. Your ...
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| Staining Veneer | 7/31/2008 |
Q: How can I stain a 1/32" veneer all the way through? I want to be able to sand it but not lose the ...
A: most inlay work, if the right veneers are used, should match pretty well so as not to have this ...
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| Wood Shelf | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I saw a neat looking shelf at a art gallery while on vacation was interested in making one similar ...
A: it sounds like you're describing what's known as a "slab", and many sawmills produce them for use as ...
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| wood restoration | 7/28/2008 |
Q: One of the collections I deal with is furniture, and later will be more hands on in terms of ...
A: a distinction has to be made in regards to oils...oil finishes are drying oils that contain resins ...
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| Hidden hinges on mdf door | 7/28/2008 |
Q: I am building a very cheap mdf cabinet for our laundry. It will have 3 doors (720mmHx600mmWx18mm) ...
A: Sorry about the late response I was on vacation and thought I'd have email access. MDF has very bad ...
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| baseboard finish | 7/26/2008 |
Q: I have 24 year old baseboard trim that I took off when i put hardwood down. I'm not sure what finish ...
A: Sorry about the late response I was on vacation and thought I'd have email access. Typically, to ...
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| exterior butcher block table | 7/24/2008 |
Q: The table is outside fixed in my courtyard. It is 6' x 6' birch, 1 1/2" butcher block table. I ...
A: Sorry about the late response I was on vacation and thought I'd have email access. NO, you should ...
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| Teak color over oak polyurethane varnish | 7/22/2008 |
Q: Greg Scholl, I plan on getting a speaker that has an oak veneer polyurethane varnish finish. I ...
A: Hey Joe, if the polyurethane finish is as thin as it sounds like, you could try a Gel stain over the ...
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| how to protect table from scratches | 7/21/2008 |
Q: We just purchased a new cherry wood dining set and I noticed the table top scratches very easily. ...
A: you can't put anything over what's there now that will offer you any more protection. You'd have to ...
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| Staining hardwood floors | 7/21/2008 |
Q: My contractor recently sanded and stained my 50yr old hardwood floors. They look great except for ...
A: depending on the stain and finish he used, he might be right. The finish will tend to take a bit of ...
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| exterior butcher block table | 7/20/2008 |
Q: The table is outside fixed in my courtyard. It is 6' x 6' birch, 1 1/2" butcher block table. I ...
A: Hey Beau, I think it's a better idea, but this still won't survive in total exterior exposure...the ...
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| Finishing | 7/18/2008 |
Q: 3/4" Oak ply stained with Minwax Red Mahogany followed by Cabot Red Mahogany to increase darkness ...
A: Alcohol will not cut the stain as it's an oil stain, so mineral spirits would be the best choice. ...
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| Finishing | 7/18/2008 |
Q: 3/4" Oak ply stained with Minwax Red Mahogany followed by Cabot Red Mahogany to increase darkness ...
A: it's the stain, and the fact that what you're staining is essentially a piece of wood that's a ...
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| warping wood | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I am trying to find wood board that I can attach a copper plate onto leaving a small exposed rim ...
A: Pine isn't the best choice for something like this, as it's not very stable, and if you bought it at ...
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| Helmsman Spar urethane | 7/15/2008 |
Q: I am building a camper and am planning on painting the camper with Kilz primer and paint. I was ...
A: I wouldn't put a Spar Urethane over a paint on an exposed exterior surface. It will tend to yellow ...
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| pine wood stain | 7/14/2008 |
Q: Im living in rented accommodation and i have stained the pine wood table with mug rings and makeup ...
A: I'm afraid you'll probably have to strip the top and refinish...these stains have most likely ...
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| Cat urine stains | 7/14/2008 |
Q: My cat urinated on my oak kitchen table. I was away and when I came home it left a big black mark. ...
A: unfortunately, if the stain has turned black it means that it has penetrated the finish, and the ...
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| Will my Minwax stain ever dry? | 7/13/2008 |
Q: I applied Minwax stain to a dresser and bed set after the labourous task of stripping the previous ...
A: yes, it sounds like you left the stain on too thick...it's a common mistake, as the piece always ...
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| Minwax...why didn't I see this site earlier | 7/13/2008 |
Q: So we put a coat of the polyurethane on this morning which has since dried we are sanding it down ...
A: glad to hear it went ok, and that you're happy with it...but I still recommend at least 2 coats, 3 ...
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| Staining stairs in two stain colors | 7/12/2008 |
Q: We just added a second story to our house, and love our new staircase. We originally thought of ...
A: I have not seen it done, and one reason may be that instead of looking like a conscious decision, it ...
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| Minwax...why didn't I see this site earlier | 7/12/2008 |
Q: I used Minwax and now I'm kicking myself in the butt I am refinishing my hardwood floor in the ...
A: Each typical coat of Poly will cure out to approximately the thickness of a single layer of a heavy ...
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| Minwax...why didn't I see this site earlier | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I used Minwax and now I'm kicking myself in the butt I am refinishing my hardwood floor in the ...
A: you can only wipe with a little mineral spirits to lighten it....BUT it's difficult to do this ...
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| Minwax...why didn't I see this site earlier | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I used Minwax and now I'm kicking myself in the butt I am refinishing my hardwood floor in the ...
A: sounds like you've done a good job , and it might just be that the stain hasn't dried...if the ...
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| Cracks in Butchers Block | 7/11/2008 |
Q: I have rescued an old butchers block which was left damp in a barn. After drying out there are ...
A: Hey Chris...did you tighten both directions?....usually the bolts criss- cross the block. I would ...
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| beginner | 7/9/2008 |
Q: I'm a complete beginner. I want to make a "doll-house" for my daughter using pieces from trees that ...
A: Hey Matt, yes cut them a little oversized, and then cut the final dimension when you're doing the ...
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| beginner | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I'm a complete beginner. I want to make a "doll-house" for my daughter using pieces from trees that ...
A: there's really no way to make sure the wood won't crack, warp, etc...I would harvest the pieces you ...
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| Oil finish on teak table top | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I'm in the process of cleaning and oiling a teak table I just bought (using a teak cleaner and oil ...
A: ok, you can try the stripper, but I would recommend the stronger, Methylene Chloride stripper for an ...
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| Cracks in Butchers Block | 7/8/2008 |
Q: I have rescued an old butchers block which was left damp in a barn. After drying out there are ...
A: the only way to close up the gaps is to find the bolts that hold it together and pull the block ...
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| refinishing pine desk | 7/7/2008 |
Q: We're refinishing some pine desks - heavy stuff that had some stain and polyurethane of some kind on ...
A: again, it isn't a good idea to put poly over lacquer, and that's probably what your doing, as most ...
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| Oil finish on teak table top | 7/7/2008 |
Q: I'm in the process of cleaning and oiling a teak table I just bought (using a teak cleaner and oil ...
A: yes it sounds like you're right...I'm not familiar with Flag, but most of these oil finishes are the ...
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| refinishing pine desk | 7/6/2008 |
Q: We're refinishing some pine desks - heavy stuff that had some stain and polyurethane of some kind on ...
A: you can't leave the Minwax on the surface like this...and you also can't use this stain over a ...
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| Oil finish on teak table top | 7/5/2008 |
Q: I'm in the process of cleaning and oiling a teak table I just bought (using a teak cleaner and oil ...
A: can you tell me the products that you were given? and what did you sand it with? The original oil ...
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| wood floors splintering | 7/5/2008 |
Q: We are sanding down a wood floor. The flooring is very old 4 inch wide planks. A couple of them are ...
A: There are only a few fixes for this, repair the split areas by gluing and taping them with blue ...
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| applying white wash stain | 7/4/2008 |
Q: I have built new cabinets with soft maple.I am applying white wash stain. I have sanded them with 60 ...
A: Hey Troy, I think you're on the right track, sounds like a good plan.I wouldn't go any finer as ...
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| Wood sheets | 7/3/2008 |
Q: I am seeking a manufacturer of wood sheets for printing purposes. There is a company in Canada ...
A: I see that Cards of Wood sells the veneer sheets as well...wonder if they make them or whether they ...
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| Wood sheets | 7/3/2008 |
Q: I am seeking a manufacturer of wood sheets for printing purposes. There is a company in Canada ...
A: I have never heard of such a thing....do you mean printing with conventional inkjet type printing? ...
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| restoring an old grocery sign | 7/2/2008 |
Q: I am restoring a beautiful old wooden sign for our local grocery store. It has been hanging outside ...
A: sounds like a very cool project. I would choose good oil enamels, even sign painters enamels like ...
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| thinning woodworking stain | 7/1/2008 |
Q: Can you thin stain to get a lighter color - and if so what with? thanks Jim
A: Hey Jim, yes you can thin stain, an oil stain can be thinned with mineral spirits or Turps, or even ...
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| applying polyurethane after staining | 6/30/2008 |
Q: I applied a minwax stain to my front door a couple of days ago as it was looking pretty weather ...
A: did you wipe off the stain after applying it?...you can't just paint it on an leave it, as it will ...
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| pasiode 2nd fix nailer | 6/26/2008 |
Q: does the pasiode im 350/90 use the sane nails as the first fix
A: Hey Stuart.....I don't understand the question......first fix??? After doing some research I see ...
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| wooden hutch glass anchors/holders | 6/25/2008 |
Q: This should be a simple thing to find, but I'm having tons of trouble. We have a hutch from the ...
A: I have seen several variations of this type of glass retention clip...I would search at : ...
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| turning a stump into a table | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I am having a very large pine tree cut down. It grows less than 5 feet from my house , and I want to ...
A: Hey Ken, the finish you're talking about is an epoxy resin, a two part resin that's mixed and then ...
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| chopping block | 6/23/2008 |
Q: I have a couple stumps of freshly cut Box Elder (I think) and I want to save them for use as choping ...
A: drying wood like this is a hit or miss process. The first thing to do is to seal any end grain to ...
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| mineral spirits drying | 6/21/2008 |
Q: I had stained some cabinets doors to dark.I took strypzee to remove as much of the color as ...
A: you say you used Strypeeze, and that should have removed the entire finish down to bare wood. If ...
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| clear coat after stain | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I read your thread from Anne and have a somewhat similiar problem I started using Minwax Polyshade ...
A: the stain should be dry in 12-24 hours at the most, if it isn't dry after 5 days I would not proceed ...
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| clear coat after stain | 6/19/2008 |
Q: I read your thread from Anne and have a somewhat similiar problem I started using Minwax Polyshade ...
A: Hey Al. I don't remember that exact thread, but this is a common problem. To switch to a stain mid ...
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| Tung Oil Finish | 6/17/2008 |
Q: From the research I've done on this topic, it seems that finishes like Tru-oil, and some other items ...
A: Hey Steve, 100% pure Tung oil will give you a flatter sheen, but take longer to dry, similar to ...
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| Tung Oil Application | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I am about to attempt a modification to the stock dimentions of a shotgun of mine. The process ...
A: Hey Steve, tung oil is a great finish and can be reapplied at will...because these drying oil ...
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| tacky finish | 6/16/2008 |
Q: I recently bought a used cherry dresser (Restoration Hardware). Once I got it home, I noticed that ...
A: That's very odd...I guess I'd suggest washing it with a damp cloth ,wet with mineral spirits, and ...
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| staining hardwood floors | 6/12/2008 |
Q: last night we stained our hardwood floor after sanding and putting a conditioner on it (oil based ...
A: Hey Chris, I've heard this story SO many times...you can not leave the stain on...you have to wipe ...
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| water sealing a playset | 6/10/2008 |
Q: We bought a wooden playset made of cedar from Sam's club. They recommend treating it upon ...
A: I would wait a few weeks to let the playset weather slightly. Cedar has a natural resin that will ...
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| Inconsistent and blotchy stained maple wood and veneer | 6/8/2008 |
Q: I am a Cabinetmaker by trade but certainly not a professional finisher. I have stained and finished ...
A: Hey Keith,Maple does present some finishing challenges, and this is the reason most cabinet ...
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| tedious stripping | 6/7/2008 |
Q: What is the best way to strip white paint from large plantation shutters. I want to stain them with ...
A: the only thing I can suggest is to have them professionally stripped. Their methods are suited ...
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| tambour doors | 6/7/2008 |
Q: Greg, is it possible to build tambour closet doors with a height of 78" tall, and each side being ...
A: Ahhh...that makes more sense, but if all the weight of the tambours has to rest on one side,the ...
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| staining staircase | 6/7/2008 |
Q: I am building a house and I picked out the closest stain I could find to match my hardwood floors ...
A: Unfortunately if they've already polyurethaned the wood work, you can't darken it. Staining really ...
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| Terminology | 6/5/2008 |
Q: I am reading a book (Country Pine by Bill Hylton) and he uses the terminology in his list of ...
A: Actually, it's a little more convoluted than that for some reason...standard construction ...
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| Burl wood veneir Automotive application | 6/3/2008 |
Q: I am restoring a 1967 vintage limousine which has extensive burl wood accents in the interior. What ...
A: Hey Tim, working with Burl veneers is tricky, and there are many variables to be aware of. First of ...
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| restaining kitchen cabinets | 6/3/2008 |
Q: I have a greenish color stain or possibly antiquing process on my kitchen cabinets. I would like to ...
A: you'd have to strip off the existing finish, and it would be wise to find out what they're made of. ...
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| "roll top" closet doors | 6/1/2008 |
Q: Greg, is it possible to build tambour closet doors with a height of 78" tall, and each side being ...
A: that's a loaded question, not sure this would be too practical, I imagine the slats could be ...
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| Skirting boards seperating from walls | 5/31/2008 |
Q: We recently (5 months ago) moved into a chalet bungalow (bungalow with loft conversion). When we ...
A: Hey Dan, the easy answer is that the skirting boards are probably soft wood, and they're probably ...
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| how to | 5/31/2008 |
Q: .......and bring back to original colour, to match up with solid oak floor boards .any info greatly ...
A: you'll need to strip them with a Methylene Chloride stripper, using maybe, 0 or 00 steel wool, but ...
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| Is the Stain Dry Enough for Poly? | 5/29/2008 |
Q: I am building a bar in my basement, and so far everything has gone very well. I have applied an ...
A: Hey Matt, what you're describing sounds to me like a classic case of too much stain. Whenever you ...
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| Refinish a 4-poster | 5/23/2008 |
Q: Have an old 4-poster I want to refinish this weekend and on the headboard there is a floral design ...
A: Hey Brian, you might be able to stain darker, but you'll have to remove the existing finish to do ...
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| Refinish a 4-poster | 5/23/2008 |
Q: Have an old 4-poster I want to refinish this weekend and on the headboard there is a floral design ...
A: I guess I did a bad job of helping you, too...I think you mean a "fielded panel", usually a raised ...
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| Refinish a 4-poster | 5/23/2008 |
Q: Have an old 4-poster I want to refinish this weekend and on the headboard there is a floral design ...
A: that sounds like kind of a judgement call...there is probably a finish over the painted designs, so ...
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| Oil based stain | 5/21/2008 |
Q: Have you ever used a oil based stain and applied 2 layers of varnish and still had the stain smell ...
A: Hey again Ed, good that you used a Waterborne varnish...then the only question would be, did you ...
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| Oil based stain | 5/21/2008 |
Q: Have you ever used a oil based stain and applied 2 layers of varnish and still had the stain smell ...
A: yes oil based stains and varnishes can smell for quite a while. There may be areas that got stained ...
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| Finishes | 5/20/2008 |
Q: I've been working on a children's table for my 2+ year old niece and I'm not sure what finish to ...
A: Hey Bryan, I am a fan of those General products, and I think that's a good suggestion. Both are wipe ...
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| workbench | 5/18/2008 |
Q: A friend has been given a large door (about 3 feet x 8 feet) that he wants to use as the top of a ...
A: short of building a custom base, I don't really have a suggestion ...other than maybe using ...
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| foggy haze | 5/18/2008 |
Q: We are in the process of refinishing two hardwood (not sure what type) dressers. We applied one coat ...
A: I'm assuming you're talking about "PolyShades", and humidity can affect any solvent based ...
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| Drum refinishing | 5/14/2008 |
Q: I've got a drumkit I build a few years back that was left in a sunroom, which made a "fade" pattern ...
A: Hey Tom, I'm not too familiar with the powdered dyes...the ones I suggested were the Transtints, ...
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| Trying to cut wood for a Hexagon box | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I am trying to cut pieces of wood for a hexagon shape box. After cutting the six pieces exact ...
A: Hey Paul, this can be a maddening exercise in frustration, but it is caused by the fact that you're ...
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| Oiling oak furniture | 5/13/2008 |
Q: I have seen a nice oak sideboard that has been finished with a natural danish oil, i really like the ...
A: unfortunately, the color is pretty much set now, the color has to be established before the first ...
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| stripping | 5/13/2008 |
Q: our house was built in late 70's, dark stained wood thruout,how do you strip stained polyurithane ...
A: any good stripper will strip your window frames, but this is a big, messy job, and if originally ...
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| Drum refinishing | 5/12/2008 |
Q: I've got a drumkit I build a few years back that was left in a sunroom, which made a "fade" pattern ...
A: the lacquer will need to be stripped with a good stripper, and you might find most of the dye stain ...
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| wood filler for tigerwood | 5/8/2008 |
Q: I have installed pre-finished tigerwood floors. What filler will look good to fill where I had to ...
A: that's a beautiful wood, but no filler is going to match perfectly. I hope you only had to top nail ...
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| to correct tigerwood stripping | 5/7/2008 |
Q: Why when stripping tigerwood decking with deckscapes, which is a stain and seal remover, did it turn ...
A: I am not familiar with the Deckscapes product, or Tigerwood decking....what you're describing sounds ...
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| oiling oak table | 5/6/2008 |
Q: on an oak table from IKEA, what oil should we use on it? Should we wax on top of the oil after that? ...
A: Hey Lee, what are the Ikea maintenance instructions? I wouldn't wax an oil finish, as the wax might ...
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| making a cart | 5/3/2008 |
Q: i was just wondering if you could help me. i am researching somethings for a book i am writing and i ...
A: I'm afraid I really have no information to share with you on that subject, I would suspect that it ...
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| Kitchen table refinishing | 5/2/2008 |
Q: Is there a way to simi heat proof a kitchen table when I refinish it?
A: not too sure what you mean by "semi heatproof", but typically all finishes are susceptible to heat ...
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| repairing hardwood furniture...table, dresser, nightstand,end tables etc Colonial period | 5/2/2008 |
Q: Great site 1st of all. Have been refinishing damaged pieces of furniture that are all HARDWOOD and ...
A: Boiled Linseed oil can be used on furniture, not Raw Linseed oil, as the Raw Linseed oil will not ...
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| repairing hardwood furniture...table, dresser, nightstand,end tables etc Colonial period | 4/30/2008 |
Q: Great site 1st of all. Have been refinishing damaged pieces of furniture that are all HARDWOOD and ...
A: wow...eleven questions?? I'll start by saying that sure, a sander will sand down almost anything, ...
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| walnut burl venier | 4/28/2008 |
Q: how do i cover and then stain my walnut veneer sheet that is going to cover a cabinet and 8 ft ...
A: "how do i cover and then stain my Walnut veneer sheet" Hi Mary, I'm a bit confused by the ...
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| Warping | 4/26/2008 |
Q: I'm building a miniture grandpiano/music box. The plans call for the piano lid to be approximatly ...
A: that's a loaded question, the best choice would be Baltic Birch plywood, edged with some Birch edge ...
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| Varnishing a table | 4/23/2008 |
Q: Today I put a thin layer of varnish over a newly stained table, and after 2 hours it appears foggy? ...
A: it sounds like you didn't let it dry enough...if the temperatures cool at night, the drying time of ...
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| Removing varnish | 4/21/2008 |
Q: A tin of wood varnish has been accidentally tipped on our stone tile floor. Is there anything that ...
A: Varnish remover should be able to remove the varnish without hurting the stone. You would paint it ...
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| stripping stain from a dining room suite | 4/19/2008 |
Q: i am in the process of refinishing a dining room suite and i have a couple of layers of stain on it ...
A: stain is just one layer of what you're stripping and it will be the last layer you get to. You have ...
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| old wood windows | 4/18/2008 |
Q: I have a house that is about 105 years old and has a very nice front porch that is enclosed. The ...
A: you're on the right track, if you take the time to do a proper repair on it, you probably won't need ...
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| Staining or Painting | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a bleached oak Staircase (handrail) with wood spindles too. We are putting dark ...
A: Paint will look different,...it will look like....paint....no wood grain showing through. It might ...
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| old wood windows | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a house that is about 105 years old and has a very nice front porch that is enclosed. The ...
A: hmmm...it sounds like the wood is dry rotted then, if the wood just broke out around the mortise and ...
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| old wood windows | 4/17/2008 |
Q: I have a house that is about 105 years old and has a very nice front porch that is enclosed. The ...
A: if the joint just came apart, then you can reglue it, but to do a proper repair, the window should ...
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| Staining or Painting | 4/16/2008 |
Q: I have a bleached oak Staircase (handrail) with wood spindles too. We are putting dark ...
A: you'll probably have to strip the handrail of it's current finish, and then stain and finish to ...
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| shells and dremel cuttting | 4/15/2008 |
Q: I have gathered several shells and want to dremel them to fit as wings on birds on a chinese screen. ...
A: this sounds like pretty exacting, delicate work, and if you're convinced you're not good with your ...
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| Making log furniture | 4/15/2008 |
Q: Greg, hello! I have a desire to turn furniture making into my hobby and am just starting out. I am ...
A: it will likely split, and it could be more than a bit, and you won't be able to predict what will ...
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| poly over lacquer finish | 4/15/2008 |
Q: I started to finish a piece of furniture with lacquer but cant get the finish applied evenly with my ...
A: Hey Neil, this is a common problem with shooting lacquer. It sounds like you're having issues with ...
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| warping | 4/13/2008 |
Q: i have long believed wood (baseboard trim, t/g flooring)warps "to" the moisture. in other words, the ...
A: Hey Rob, wood will tend to cup towards the dryer side, because the cells are actually getting ...
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| wood cracking | 4/9/2008 |
Q: I make simple tables from 1.5-2 inch thick pine/maple/walnut slab tops. I've made over 50 of these ...
A: Hey again, Jed...while this forum is to help with questions related to Wood, Wood finishing, etc., I ...
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| Deck foundation repair | 4/9/2008 |
Q: Here you go, i just added a deck on the back of my house about 2 years ago, i did not put the post ...
A: I'm sure you know what I'm going to say, so here goes. You have to have a proper footing when doing ...
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| Redoing Wood Spindles on Railings | 4/9/2008 |
Q: When my house was built, the original owners used pine wood spindles with nice oak banisters for the ...
A: unfortunately there is no easy way, and the most cost effective way is going to be to replace the ...
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| wood cracking | 4/8/2008 |
Q: I make simple tables from 1.5-2 inch thick pine/maple/walnut slab tops. I've made over 50 of these ...
A: Hey again Jed, "So, just one thing more to be clear: you're saying even if the wood is adequately ...
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| Cracking on wood cabinets | 4/7/2008 |
Q: Our home was flooded 2 weeks ago and the service cleaning company put dryers and blowers all over ...
A: sorry to hear about your flood, What causes damage like this is the high humidity of the flood ...
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| wood cracking | 4/7/2008 |
Q: I make simple tables from 1.5-2 inch thick pine/maple/walnut slab tops. I've made over 50 of these ...
A: the wood shop tends to be a pretty dry place, and the more important issue, is where these slabs go ...
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| veneer kitchen cabinets | 4/6/2008 |
Q: I have 1950's wood cabinets in my kitchen. They are in great shape but need refinishing. It looks ...
A: They may be veneered, and if they are Oak, it will be quite difficult to go to a Dark Mahogany ...
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| miniature tuscan or doric column from dowel | 4/3/2008 |
Q: I am new to the hobby of dollhouse making, I just ordered a nice mid priced doll house kit and want ...
A: the only way to taper a dowel consistently is on a lathe. Perhaps you could contact a local turner, ...
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| buying lumber | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I am building a wind tunnel as a piece of lab equipment for my university. I need some direction on ...
A: you can order "dimensional" lumber, meaning already sized for use. (1x4, 5/4x6, 2x10, etc., etc.) ...
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| antique finish | 4/1/2008 |
Q: I have a dining table that is maple with walnut inlay.However,I want it to be antique white with a ...
A: I'm not sure I understand the final look you're after, and to have a table that's Maple with a ...
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| Bevel cutting with a table saw | 3/31/2008 |
Q: Scholl, I feel the most idiot person when cutting bevels with my table saw. When I have to cut a ...
A: If you are making bevel cuts like that to join a box for instance, the distance from the blade to ...
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| Bevel cutting with a table saw | 3/31/2008 |
Q: Scholl, I feel the most idiot person when cutting bevels with my table saw. When I have to cut a ...
A: I'm not too sure I understand the question. When you refer to beveling, are you referring to ...
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| plug holes in my banister | 3/30/2008 |
Q: im in the process of staining the oak post. i noticed you can see the plug holes where they drilled ...
A: I'm a little confused by your question...do you mean that the screw holes are covered with wood ...
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| tree table | 3/28/2008 |
Q: I recently saw a post regarding a tree trunk table (also from a stephanie!). I am working on ...
A: there's no real easy answers to what you're trying to do, it's going to be a guess as to whether you ...
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| steel wools/water stains on cherry | 3/25/2008 |
Q: I edge glued cherry ply with solid cherry and cleaned the glue joints with a water wet 0000 steel ...
A: Yeah, steel wool and water isn't a good combination, as the steel fibers will rust quickly, so ...
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| wood finishing | 3/21/2008 |
Q: I recently was given a pair of Stero Speakers. However, the wood finish is cracking/peeling. How ...
A: Hey Jimmy, only really high end speakers have real wood veneer cabinets, all others have a vinyl ...
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| working from logs | 3/20/2008 |
Q: I've built many things from woods of various kinds and confident I know what I'm doing. I have an ...
A: Hey Wayne, what a loaded question here....Ideally, any wood you want to build furniture with should ...
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| spindles | 3/18/2008 |
Q: i am looking for wood spindles 8" to 15" about 1 1/2"-2" thick with hollow ends that allow for ...
A: sorry, but I've never seen what you're describing for sale by itself....maybe as part of a complete ...
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| New floor treatment | 3/9/2008 |
Q: I have laid approx 50m2 of softwood flooring in my attic and bedroom. Should i apply oil or ...
A: I would suggest a urethane varnish for it's toughness and durability. Minwax makes a good product ...
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| Finishing Birdseye Maple Window Sill | 3/8/2008 |
Q: I was the lucky recipient of a 7ft long, 50+ year old piece of beautiful Birdseye Maple and am ready ...
A: Hey Ed, sounds like a nice piece. I think I would use an "Danish" or Tung oil finish like Watco or ...
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| restaining kitchen cabinets | 3/5/2008 |
Q: I would like to re-stain my existing kitchen cabinets. I know the doors are solid oak, but I'm not ...
A: It's not possible to restain your kitchen cabinets without stripping them down to the bare wood. ...
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| hardwood trim | 3/5/2008 |
Q: ok hers the deal i have stained and cut my knotty alder crown molding and i am going to install it ...
A: Hey Jason, I wouldn't suggest caulking your crown molding at all, actually. Especially with a ...
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| wooden rocking horse repair | 3/4/2008 |
Q: I was given a heavy pine (I think) rocking horse that had been left out in the weather. It is still ...
A: ok, well you can "de" grey it with a wash with a Deck Brightener solution like Wolmans or similar. ...
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| Restoring dry wood on Eastlake bed | 3/4/2008 |
Q: I would like to apply something to the wood of this bed. I bought it at an antique auction and the ...
A: Tung oil finishes are available in Gloss levels, (Gloss, satin, etc), but the Watco is not, and with ...
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| Restoring dry wood on Eastlake bed | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I would like to apply something to the wood of this bed. I bought it at an antique auction and the ...
A: you could use Watco or a Tung oil based finish like Waterlox or Formbys. I think the mixture you're ...
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| wooden rocking horse repair | 3/3/2008 |
Q: I was given a heavy pine (I think) rocking horse that had been left out in the weather. It is still ...
A: That's a really loaded question that I could almost write a book about, there are so many variables ...
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| Removing wood finish and stain | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I have a entertainment center that needs a new finish and stain so I'm trying to remove the old one. ...
A: Chemicals my man, chemicals. A good stripper is a better way to approach refinishing, because it's ...
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| pocket hole joint | 3/2/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a pocket hole kit from Home Depot. I have no complaints about it, it does the ...
A: Hey Ed, ahhh....now I think I get the picture, could it be that they assembled this frame with a ...
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| Cutting Down a Table | 2/29/2008 |
Q: I have a kitchen trestle table that is made of several woods laminated together -- I suppose you ...
A: Butcher block is different than laminating, but either could be cut down. A modern carbide saw blade ...
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| pocket hole joint | 2/28/2008 |
Q: I recently purchased a pocket hole kit from Home Depot. I have no complaints about it, it does the ...
A: Hey Ed, not clear on your question....pocket hole construction utilizes pocket holes and screws on ...
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| miniature woodworking tools | 2/28/2008 |
Q: What brand of miniature tools do you think are the best in terms of quality and durability. I had ...
A: I'm really not too sure about these type of tools, but obviously you usually get what you pay for. ...
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| miniature woodworking tools | 2/28/2008 |
Q: I am interested in making some small sculptures in wood, plaster and pour stone and want to start ...
A: Dremel has some decent tools, and the Foredom machine is nice, but the tooling is the workhorse, so ...
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| staining maple wood cabinets | 2/25/2008 |
Q: I just finished fabricating a maple entertainment center using maple vaneer plywood and solid maple ...
A: Hey Brad, to match what you've done, the answer's simple....keep doing what you're doing. But if ...
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| staining maple wood cabinets | 2/24/2008 |
Q: I just finished fabricating a maple entertainment center using maple vaneer plywood and solid maple ...
A: Maple can be a bit of a pain to stain evenly. First suggestion I would make is, ALWAYS figure out ...
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| black spots on mdf | 2/22/2008 |
Q: I am currently building a house and have noticed that the mdf wood that i am using throughout my ...
A: I'm concerned that you're using a lot of MDF throughout your house...could you elaborate? MDF is ...
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| Cedar | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I have just finished putting in a cedar bathroom. With tile going on the tub area and then as a base ...
A: Hey Dave, while I've never heard of tile "burning" the wood, it's possible it could trap water ...
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| finshing cabinet | 2/19/2008 |
Q: I constructed an island cabinet for our kitchen using oak plywood, hickory beadboard and poplar. My ...
A: Hey Dennis, you can definitely get them to match, but it will take some color work on your part. Try ...
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| Cedar | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I have just finished putting in a cedar bathroom. With tile going on the tub area and then as a ...
A: I'm confused a bit by the question...burn the Cedar?? could you elaborate on that? Anything that ...
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| gum wood | 2/18/2008 |
Q: I could use a little help! My house has gum wood doors, door frames,woodwork. After so many years ...
A: the black is dirt and grime, and the way to deal with it is to strip the banister. There is probably ...
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| dowel polishing | 2/16/2008 |
Q: How can I efficiently polish 100 nine-inch dowels, 5/8" in diameter, for food contact? Before I part ...
A: I would think that carbide tooling would last for a long time, the problem would probably ...
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| dowel polishing | 2/16/2008 |
Q: How can I efficiently polish 100 nine-inch dowels, 5/8" in diameter, for food contact? Before I part ...
A: do they need to be polished?...with a slick sealed surface?...or can they just be coated with ...
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| Power tool question | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I have a question on a power tool I am considering buying. I have been looking at drill presses. ...
A: I would buy a Heavy duty tool, the only advantage to the floor standing model really is the size of ...
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| Finishing a custom fine furniture project | 2/13/2008 |
Q: I am constructing a custom kitchen cabinet showpiece with a cherry plywood base and wall cabinet ...
A: Hey Larry, sorry about the delay in answering your query, we had some real bad weather through here ...
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| refinishing a mahogany stair handrail | 2/12/2008 |
Q: Our stair rail and post are about 80 years old. Some parts are worn pale and others dark with I ...
A: Hey Jim, The best way is to strip the old finish off with a good varnish remover, restain and ...
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| minwax stain wont dry | 2/11/2008 |
Q: ok, i stained two chairs with minwax stain. the chairs had no finish on them .i sanded to get any ...
A: yes you will have a problem with it drying...I would take a rag wet with mineral spirits and wash ...
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| Mahogani varnish | 2/9/2008 |
Q: I have a cabinet made out of mahogany. The wood is raw. What are the steps to take in order to ...
A: The first step would be to make sure it's all smooth and clean. If you wet it with mineral spirits ...
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| Cherry Stain | 2/8/2008 |
Q: I have a Head board and night stand that was bumped a few times while moving now that I have sanded ...
A: I'm not too clear on your question. The stain will not darken as it dries, but I'm a little confused ...
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| Printed wood paper "veneer" | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I have two projects I am working on right now. One is a bookcase that I have covered with an oak ...
A: I'm afraid I've never seen this stuff for sale. The companies that use it incorporate it into the ...
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| Beech table | 2/5/2008 |
Q: The manufacturer recommends treating it with a linseed oil/wood treatment oil mix. Another option ...
A: it's really a matter of how much protection you want, and how often you want to have to renew that ...
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| wood choice for dining room table | 2/5/2008 |
Q: I am interested in making a mission style dining room table. I am looking at birch and poplar as the ...
A: that's a pretty adventurous project! Most mission style furniture is made of white Oak, and often ...
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| rocking chair runner repair | 2/3/2008 |
Q: I broke an antique rocker's runner (one side) at the point where the runner meets the back leg. ...
A: if it's cracked lengthwise along the grain then you can just glue it with some good wood glue, ...
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| Simplest refinish for wood banisters | 1/29/2008 |
Q: We have 15-yr old soft wood stair banisters and railings that were coated with some type of light ...
A: I wouldn't suggest finishing over the old, dirty finish. The stain and finish won't penetrate into ...
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| veneer bed | 1/29/2008 |
Q: I've just bought a used contemporary captain's bed for my young son. The end was badly scratched ...
A: your probably right about the construction, usually end panels like this are plywood or MDF with a ...
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| finshing interior tongue & groove | 1/27/2008 |
Q: I'm installing interior aspen T&G with a 50/50 early american stain/paint tinner mix. Can I clear ...
A: yes you can clear coat it with a number of products. or you could have used a Danish oil product ...
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| restaining kitchen cabinets to a darker color | 1/27/2008 |
Q: Our house is only 4 years old. I wanted to have the cabinets stained darker, but didn't have it ...
A: you'd have to strip the cabinets with a varnish remover and sand them properly to rid them of the ...
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| where to buy crown molding | 1/26/2008 |
Q: Is there a millwork shop where they displace the largest selection of wood crown molding?
A: I'd suggest you visit a Lumber yard...Not HomeDepot or Lowes, but a REAL Lumber yard, or Custom ...
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| wood turning colors | 1/25/2008 |
Q: I am building a bar and using walnut to trim out the edges. I used a spray varnish and was not happy ...
A: Goof Off is not a varnish remover. It will remove adhesive residue and latex paint splatter, WITHOUT ...
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| wood turning colors | 1/23/2008 |
Q: I am building a bar and using walnut to trim out the edges. I used a spray varnish and was not happy ...
A: not too sure what you've done wrong, but polyurethane should never be applied over a varnish as a ...
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| dryingwood | 1/17/2008 |
Q: i have some large blocks of maple, that are green. im looking for a way too dry them in a michigan ...
A: the key is to immediately seal the end grain and keep them in an area that is not subject to rapid ...
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| Beech, Birch or White Oak for cutting countertop | 1/14/2008 |
Q: We are planning to purchase and join butcher block sold by Ikea to make a large island butcher ...
A: I don't have any photos unfortunately, and while a little Bleach will help with staining, you will ...
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| Beech, Birch or White Oak for cutting countertop | 1/13/2008 |
Q: We are planning to purchase and join butcher block sold by Ikea to make a large island butcher ...
A: I would choose Beech. It's about as hard as Maple, and has the same closed grain that Maple does. ...
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| refininshing dresser | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I think I have a cherry dresser. I stripped the paint and the grain is really nice but I read that ...
A: it's hard to advise you on how to tell if your dresser is Cherry...other than to suggest a trip to ...
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| Joining of wood - Pine | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I have a lot of 1x4-26" pcs of pine. I want to join 2 pcs together to make at least 41" boards. What ...
A: I guess it really depends on what you're going to do with these..you could create wider planks, ...
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| Joining of wood - Pine | 1/11/2008 |
Q: I have a lot of 1x4-26" pcs of pine. I want to join 2 pcs together to make at least 41" boards. What ...
A: Hey Ken, I guess I'd question why you'd want to subject yourself to that, but, yes, you could make a ...
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| cleaning up cherry | 1/10/2008 |
Q: I bought a 25 year old hand made cherry wood gun cabinet , not fancy but nice . they were smokers & ...
A: Hey mark, I would clean it with some 000 steel wool and mineral spirits. Take a bowl a pour the ...
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| Table scratched | 1/7/2008 |
Q: Our Dining table has a mirror like finish and was scratched with a child's toy car. What can we do? ...
A: you might be able to polish out the scratches. Hopefully they are not too deep into the finish. 3M ...
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| Dining Table | 1/4/2008 |
Q: I have a solid wood, 1960's dining table from Denmark, that I was hoping to refininsh the table top. ...
A: most of these tables are not solid, they're veneered, so sanding must be done carefully. I would ...
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| Wood refurbishing | 12/29/2007 |
Q: I have two matching old gable trim ends that I want to finish to hang in my shabby chic living room. ...
A: there's a couple of ways you could go. The hardest part would be to try to get them to match, so I ...
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| angle cuts similiar question... | 12/9/2007 |
Q: When I take two lengths of 20" boards and over lap them to cut at approximately 30 degrees, the ...
A: Hey Chris, I am confused...if you're trying to join these boards at a 30 degree angle you have to ...
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| dying maple | 12/9/2007 |
Q: I have built a small table using maple. I would like to dye the wood, but am unsure of the steps ...
A: Hey Paul, Maple can be a little blotchy with a dye stain, so yes, you could use a coat of "prestain ...
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| crown moulding | 12/8/2007 |
Q: I am installing crown around my family room. The problem is that the stair well going up stairs ...
A: crown molding can be tricky, and what you have is a compound miter situation. You'll need a saw that ...
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| daybed changing color | 12/7/2007 |
Q: I want to change the color of a daybed that was bought at a off brand furniture store and its color ...
A: I would just go for the primer and paint I think. You can use a tinted or gray primer and buy good ...
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| Wood Venier | 12/5/2007 |
Q: Is it possible to stain wood veiner? I have a table that has veiner on it but I would like to stain ...
A: if it's wood, then it can be stained...the problem is the finish on the veneer will have to be ...
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| Using table saw for large wood pieces | 12/4/2007 |
Q: Greg, I'm undertaking a woodworking project (making a TV stand 60" wide, 24" high & 19" deep) which ...
A: .....sorry, I thought my answer was more clear...this type clamp(-able) straight edge, is for using ...
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| lift out tray | 12/3/2007 |
Q: I would like to replace some lift out trays the type you get in jewellery/sewing boxes what’s the ...
A: I would say any cabinet grade wood will make nice trays, Cherry, Maple, Birch, Oak, etc...bottoms of ...
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| Using table saw for large wood pieces | 12/3/2007 |
Q: Greg, I'm undertaking a woodworking project (making a TV stand 60" wide, 24" high & 19" deep) which ...
A: Hey Bill, I'm guessing that you bought a portable type table saw, but I'm surprised to hear it will ...
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| Finishing old stumps | 12/1/2007 |
Q: I saw a beautiful coffee table using an old branched out stump and a simple glass top. It looked ...
A: Hey Howard, I've seen table bases like that too...it's a loaded question though, because it would ...
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| STAINING AN OLD TREE ROOT | 11/30/2007 |
Q: I HAVE THIS OLD TREE ROOT OUTSIDE THAT IS VERY UNUSAL IN SHAPE. I WANTED TO STAIN AND FINISH IT TO ...
A: Hey Sandi, please try not to type in all caps, it makes seem AS IF YOU'RE YELLING. If the root has ...
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| Green Wood | 11/29/2007 |
Q: I was recently given a piece of wood to make into a mantle shelf for my brick fireplace. The piece ...
A: Hey Andrew, I think you're on the right track...if the house has the heat on already..I'd leave it ...
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| Green Wood | 11/28/2007 |
Q: I was recently given a piece of wood to make into a mantle shelf for my brick fireplace. The piece ...
A: that'll make a nice mantle shelf for sure... But if it's really green, I'd be concerned about ...
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| color of stain | 11/20/2007 |
Q: Can you change or darken the color of the srain after you have put on Polyurethane? The colors on ...
A: Hey Gary, unfortunately it is difficult to effect any change after you have put the final coats of ...
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| Woodturning | 11/10/2007 |
Q: I actually live in Silvermine. I am trying to locate a woodturner to turn some american chestnut ...
A: Hey Trip, nice to hear from you. I would be interested in doing it for you, what condition is the ...
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| Raising a Treehouse | 11/8/2007 |
Q: I am looking into raising an old treehouse higher into the air so that it can be used as a deer ...
A: Hey Dan, sounds like you're on the right track. I think I'd use the 4ft 4x4's, and then countersink ...
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| Redwood, Lots | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I recently decided I wanted to make myself a redwood garden sign. I hit the Internet to look for a ...
A: Hey Erik...I would definitely seal the end grain then......some damage may have occurred already ...
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| Redwood, Lots | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I recently decided I wanted to make myself a redwood garden sign. I hit the Internet to look for a ...
A: Hey Erik, nice find! I guess it depends on whether it was under cover outside, or exposed to the ...
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| Refinish or remove and re-stain? | 11/7/2007 |
Q: I have been given a beautiful oak bed with a warm honey tone. It's in very good shape, but I want ...
A: While I can appreciate, very much, your "do it yourself" attitude,and share it with you, there are ...
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| Refinish or remove and re-stain? | 11/6/2007 |
Q: I have been given a beautiful oak bed with a warm honey tone. It's in very good shape, but I want ...
A: it's not just a matter of stain,in fact the bed may not have stain at all as some Oak in it's ...
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| Stairs handrail staining.... | 10/31/2007 |
Q: I wish to stain my new stairs handrail. I want to achieve a dark mahogany color with a hint of red ...
A: Hey Brian...your best bet is a dye stain like Behlens NGR line of stains. ...
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| ornamental pear | 10/29/2007 |
Q: Is the ornamental pear suitable for woodworking, or firewood?
A: yes ornamental Pear is a beautiful wood for woodworking. These trees tend to not have a center ...
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| miniwax stain | 10/28/2007 |
Q: I saw a question similar to the one I have about tacky stain. You had answered to make certain the ...
A: I think you could use the Gel stain, as long as after you clean off the Minwax it does finally dry. ...
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| miniwax stain | 10/27/2007 |
Q: I saw a question similar to the one I have about tacky stain. You had answered to make certain the ...
A: sorry about your sticky situation. Not too sure why your stain would not dry well...but I am not a ...
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| Poker Top for Table | 10/21/2007 |
Q: I have a 48" diameter table that I want to build an 8 sided poker top. Do you have an equation to ...
A: Hey Bret, sorry about the delay in answering your question. There probably is some mathematical ...
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| Counter top angles | 10/20/2007 |
Q: I am trying to lay 2 pre-fab counter top along a wall with a 30 degree angle and when I cut the ...
A: I thought I sent you an answer to your dilemma last night, but I don't see it listed for some ...
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| preparation of plywood for painting | 10/15/2007 |
Q: i want to do painting and craft works on plywood..am using acrylic paints.so what should i do to ...
A: I would by the smoothest plywood you can afford, There are different grades (AC, BC, CDX, etc.), a ...
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| TREE FINISHING | 10/13/2007 |
Q: I have a large tree trunk piece that was cut down, and would like to finish it to make a coffee ...
A: if this piece is "green" wood, then it's difficult to do this without the piece cracking during ...
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| Stain over stain | 10/13/2007 |
Q: I have a redwood picnic table that had been stained with cupernal redwood stain many times over the ...
A: Hey Norm, Don't think a TSP wash would do any good at this point, when you say the stain was coming ...
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| Warped Elmwood | 10/12/2007 |
Q: I have many pieces of Elmwood that have gotten wet and are now warped, is there a way that I can fix ...
A: unfortunately, there's probably not much you can do. Elm is a beautiful wood, and fairly rare as a ...
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| Stain over stain | 10/12/2007 |
Q: I have a redwood picnic table that had been stained with cupernal redwood stain many times over the ...
A: Hey Norm , sorry to hear about your now Brown picnic table. I assume your speaking of Cuprinol which ...
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| Staining wood furniture | 10/12/2007 |
Q: I recently stained a wood coffee table that is made out of pine with a oil based stain.I used a ...
A: sorry to hear about your stain dilemma. You say you sanded and cleaned it first, what was on it to ...
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| Changing color of tongue and groove pine panelling | 10/11/2007 |
Q: We've just bought a cabin and the entire inside is tongue and grove pine that has been sealed with ...
A: ...I have a summer cottage in Maine that has the same tongue and groove paneling, finished the same ...
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| Mahogany and Softwood stairs case | 10/11/2007 |
Q: We have installed a stairs into our house, its a handmade Mahoganya dn Softwood stair case, it has a ...
A: You'll need to stain the mahogany if you desire it to look like Dark Walnut. Many stains will work ...
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| sanding an oak dining tatble for refinishing | 10/10/2007 |
Q: I have an octagon shaped oak table that is pieced together and all of the grain does not go in one ...
A: Hey Jim, thanks for the kind words, a random orbital shouldn't set you back too much, and is a very ...
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| overlap marks.. | 10/10/2007 |
Q: stain. The overlap marks are nasty. When doing a second coat, should I still use a brush, or opt ...
A: By "Georgia" I am assuming that this is Yellow pine or what we call "Heart" pine in the North...I am ...
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| sanding an oak dining tatble for refinishing | 10/9/2007 |
Q: I have an octagon shaped oak table that is pieced together and all of the grain does not go in one ...
A: Hey Jim, thanks for the question, this sounds like a more modern table, so my fear is that the top ...
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| restoring rosewood handles | 10/8/2007 |
Q: Is there a way to bring back the dark finish without poisoning myself when I use the silverware? ...
A: If the color returns when the handles get wet, and the wood is smooth and in good shape, then you ...
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| Tool Chest | 10/7/2007 |
Q: I have drawn out (square!) plans for a tool chest I hope to build. I have tried numerous times to ...
A: Hey Zach, thanks for the question. I went to your site and viewed the plans, and this looks like a ...
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| Wood Rot | 10/3/2007 |
Q: If I use a hard wood that is not treated. Could I use it under water? If it is not exposed to air, ...
A: Hey Chris,how are you? It's an interesting question, but it might be helpful to know more about the ...
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