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Woodworking/Questions Answered by Expert Greg Scholl
| Subject | Date Asked |
| Fruitless Mulberry Slab | 2/6/2012 |
| Q: My husband has humored me and sliced a slab from a very old Fruitless Mulberry we had to remove. It ... A: the slab needs to be dried carefully to about 10% moisture content, and that's difficult to do, ... | |
| Newton Presbyterian Church Rafter Restoration | 2/3/2012 |
| Q: I do not know if you remember me, and my concern. I asked you to advise on the cleaning of grime ... A: I thought I had enclosed a link to WaterLox "Original" which is what I recommended. I would NOT use ... | |
| Table with lines | 1/27/2012 |
| Q: what kind of table have lines in the middle of the table that go out . i have this table that i i ... A: Antique generally means 100+ years old...I don't think it's that old...vintage is a pretty "catch ... | |
| Table with lines | 1/26/2012 |
| Q: what kind of table have lines in the middle of the table that go out . i have this table that i i ... A: the lines are just the veneer pattern...there's really no name for that type of table top....I have ... | |
| Stripping moulding with a dog in the house | 1/20/2012 |
| Q: I am using Citristrip to strip paint from doors and moulding in my older home. I am about to strip ... A: I'm a little confused by the question.....when doing anything with chemicals like that I would ... | |
| blue beech wood flooring | 1/16/2012 |
| Q: Can blue beech wood be used for flooring? Is blue beech wood light in colour? Can blue beech wood be ... A: Hey Bob, I'm assuming you're referring to American Hornbeam (Carpinus caroliniana), which is not a ... | |
| Keeping wood from splitting | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: I'm working on a craft project using both coconut and bamboo. They are subject to constant moisture ... A: You would need to seal the porous nature of the materials, and I would suggest something like a ... | |
| Keeping wood from splitting | 1/14/2012 |
| Q: I'm working on a craft project using both coconut and bamboo. They are subject to constant moisture ... A: Hey Rex, a finish will not keep the material from expanding and contracting....what kind of moisture ... | |
| Old barn wood cabinetry | 1/11/2012 |
| Q: I purchased refurbished barn beams and had a professional cabinet maker make a wooden hood and ... A: any idea what type of wood it is? Unfortunately, the natural coloration is something you have very ... | |
| Grime removal | 1/3/2012 |
| Q: Do you know of a solution that will remove years of old dirty grime from a large sanctuary rafters, ... A: there is no magic solution, removing years of grime will take much labor and elbow grease...if they ... | |
| Finishing stainable pine doors | 12/28/2011 |
| Q: Have Mexican bedroom furniture. Pretty rough pine. Afraid new custom stainable pine doors will not ... A: You'll likely need to "antique" or otherwise distress the doors and then use a multi step ... | |
| Golden Oak Minwax 210B | 12/6/2011 |
| Q: I have two cans of Golden Oak stain and even the picture on the front are not the same. One is ... A: Hey Mark, one is an old formula, one is the new formula. Minwax stains have been reformulated ... | |
| Worn rocker runner repair | 12/5/2011 |
| Q: I recently acquired a Morris Reclining Rocker No 58 and the runners are worn fairly flat. I do not ... A: yes you certainly could do that repair to the rockers, but it has to be done accurately. The first ... | |
| wood refinishing | 11/21/2011 |
| Q: I searched the web and can't find an answer. I want to buy some maple cutting boards for a project. ... A: ..no it can't be sanded of, as it's a non drying, non curing oil......but with use and regular ... | |
| Finishing Reclaimed HeartPine | 11/9/2011 |
| Q: I produce heart pine flooring and am frequentluy called upon to install, sand, and finish. My ... A: sorry about the late reply, we were without power for a week up here.....the flooring coatings world ... | |
| re-finishing red oak floors | 11/3/2011 |
| Q: I just bought a condo, and my floor guy has already sanded down the red oak floors (the wood ... A: The Duraseal is a better stain I think,...Jacobean really has some greenish/black tones, Minwax has ... | |
| re-finishing red oak floors | 11/2/2011 |
| Q: I just bought a condo, and my floor guy has already sanded down the red oak floors (the wood ... A: everything he said is correct...this is the nature of the material. The Red Oak has that inherent ... | |
| Possible to Change sheen of top coat? | 10/23/2011 |
| Q: I'm wondering if you can help... I have an old chest of drawers that I recently repainted, and am ... A: did you stir up the Satin topcoat well before and during application?The flattening agents sink to ... | |
| outdoor, old oak table | 10/13/2011 |
| Q: I have a 4" thick, oak door from Mission San Rafael that is over 100 years old. We have been using ... A: I would opt for a penetrating finish like Flood CWF-UV or Cabot's Australian Timber oil...these ... | |
| wood fillers | 10/6/2011 |
| Q: I'm doing some hardwood floors upstairs in a hallway leading downstairs and I used a stair tread. I ... A: Hey Kenny, trying to match filler to an opened grain wood like Oak is always challenging....the best ... | |
| Arts & crafts fireplace mantel -- DIY-able? | 9/27/2011 |
| Q: I was wondering if you could provide your opinion on the degree of difficulty of constructing a ... A: Sorry about the late reply, the mantle looks pretty straight forward, but does require a pretty good ... | |
| Discoloration of Antique Pine Chest | 9/23/2011 |
| Q: I have an antique pine blanket chest that has recently developed several dark spots - one is about 5 ... A: sounds like perhaps it's more than a single issue...what cleaning/maintenance has been done on the ... | |
| Oak table tile insert | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: I am refinishing a coffee table with an oak top and would like to insert an approximate 10" x 25" ... A: Hey Wayne, sorry about the late reply....I would consider making a template to fit the inlay, and ... | |
| DECK PROBLEM | 9/20/2011 |
| Q: My son and his friend applied 2 coats of deck stain to our deck. His friend suggested putting a ... A: sorry about the late reply....I have no easy answer for you, and likely the Thompsons will not dry, ... | |
| It's the dresser lady again!! | 8/31/2011 |
| Q: Many thanks again Greg! I just closed my eyes and started with the gel stain. I wanted it mainly ... A: Pam, what a shame....the stripper will remove everything...you could carefully sand down the finish ... | |
| General Finishes Satin Gel Top Coat Poly | 8/25/2011 |
| Q: ..) I am building a fish tank stand. Some areas (in fact, only a very small section on the top and ... A: Hey Dave, nice looking stand, the Gel urethane is a great product, but I would be a bit concerned ... | |
| whats best for kitchen cabinets varnish or oil | 8/9/2011 |
| Q: ANSWER: Hey Mark....that's a loaded question..what oil are you referring to?..If you're referring to ... A: As I said, I have no idea whats available in the part of the world you're from...or what you're ... | |
| whats best for kitchen cabinets varnish or oil | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: Thank you A: Hey Mark....that's a loaded question..what oil are you referring to?..If you're referring to an oil ... | |
| sanding a wooden bowl | 8/8/2011 |
| Q: What is the best an easiest way to sand a wooden bowl? I think this one may be either pine or ... A: what type of sander attachment did you use and what grit did you sand down to? There are specialty ... | |
| Matching Wood Floor Finishes | 8/7/2011 |
| Q: Recently I had to strip and lightly restain a small portion of my oak wood floors in our kitchen ... A: Hey Sid, likely one of the main reasons he wanted to do the whole floor was to make it all ... | |
| Tool question... | 8/4/2011 |
| Q: Mr. Scholl, Does a scroll saw basically do the same thing that a band saw does, just on a lesser, ... A: not really, a scroll saw is for fine fretwork and smaller cutting on an accurate scale, whereas a ... | |
| wood flooring | 8/2/2011 |
| Q: I just read a post regarding the removal/cleaning of the stains left in wood floors by nails. The ... A: It's very different, again...it's about a chemical reaction with the acid...Oxi-Clean is basically ... | |
| It's the dresser lady again!! | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: Many thanks again Greg! I just closed my eyes and started with the gel stain. I wanted it mainly ... A: Glad it's coming out well..BUT...yes..never sand between stain or glazing....all sanding should be ... | |
| wood flooring | 8/1/2011 |
| Q: I just read a post regarding the removal/cleaning of the stains left in wood floors by nails. The ... A: ..in a word- NO......but Oxalic acid is very inexpensive at your local hardware store....a few ... | |
| dresser refinishing | 7/27/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have stripped an old dresser and I am ready to start staining it. I have sanded it down to ... A: you cannot get "antiquing" or glazing effects with a penetrating stain...you need to use a heavier ... | |
| Trouble with Palm Sander | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: I am having trouble getting sheets of sand paper to stay on my square palm sander without them ... A: Yeah...that's pretty aggressive sanding, and if you're using an older sander...the tension clips get ... | |
| dresser refinishing | 7/21/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have stripped an old dresser and I am ready to start staining it. I have sanded it down to ... A: 320 is a little too fine to sand such a piece down when staining...at that grit you're actually ... | |
| Redwood finishing | 7/18/2011 |
| Q: We just cut down a redwood and saved a large piece of trunk for an outdoor table. Can we put on a ... A: are we talking about a cross cut section... or a slab from the trunk (cut with the grain)? If this ... | |
| cocobolo | 7/11/2011 |
| Q: I am making a buffet table using varied pieces of exotic wood. I have put the initial coat of ... A: that is odd...it is a resinous wood, but I've never had issues with drying.....did you use a ... | |
| layering multi stains | 7/10/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I would like to stain a piece ebony, but I want some reddish/brown highlights to show ... A: typically, layering stains to go that dark on hardwood gets you a muddy, stained surface of one ... | |
| how to finish an old chest of drawers | 7/4/2011 |
| Q: I have a drawer set I inherited from my grandmother and I sanded is completely down because the ... A: it can be a bit daunting when choosing a finish. Oil/solvent based finishes will have a degree of ... | |
| refinishing cedar chest | 7/3/2011 |
| Q: I got a lane cedar chest from my great grandmother who thought she had to make the chest fit her ... A: many of these chests had laminate tops, applied wood trim, and faux handles like you describe on ... | |
| sealing a pine table | 6/28/2011 |
| Q: I recently made a pine dining table for a cabin in the mountains. It has been sanded and stained, ... A: there are many finishes available to protect your table...the real problem with your table will be ... | |
| Furniture Finishing | 6/26/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have been making furniture as a hobby for almost 40yrs. However this is the first time I am ... A: For wood I would use Krylon or the Rustoleum Universal sprays...and there is a fine line between ... | |
| Furniture Finishing | 6/25/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I have been making furniture as a hobby for almost 40yrs. However this is the first time I am ... A: why was spray paint a "disaster"? Todays aerosols like the Krylon and the Rustoleum Universal are ... | |
| routing cabinet doors | 6/21/2011 |
| Q: I want to remove the wood fronts of my kitchen cabinets and replace them with glass fronts. I want ... A: yes this is possible with the typical frame and panel door construction, but it takes some pretty ... | |
| change color on semi transparent stain | 6/15/2011 |
| Q: customer has Chetek Ceder semi transparent oil based stain on house and would like the color change ... A: Hey Keith, there are a few variables to consider, like how weathered the original stain is on the ... | |
| planing arbutus wood | 6/4/2011 |
| Q: I just had some Arbutus (from a very recent blow down) milled into 2x12 boards. It is very green ... A: Hey Mike, as with any green wood, it needs to be dried- either air dried or kiln dried if you hope ... | |
| minwax oil stain...help | 5/31/2011 |
| Q: The damage is done...I made a baseball bat and sealed it and put 2 coats of wipe on poly. I had it ... A: I would remove the Minwax with mineral spirits ASAP, and maybe some 000 steel wool and an old tooth ... | |
| repair finish over walnut veneer | 5/16/2011 |
| Q: 1930's or so) cedar chest that is beautiful walnut veneer. Inside is excellent condition, but the ... A: this can be a rather tricky project if you don't have the sufficient experience and skill. Typically ... | |
| Refinishing custom kitchen cabinet doors | 5/13/2011 |
| Q: Greg I just read your answer to Mark re his maple cabinets. I made cabinet doors and drawer front ... A: Sanding is not the way to remove a finish...chemically stripping is the only way to remove a finish ... | |
| old wood | 5/9/2011 |
| Q: I have a very large antique dough bowl that has some new little holes in the bottom and a bit of ... A: it's possible you have some insect or larvae in there, like the Post hole beetle, or wood worm....I ... | |
| rust-oleum spray paint | 5/6/2011 |
| Q: i agree double stick tape wasn't one of my better ideals will stick with the glue---same cars and ... A: I like the Rustoleum paint, and it's pretty durable if you apply 3+ coats...it certainly will give ... | |
| Refinishing custom kitchen cabinet doors | 5/5/2011 |
| Q: Greg I just read your answer to Mark re his maple cabinets. I made cabinet doors and drawer front ... A: Hey Jim, I'm confused about a few things...first of all, after the stain coat has dried..you ... | |
| double stick tape | 5/4/2011 |
| Q: i build small cars and tractor trailers---using glue/dowels and or sheet metal screws to attach ... A: Hey Dick, I think I would shy away from tape...if you're just looking for it hold the part in place ... | |
| refinish wood trim | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: my house was built in 1924 and has wood trim around door and windows. Much of the trim looks like it ... A: Stripping woodwork in place sucks...no matter how you go about it. Mask it off from the surrounding ... | |
| refinish wood trim | 5/1/2011 |
| Q: my house was built in 1924 and has wood trim around door and windows. Much of the trim looks like it ... A: the trim looks like a Pine...maybe Fir..and the only way you'll cover up that filler is to....cover ... | |
| Oak surround | 4/25/2011 |
| Q: I have a untreated oak fire surround that i have tea oiled but because i have laminate on the floor ... A: I'm assuming you mean "Teak" oil? This is a penetrating oil that leaves the surface exposed..the ... | |
| Refinishing custom kitchen cabinet doors | 4/20/2011 |
| Q: Greg I just read your answer to Mark re his maple cabinets. I made cabinet doors and drawer front ... A: Hey Jim, tell me a little bit more about your finish schedule, and the products you are using...the ... | |
| re. black nail stain on wood | 4/19/2011 |
| Q: I read your answer on how to help get rid of the nail stain. My question is just the opposite. How ... A: I would use a dye stain applied to the nail hole with a small artists brush...Transtints dye ... | |
| Mahogany banister inside victorian home | 4/18/2011 |
| Q: I have a mahogany banister in a modest victorian home in San Francisco. The spindles were covered in ... A: I would suggest using a Gel stain (or stains) to replace and match the color...and one can also use ... | |
| elm | 4/14/2011 |
| Q: the dead elm is surprisingly well preserved...but i think your right... i will dry some of the green ... A: Elm does not stand up to the elements well...it will be prone to rot, and I would not use a varnish ... | |
| elm | 4/12/2011 |
| Q: i have access to lots of standing dead elm...looks likeit would make beautiful rustic style ... A: Hey Ron, you'll likely find the standing dead wood is not good enough quality for furniture and ... | |
| Barn wood staining | 4/9/2011 |
| Q: I am redoing my mom's living room. One wall is made of old barn wood. The wood was previously ... A: old wood like this is going to soak up anything like a sponge and turn dark..there's really no way ... | |
| thick minwax over sanded previous finish | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: I have successfully used minwax stain to enrich/restain slightly worn 30-yr-old oak handrail. After ... A: You should be ok with that formula, the good thing about the gel stain is that it doesn't need ... | |
| thick minwax over sanded previous finish | 4/2/2011 |
| Q: I have successfully used minwax stain to enrich/restain slightly worn 30-yr-old oak handrail. After ... A: I often get this question with Minwax stain, which is designed for use only on clean, bare wood, or ... | |
| Refinishing | 3/26/2011 |
| Q: I made a Japanese bench a year ago with American black walnut, it turned out really nice untill my ... A: If you wipe it down with some mineral spirits, does it look fine and the damage disappear? If so, ... | |
| Refinishing | 3/25/2011 |
| Q: I made a Japanese bench a year ago with American black walnut, it turned out really nice untill my ... A: sorry to hear about this...ammonia will likely chemically change the Walnut's color , but perhaps ... | |
| finishing oak dining set | 3/24/2011 |
| Q: First I sanded all the pieces, then I stained them with minwax using a cheese cloth (I think that ... A: was this raw unfinished wood when you started?...Minwax stains really need to be used only on new or ... | |
| bubbles | 3/23/2011 |
| Q: I used minwax fast dry poly gloss.i used orange shellac first to match other doors.I received ... A: was this a new can of the Minwax, and were you sure to use it right out of the can, well stirred and ... | |
| refinishing a Temple Stuart drum table top | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: My dog has gouged and taken off the finish of this Rockport maple piece of furniture. I was ... A: are you experienced with this type of repair work on furniture? You'll have to evaluate the top ... | |
| Installing Jewelry Box Hinges | 3/18/2011 |
| Q: I have been woodworking for some time and have decided to try decorative box building. I have done ... A: Hey Bruce...been there...it's really frustrating to get a perfect match of the top and bottom...and ... | |
| bubbles | 3/11/2011 |
| Q: I used minwax fast dry poly gloss.i used orange shellac first to match other doors.I received ... A: Gas??..no, wax contaminmation is more likely the culprit, and the thicker the coat of shellac ... | |
| staining butcher block | 3/2/2011 |
| Q: i am using maple butcher block in my kitchen island (does not need to be foodsafe as i won't cut ... A: No, it shouldn't be necessary...the Watco will not really act like a stain, and the Maple is really ... | |
| staining butcher block | 3/1/2011 |
| Q: i am using maple butcher block in my kitchen island (does not need to be foodsafe as i won't cut ... A: I'm a big fan of Waterlox, it imparts a beautiful color and soft finish to surfaces like ... | |
| ball end mills | 2/25/2011 |
| Q: would a 9/32" ball endmill (hss) work in a router...i know a milling machine runs a lot slower than ... A: Carbide Specialties' lists their #45962 Ball end bit.......wonder if that would do the trick? If you ... | |
| Refinishing wooden doors | 2/23/2011 |
| Q: I have doors that when new were stained with Minwax Early American stain, and finished with a Minwax ... A: the real problem is that you used Minwax oil stain over the old finish...it likely won't dry or ... | |
| How can I lighten a cabinet made too dark w/Gel Stain? | 2/16/2011 |
| Q: I covered my bathroom cabinets with Gel Stain in the mahogany shade. The job I did looks fine, but ... A: once the gel stain has dried the only way to remove it is by stripping...because it's in a ... | |
| recovering Lamino chair | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: Can you recover my circa 1965 Yngve Ekstrom Lamino chair? I am in Bethany CT. I have the sheepskin ... A: I can imagine that it's quite comfortable....but if you have the frame and the inner seat frame, and ... | |
| Building a archway | 2/14/2011 |
| Q: Does anyone make a prefab archway that makes it easy for non carpenters to install (approximately 6' ... A: A large millwork company like Brosco would be your best bet, but I'm not sure they make outdoor ... | |
| recovering Lamino chair | 2/11/2011 |
| Q: Can you recover my circa 1965 Yngve Ekstrom Lamino chair? I am in Bethany CT. I have the sheepskin ... A: I'm not familiar with this furniture makers furniture, or the process used to repair it...have you ... | |
| warped ash wood in hand crafted jewellery box | 2/10/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I made a jewellery box out of ash, finished it with General Finishes High Performance Water ... A: I'm still unclear, when I said 'milled' I was referring to making lumber and then constructing the ... | |
| warped ash wood in hand crafted jewellery box | 2/8/2011 |
| Q: Greg, I made a jewellery box out of ash, finished it with General Finishes High Performance Water ... A: Hey Keith, was this just made from a chunk of the Ash or was it made from milled lumber and ... | |
| remodeling cost | 2/7/2011 |
| Q: Good morning, I am remodeling my girlfriends house and I was wondering what I can fairly charge her ... A: When you say "staining"...what is the scope of the job? I'm assuming you're going to be doing more ... | |
| Keeping putty fr0m drying out | 2/6/2011 |
| Q: I have a small jar of putty, what can I put in it to keep the putty pliable between usage? Thank you ... A: I assume you mean Minwax....their website states that this is a non hardening wood putty to ONLY be ... | |
| Stain won't dry - followup | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: Greg, saw your answer to the person who couldn't get the stain to dry on some chairs she was working ... A: The waterborne dye stains are excellent, but the one caveat is that they start to come off if you're ... | |
| Stain won't dry - followup | 2/5/2011 |
| Q: Greg, saw your answer to the person who couldn't get the stain to dry on some chairs she was working ... A: I wasn't aware that Minwax made a stripper....do you mean the Antique furniture refinisher product? ... | |
| Stain won't dry - followup | 2/4/2011 |
| Q: Greg, saw your answer to the person who couldn't get the stain to dry on some chairs she was working ... A: Hey Michael, yes it will remove it all...that's the idea. It's not going to dry, because it was the ... | |
| Wooden Bed Joint Repair | 2/1/2011 |
| Q: I have my mother's childhood bed which has broken joints on all 4 posts where the S shape hooks ... A: .I can tell by the pictures that someone has tried to "repair" this on at least one occasion (Lag ... | |
| minwax sanding sealers | 1/31/2011 |
| Q: what is the difference betweeen sealer with the yellow label on can and their new professional ... A: I am not familiar with a "new" Professional formula.....the "yellow" can is a stain product and ... | |
| finishing/staining interior pine doors | 1/30/2011 |
| Q: How difficult is it to stain pine interior doors so they come out consistent..I have 14 doors to ... A: Hey Naoko, it depends on a few variables, like how dark, and what your experience level is. Pine can ... | |
| Old Wood Banister | 1/27/2011 |
| Q: We have a 125 year old farmhouse we are in the process of restoring. There is a beautiful and ... A: without seeing it, it's difficult to advise you...it's likely varnished, and if it looks good when ... | |
| Lacquer | 1/21/2011 |
| Q: I would like to buy a large wall unit and have it refinished in lacquer. Are you available in ... A: You can attach a picture right here in the forums, they will not allow addresses, phone numbers, etc ... | |
| refinishing pickled oak cabinets | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I have pickled (washed) oak kitchen cabinets. The stain and poly have not held up over time. So I ... A: If your cabinets are moving season to season, then no matter what finish you put on them you risk ... | |
| Church pews | 1/19/2011 |
| Q: I notice you had a question about church pews outside. I have 3 pews I'm using as outdoor ... A: Hey Jay, unfortunately there is no way to "waterproof" such furniture for outside exposure like ... | |
| refinishing pickled oak cabinets | 1/18/2011 |
| Q: I have pickled (washed) oak kitchen cabinets. The stain and poly have not held up over time. So I ... A: A professional what?...Painter? To be able to refinish with a stained/clearcoat finish, the cabinets ... | |
| refinishing pickled oak cabinets | 1/17/2011 |
| Q: I have pickled (washed) oak kitchen cabinets. The stain and poly have not held up over time. So I ... A: no, these exterior products are not suited for kitchen cabinets for a few reasons.One of the main ... | |
| Oil choice for outdoor table | 1/9/2011 |
| Q: I recently, with advice from you :), finished a hardwood (vitex) outdoor table. I would now like ... A: I wouldn't oil or finish it yet, as the wood has a natural pitch or resin to it...let it weather a ... | |
| Finishes for Raw Wood | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: I am working on a project using wild dog lumber. I once used a product called co-ca seal made by ... A: ..what is Wild dog lumber?...and I've never heard of that product you named....is this green wood? ... | |
| Finishing a table top | 1/7/2011 |
| Q: Is it ok to put a coat of Minwax polyurethane gloss over dry coats of Cabot poly gloss? I've ran out ... A: Hey Jeff, it should be fine, you might want to lightly scuff sand with some 400 (hand sanding only) ... | |
| Old beams | 1/4/2011 |
| Q: After reading one of your answers regarding painting old beams I was wondering if there are now any ... A: The US has been in the process of completely changing paint as we know it here, in the last few ... | |
| Bowed Plywood Cabinet skins | 12/29/2010 |
| Q: I have some finished 1/4 inch veneer plywood skins to apply to some cabinets. The skins are bowed ... A: Hey Dennis, sorry about the late reply. Once curled or warped, it's quite difficult to impossible ... | |
| end grain drilling | 12/22/2010 |
| Q: making cars and trucks---when drilling end grain (oak or poplar) most on the time drilling in to ... A: Hey Dick, I would likely make and end drilling jig and just use a cordless or corded drill with a ... | |
| Outdoor table - fixing legs to the frame | 12/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a question on the best way to build an exterior table (plain 4 legs and top, not picnic table ... A: The Titebond III is supposedly good for woods like this...but I would probably opt for a clear, two ... | |
| Outdoor table - fixing legs to the frame | 12/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a question on the best way to build an exterior table (plain 4 legs and top, not picnic table ... A: If the table is only to be subjected to normal use...you could dowel it with good hardwood dowels ... | |
| Best type of wood | 12/13/2010 |
| Q: This may be strange question, but here goes - what would be the best type of wood to use for vice ... A: Hey Chip, I think there's a few I could recommend..White Oak,Hickory, and Ipe (sold as Mahogany ... | |
| Tiger wood | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I am making some kitchen nook bench seats 25" deep by 10' long. I have some 2X6 that is feeling very ... A: Hey Brad, I have not had the pleasure of working with any Tigerwood yet, but I have read others ... | |
| refinishing a wood table | 12/9/2010 |
| Q: I started a small project and hit a snag so I thought I'd ask before I really go wrong. My wife ... A: Hey Matt, your approach was flawed I'm afraid, one can't really approach such a spot repair this way ... | |
| Restoring coffee table finish | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a really nice coffee table that I picked up for 150 bucks. The top is a wooden frame with ... A: Some furniture is "toned", which is the process of using colored finish over the various stain and ... | |
| Restoring coffee table finish | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a really nice coffee table that I picked up for 150 bucks. The top is a wooden frame with ... A: Stripping means strip with chemical stripper...the only time one should sand an old finish off is on ... | |
| Restoring coffee table finish | 12/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a really nice coffee table that I picked up for 150 bucks. The top is a wooden frame with ... A: I think that the problem is that there is really no finish to speak of..the Old English makes it ... | |
| cigarette burn | 11/30/2010 |
| Q: I have a solid teak table that has a small burn mark in the top of it and I want to be able to use ... A: it really depends on how deep the burn is, and whether the table really is solid. 90% of the Danish ... | |
| sanding a table top | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: I have a table in dire need of refinishing. However it has a checkerboard pattern with the grain in ... A: Hey Phil, I'm assuming the pattern is Marquetry, (made up of wood and not painted on), and ... | |
| Citristrip paint stripper | 11/28/2010 |
| Q: Can I use hot water on a sponge to wipe down stained oak to remove paint stripper that has been on ... A: water won't remove the dried stripper....just apply more stripper...and keep applying it until you ... | |
| natural wood staining process | 11/26/2010 |
| Q: I want to stain natural, hand-stripped hickory and mesquite walking sticks/canes. What stains would ... A: Hey Terry.....what color are you wanting to stain?....even though there is such a thing as "natural" ... | |
| White Oak stained veneer inconsistencies | 11/25/2010 |
| Q: We're in the process of building a new home and have gone with white oak vertical grain stained ... A: I think that's a fairly accurate statement when talking about virtually any veneer...but it's up to ... | |
| Oil based stain over painted furniture | 11/20/2010 |
| Q: I was attempting to give an antique look to a chair that was painted with latex enamel paint. I put ... A: sorry about the late reply- you should wipe all the stain off with rags wet with mineral spirits, as ... | |
| stain uneven | 11/12/2010 |
| Q: Goodday Greg The wife and I recently tried to refinish a dresser. I think we did all the steps right ... A: were you sure to wipe OFF the stain thoroughly after the first application??Many people make the ... | |
| tongue & groove mess | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: My Mother-in-law passed away and we inherited her recently remodeled home. She had the contractor ... A: You can't strip such a rough surface, and you can't sand it with latex paint on it..and there really ... | |
| tongue & groove mess | 11/9/2010 |
| Q: My Mother-in-law passed away and we inherited her recently remodeled home. She had the contractor ... A: This is called "rough cut", and it's just that.....you have very few options, and the best is to ... | |
| spar urethane | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: I applied Varathane spar urethane on some church pews we plan to use outdoors. It has been 72 hours ... A: What kind of stain did you use?...many oil stains (like Minwax) will not dry if applied over an ... | |
| Staining already stained wood | 11/8/2010 |
| Q: Our kitchen and dining room have a circa 1979 shed-style wood ceiling that is stained dark brown. ... A: trying to put a black stain over a dark brown finish isn't going to do much, and trying to sand off ... | |
| Refinishing desk w. oil (?) finish | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: . I am preparing to refinish a desk my husband made in wood shop in High School...50 years ago. ... A: one nice thing about oil finishes, is that they can be restored fairly easily...usually. One way to ... | |
| Air dried walnut | 11/6/2010 |
| Q: I have a source for some air dried walnut wood which was sawmill cut and air dried for several ... A: The only thing you want to know is what is the actual moisture content of the wood...ideally it ... | |
| dresser drawers | 11/5/2010 |
| Q: Greg, my dresser and chest drawers have a metal center track which glides on the wood frame. the ... A: Hey Greg,there are many different glides that have been used over the years, and without a picture, ... | |
| cleaning yellowed oak kitchen cabinets | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: You know how oak kitchen cabinets get yellow over the years. I am good to clean them well ... A: .yellowing could be the finish itself, not a result of any outside contamination...I also would NOT ... | |
| how to prepare palm tree wood for carpentry | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: but I have never attempted to use anything but store bought wood for my projects A: Hey Brian, I'm afraid I really have no experience with palm wood, how it's dried, or what species, ... | |
| bisquit jointer | 11/2/2010 |
| Q: ..I'm looking to purchase a bisquit jointer on ebay, but I'm not sure what are the better makers and ... A: Hey Ken, I just recently went through this myself, as I was building an entertainment center with a ... | |
| staining pine door | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: I have been staining pine doors for a home improvement project. We buy them new and I stain in the ... A: You won't be able to sand these, your only hope is to wash off the stain ASAP, with plenty of rags ... | |
| staining pine door | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: I have been staining pine doors for a home improvement project. We buy them new and I stain in the ... A: if this is an oil stain (like Minwax), it's imperative to wipe the stain off well after each ... | |
| refinishing gumwood molding | 10/28/2010 |
| Q: I own a 1924 home that has gumwood doors and floor molding. The molding needs to be refinished and ... A: it really depends on how bad a shape the molding is in as to how you would proceed...a Tung oil ... | |
| refinishing banister | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to refinish our banister which is a light oak color. There are similar stained runners going ... A: Yes, but you still have to stain bare wood...especially a hard wood like Oak...Gel stains can be ... | |
| refinishing banister | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to refinish our banister which is a light oak color. There are similar stained runners going ... A: There's no way to go that dark with the finish on...you'll have to strip it chemically down to ... | |
| refinishing banister | 10/27/2010 |
| Q: I want to refinish our banister which is a light oak color. There are similar stained runners going ... A: if it's light Oak, it may not be stained at all, it's very common for natural Oak to ... | |
| Spar Urethane question | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: Greg, I'm needing your advice again... I stripped my oak table top - worked great. Stained with ... A: Hey Sandy, you shouldn't be cutting the coats with thinner...that's really only maybe, for the first ... | |
| Staining | 10/20/2010 |
| Q: I recently stripped & restained a dining table. I think the wood is maple but I'm not sure. I used ... A: Hey Greg, what's the temperature and humidity in the garage? This can affect the drying...but it's ... | |
| Urethane Won't Dry-What next? | 10/16/2010 |
| Q: I used to think that minwax made quality products. Now am not so sure. I am trying to refinish a ... A: Hey Bruce...Minwax products are fine,(albeit "consumer" grade...) but it sounds like you've used ... | |
| Kitchen Chairs | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I bought some kitchen chairs that were unfinished. I've just finished using a minwax stain to get ... A: there's a multitude of products that would suit your needs...I recommend you do put a protective ... | |
| tacky minwax stain | 10/11/2010 |
| Q: I applied a mahagony colored minwax stain & didn't wipe it off quick enough. When I went to wipe ... A: no, trying to poly it will take most of it off, just like you were wiping it with mineral spirits, ... | |
| Black stains on wood flooring | 9/26/2010 |
| Q: We are refinishing our hardwood floors and found black spots around the nail holes. Is there a way ... A: Oak turns black due to moisture or corrosion from the steel nails...sand likely wont remove it ... | |
| Oak versus Belau | 9/22/2010 |
| Q: Hope you can help me out. I have a question regarding the hardness of the Oak and the Belau wood. Is ... A: Sorry about the late reply, I was sure I sent my answer out....but I guess not...We don't see this ... | |
| beech countertops in a kitchen | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: We are installing wood countertops in a kitchen. The owner is not likely to use the countertops as ... A: For wood counter tops I like WaterLox, a modified Tung oil/varnish finish. This is a penetrating ... | |
| Teak Cabinet | 9/20/2010 |
| Q: I believe that they bought it sometime in the early 70's. The problem is that my dad glued on a ... A: there's no easy way to deal with this, and the top is likely veneer, so it's quite fragile when ... | |
| screw buttons | 9/19/2010 |
| Q: Just bought new chairs.I am going to recover them. They have screw buttons. Is there anyway to get ... A: I'm assuming you mean wooden caps over the screws?? It's tough to get them out without damaging ... | |
| Finishing Beech wood | 9/17/2010 |
| Q: I bought a Beech counter top from Ikea, I would like to install and undermount sink. It is possible ... A: this type of undermount is not recommended on a wooden counter top...no matter what finish you use, ... | |
| threshold w/ poly not holding up | 9/14/2010 |
| Q: my new front door has an oak threshold. The carpenter put 2 coats of polyurethane on it, and 8 ... A: it is possible that it's Red Oak, but there are over 30 species of Oak, all hard woods and all ... | |
| Woodturning tools | 9/10/2010 |
| Q: I have recently purchased a lathe and I am about to teach myself woodturning, my question is, can ... A: some chisels and various other tools can be use for SOME facets of turning...but proper wood turning ... | |
| threshold w/ poly not holding up | 9/4/2010 |
| Q: my new front door has an oak threshold. The carpenter put 2 coats of polyurethane on it, and 8 ... A: Hu Judy, it needs a proper refinish, and it's important to completely seal it with an Exterior ... | |
| Oil Stain and Latex Paint | 8/24/2010 |
| Q: Will oil stain (minwax) ever dry if applied to latex paint? A: No...it probably won't. I'm assuming you're trying to do some type of antiquing??A Gel stain will ... | |
| Wood sealer, finish | 8/19/2010 |
| Q: I have a cabin in Montana where I am installing several rough sawn benches milled from dry lodge ... A: I would suggest a penetrating finish like Flood CWF-UV5. These finishes won't chip, flake or peel, ... | |
| Cutting 1 1/2 in beech ikea butcher block | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: We just bought three pieces of beech countertops and want to cut them to size...diagonal in corner. ... A: Hey Jerry, this is pretty tough stuff, so you'll need a Pro grade circular saw (15amp) and a very ... | |
| what to do to wood table to use outside | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a wood desk - not sure what wood, but think it is oak. I want to use it on my deck in the ... A: That's a nice table, but it looks more like Birch, or Cherry than Oak. Oak has very open pores, if ... | |
| what to do to wood table to use outside | 8/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a wood desk - not sure what wood, but think it is oak. I want to use it on my deck in the ... A: Spar Varnish/Urethane is a good choice, but the way to prep a piece like this is really to ... | |
| tacky table top finish | 8/15/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a dinette set about 15 years ago. It is a nice set made of solid hard wood (Canadel is ... A: Hey Rich, if it's 15+ years old, and the tackiness isn't removed by cleaning, then the finish will ... | |
| Cedar Wood Floors | 8/10/2010 |
| Q: I have an old farm house built in 1930 with the original cedar wood floors. When I moved into the ... A: Cedar was not typically used for flooring, it's way too soft....are you quite sure it's Cedar?? More ... | |
| staining | 8/5/2010 |
| Q: Hey Greg, I have been asked to make a dining table for my sister for her wedding. They have ... A: Hey Josh, Rock Maple, is extremely heavy, dense, and hard to work with, and tricky to finish well ... | |
| Exterior Oak stain/varnish | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1900's vintage chicago condo and need to re-stain/varnish the front door/surround and ... A: This product is a penetrating oil finish which CANNOT be used over anything but bare wood.Olympic #5 ... | |
| Exterior Oak stain/varnish | 8/2/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1900's vintage chicago condo and need to re-stain/varnish the front door/surround and ... A: The Minwax Spar Urethane is a decent Varnish for the job, but I like McCloskey Man-O-War Spar or ... | |
| water based stain | 8/1/2010 |
| Q: I bought 5 gallons of a water based semi transparent stain for my new fence. I went back to get ... A: Hey Larry, Did you test the color to see if it's different? Thinning it will change the color ... | |
| Golden Oak Too Dark | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: We just had our white oak floors refinished for the first time. We used Golden Oak originally in ... A: it's more likely that the refinishing process changed the darkness of the floor....the formula for ... | |
| Exterior Oak stain/varnish | 7/31/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1900's vintage chicago condo and need to re-stain/varnish the front door/surround and ... A: The right way to do it is to strip off the old finish chemically and refinish...sanding, staining, ... | |
| Exterior Oak stain/varnish | 7/30/2010 |
| Q: We have a 1900's vintage chicago condo and need to re-stain/varnish the front door/surround and ... A: I would NOT use Minwax stain, as these are interior stains and "consumer" grade. The one exception ... | |
| Best wood for a Ren. Faire staff | 7/28/2010 |
| Q: This question is a little out of the ordinary from most of your recent ones: I'm participating in a ... A: I'm not too familiar with the woods you might find in the wild there, but I'd be looking for a ... | |
| finishing an oak tree into a table | 7/25/2010 |
| Q: Greg- I am looking to finish a peice of oak into a table. The tree was cut down about 2 mounth ... A: I would not try to finish any large slab like this when it's still got a high moisture ... | |
| Maplewood Center Island | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: Hey Greg, I recently put in granite counters in my kitchen and during that process built up my ... A: while Maple can brown and/or darken over time, it's more likely that they were dye stained and/or ... | |
| finishing an oak tree into a table | 7/21/2010 |
| Q: Greg- I am looking to finish a peice of oak into a table. The tree was cut down about 2 mounth ... A: Hey Mike, unfortunately a slab of oak like this will take a year or more to season properly, and ... | |
| Finish for Redwood picnic table | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I have a redwood picnic table my father made. No stain on it, just a clear varnish/? I used a gel ... A: sorry about the late reply as I'm in Maine on vacation and service is spotty...I like a penetrating ... | |
| Using a joiner to create a 12" radius | 7/16/2010 |
| Q: I have been building guitars for about three years. I would like to progress to the point of being ... A: Sorry, I misread the question if you read my first post....I suppose you could have a custom ground ... | |
| Lap Marks | 7/15/2010 |
| Q: I put the first coat of polyurethane (on the floor) with a brush and let it completely dry. Now ... A: Were you careful to wipe off the stain well after application?...too thick an application of stain, ... | |
| Wood staining mistakes | 7/14/2010 |
| Q: I installed a pine floor and now I am trying to correct 2 errors. The 1st thing I did wrong was I ... A: You can try restaining again ASAP,and using a ScotchBrite pad to kind of re-amalgamate the footprint ... | |
| handrail instalation | 7/13/2010 |
| Q: Hey Greg I am installing a handrail in enclosed staircase (sheetrocked) Stair case goes down about 5 ... A: Hey Joe, one of our Experts is a "stair guy", and I think he would be a better choice to field this ... | |
| Wood staining mistakes | 7/12/2010 |
| Q: I installed a pine floor and now I am trying to correct 2 errors. The 1st thing I did wrong was I ... A: you can't use conditioner over stain....it really is only used first,on bare wood, before the first ... | |
| interior wood finish | 7/10/2010 |
| Q: I have a log cabin, all wood interior. my builder put 1 coat of poly on the wood. he did not steel ... A: Hey Tony, you can steel wool it, but I wouldn't if you're going to use a waterborne Acrylic urethane ... | |
| staining | 7/9/2010 |
| Q: with thanks A: it will depend on the wood...a darker wood like Mahogany, (and reddish brown), will not successfully ... | |
| Wood finishing | 7/8/2010 |
| Q: I have just finished staining a TV stand using Minwax polystain (mix of stain and polyurethane). ... A: unfortunately if you try, you'll quickly screw it up. I am not a fan of this stuff...while it's ... | |
| Durable finish for workbench | 7/3/2010 |
| Q: I have built a workbench for my garage with a plywood surface. I will be sanding the surface down, ... A: sorry about the late reply....been working on my summer house in Maine...with very little internet ... | |
| bleeding pine knots | 7/2/2010 |
| Q: I have been reading some of the many questions you've been asked and been impressed with the answers ... A: You may not be able to prevent the bleeding of sap depending on the age and dryness of the Pine.The ... | |
| weathered oak | 7/1/2010 |
| Q: Last autumn "Cheryl" emailed you about achieving the weathered oak look as in the Restoration ... A: these finishes are a closely guarded secret, as this is what distinguishes this furniture from it's ... | |
| staining a redwood picnic table | 6/27/2010 |
| Q: I have sanded off all the old stain and have a smooth beautiful unstained table. We do not want to ... A: I'm sorry...I didn't read the subject line- I would suggest a penetrating oil finish like the Flood ... | |
| staining a redwood picnic table | 6/26/2010 |
| Q: I have sanded off all the old stain and have a smooth beautiful unstained table. We do not want to ... A: is this an interior table? Stain alone will not give you very much protection from everyday mess, ... | |
| terminology | 6/23/2010 |
| Q: I'm retired. I recently got into wood working for something to do. It's what I always wanted to do ... A: sorry about the late reply. Pin boards and tail boards refer to a dovetailed construction such as a ... | |
| Polyurethane chipping on new floor | 6/20/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I moved into a house in August that had older (40 years old?) wood floors. Some had ... A: the most common cause for this type of problem is adhesion issues caused by the floor prep. It was a ... | |
| painting parawood | 6/18/2010 |
| Q: my friend bought a parawood shaker style bench we want to paint it with acrylic paint. Do we need to ... A: is this an unfinished bench? Primer is always a good idea, and I like Zinssers Bullseye 1-2-3 for ... | |
| cutting out for post on deck | 6/16/2010 |
| Q: What is the easiest way to measure cutouts around post on deck.I am laying the deck boards and it ... A: are the posts just around the perimeter of the deck? Using a cardboard template can be useful, it's ... | |
| polyeurathane drying | 6/15/2010 |
| Q: I put some polyurethane over minwax stain, the stain was not dry when I did this and now it has been ... A: it will likely not dry, and if it did, the adhesion of the stain and poly would be adversely ... | |
| refinishing birch veneer | 6/14/2010 |
| Q: I purchased a used childrens kitchen set and am refinishing it. I have sanded the finish off but ... A: The proper way to refinish is to strip an old finish off, not sand. Sanding does not remove the ... | |
| picnic table stain/paint | 6/7/2010 |
| Q: What should I use to cover pine picnic table that will be outdoors? I do not want the stain to come ... A: a penetrating oil or hybrid type finish is the best bet...these penetrate the wood and harden from ... | |
| Teak table stripping and cleaning | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I have a 60 year old teak dining table which has been treated with linseed oil all its life and now ... A: ..the Methylene Chloride strippers are very good at stripping these old oil finishes, (which are ... | |
| interior of old ice box | 5/23/2010 |
| Q: I am refinishing an old neglected ice box. While the wood portion is going slow, with a few ... A: I think you could prime and paint over any remnants of the original paint that won't come off with a ... | |
| Table/ stand finish | 5/13/2010 |
| Q: lately a milky film has developed on the surface of my kitchen table, it fades when wiped with ... A: It's likely these damages are a bit different, perfumes can have strong solvents that will attack a ... | |
| refinishing old table | 5/6/2010 |
| Q: Greg, Good afternoon. I have a problem with the old pine dining room table I am refinishing. I ... A: washing with an oil soap is a bad idea, and it likely contaminated the bare wood....especially a ... | |
| finishing pine desk | 5/5/2010 |
| Q: I am purchasing an unfinished desk surface from IKEA ... A: Hey JT, a flat or Matte surface will be more prone to damage from kids, and will not clean as well ... | |
| Mounting a LCD in a Cabinet | 5/3/2010 |
| Q: We have removed an older tv from a cabinet in a motor home bedroom. We want to make use of the ... A: I'm not too familiar with that type of mounting hardware, but I have installed a few of these ... | |
| Stain too Dark | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I just stained a small portion of my oak hardwood floors with oil-based Golden Oak Minwax. It is ... A: If the stain is dry, and it likely is, you'll have to sand it off, as the mineral spirits will have ... | |
| Stain too Dark | 4/28/2010 |
| Q: I just stained a small portion of my oak hardwood floors with oil-based Golden Oak Minwax. It is ... A: you can try to remove the stain with mineral spirits which might lighten it some....but it can also ... | |
| Dull some high gloss kitchen cabinets | 4/27/2010 |
| Q: My kitchen cabinets are veneered oak with a high gloss finish. I'm not sure if it is varnish, ... A: these Lemon oil products are really just white mineral oil, a non drying oil product that will put a ... | |
| bees wax polish | 4/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a kitchen table with a cherry top.Over the past year or so my wife has been polishing the ... A: mineral spirits will remove the wax, and 'a few times a week' is way too often to apply a bees wax. ... | |
| pickling maple cabinets | 4/24/2010 |
| Q: I am trying to white wash or pickle my maple kitchen cabinets. I stripped them, used steal wool to ... A: it sounds like you didn't strip these down to the wood, and you're plagued by areas that still have ... | |
| Problems with second coat of Minwax Polyutrthane | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: Maybe you can help me. I have been trying to refinish a solid oak dining room table top and have run ... A: sounds like a classic case of contamination....one should ALWAYS strip an old finish with STRIPPER. ... | |
| Question | 4/23/2010 |
| Q: how are you going? :-) I just got a beautiful new bird from the local animal shelter who was treated ... A: I like your idea with the Velcro tape, but driving wind and rain may take a toll on that. I would ... | |
| Finishing an outdoor oak table | 4/19/2010 |
| Q: I asked you about the oak slab that I am planning to turn into an outdoor table. I found a product ... A: If that picture is your actual slab...it has issues already...the severe radial cracking is ... | |
| tacky minwax stain after 3 days | 4/17/2010 |
| Q: I sanded down an old wood rocking chair but did not remove the previous very thin finish on it. I ... A: unfortunately this stain will not dry....you cannot use Minwax stain over an existing finish...or ... | |
| Fishing float | 4/13/2010 |
| Q: Greg, I intend to produce a hobby fishing float for themselves and my friends from balsa.I am ... A: Balsa is so soft that the main problem will be tear out and gouging, (and mounting the piece as ... | |
| Table finish. | 4/11/2010 |
| Q: I just inherited a 30" x 73" x 1 1/2" thick maple table top (that appears to me to have been a door ... A: If it is as you say, patchy in areas, that sounds indicative of not enough finish on the last coats, ... | |
| Staining/refinishing furniture | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I am refinishing a mahogany diningroom set. My drawer fronts from the buffet and china cabinet have ... A: sorry for the late reply, I've been sick over the last few days. You will need to remove the stain ... | |
| crack in wood | 4/7/2010 |
| Q: I had a hot plate on my wooden kitchen table for 48 hours. When I removed it, there were two 1/16th ... A: this is serious damage, and this is not something you can repair yourself. You'll need to call in a ... | |
| Finish an Outdoor Oak Table | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: A few years ago I had an oak tree fall; I used most of the wood for fire wood. But a few months ago ... A: Hey Bill, there is nothing you can finish an end grain slab like this with that will last. There are ... | |
| Table finish. | 4/5/2010 |
| Q: I just inherited a 30" x 73" x 1 1/2" thick maple table top (that appears to me to have been a door ... A: Hey Mark, you could try buffing it out, but what concerns me is his use of lacquer over a ... | |
| two-tone staining | 4/4/2010 |
| Q: Base-board in my den is faded,but looks like golden oak. The floor is also a golden oak.I put up new ... A: what wood is the 1/4 round? Finishing them the same sheen is important, but if the color is wrong, ... | |
| Maple Refinishing | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Refinishing a maple bass drum and getting the dreaded blotchiness. Did one coat of General Finishes ... A: I would strip the drum again and see how much of the dye comes off...you'll need to see where that ... | |
| Maple Refinishing | 4/1/2010 |
| Q: Refinishing a maple bass drum and getting the dreaded blotchiness. Did one coat of General Finishes ... A: once you've dyed it, you're stuck, because even stripping it won't remove a dye stain very well.Are ... | |
| Replaceing broken window blinds | 3/31/2010 |
| Q: Holding brackets> I got two brackets off the ceiling ok but the third one is a problem ,the two ... A: In a situation like this, I use a Dremel tool with a small reinforced cut off disc to cut a slot in ... | |
| repairing finish on kitchen cabinets | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I have oak cabinets(stained)in my kitchen that are about 25 years old. They are in basically good ... A: unfortunately these cabinets are nearing the end of their service life, and repairing a sprayed on ... | |
| Plywood glued on MDF | 3/29/2010 |
| Q: I was recently experimenting with some cheap and easy to make table tops. I got some good quality ... A: you're really making a veneered panel, and the general rule, and an important one, is that whatever ... | |
| wood working | 3/23/2010 |
| Q: i cut down a nice maple tree about a year ago and recently took a slice out of the stump (about 2") ... A: a slice like this is very unstable if you've just cut across the end grain, and it will have to be ... | |
| Gray or Ebony Floors | 3/19/2010 |
| Q: My question is regarding refinishing floors for an interior design client of mine. They have a ... A: you'd be much farther ahead to install a prefinished floor for something like this in my opinion. ... | |
| refinish edge of table | 3/18/2010 |
| Q: I have a table that had legs removed and top was stored on edge. Edge adsorbed something from ... A: The pic came through but was quite out of focus....it does look like a primer and then a grained ... | |
| refinish edge of table | 3/15/2010 |
| Q: I have a table that had legs removed and top was stored on edge. Edge adsorbed something from ... A: this may have had some kind of sealer applied to the substrate....is it even a wood product? There ... | |
| How to Flatten Warped Lid | 3/12/2010 |
| Q: From the picture you can see that the lid is bowed upward and I would like to flatten it. What would ... A: Hey Don, there is no easy way to flatten this....you might be able to cut it apart into sections and ... | |
| curry stain on oak work top | 3/8/2010 |
| Q: Sorry about this but i had a friend over at the weekend who ate curry and was promptly sick over my ... A: Hey Nikki, I would strip the top with a chemical stripper...sanding off a finish is never as easy or ... | |
| Darkening wooden beams | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: Greg: I recently purchased a condo that has two wood beams and matching columns. They appear to be a ... A: Hey Greg, there's really no way to cut the inherent orange tint of these Pines (Fir, Hemlock, etc.). ... | |
| Baby Furniture | 3/7/2010 |
| Q: I am building a highchair for my grand daughter. Normally I finish with Magnamax Lacquer. Is this a ... A: I believe all lacquers are pretty non toxic when fully cured....and Magnamax is a Pre-cat lacquer, I ... | |
| pine walls | 3/6/2010 |
| Q: The walls in the original part of the house are pine that have been coated w/ polyurethane. On some ... A: you'd have to strip the varnish off of the paneling to do anything other than paint...and that's a ... | |
| Maple finishing | 3/4/2010 |
| Q: We built a brand new house 4 years ago with beautiful custom Maple cabinets... The cabinets were ... A: it's extremely unlikely the finish was defective.....if it dried hard, it was fine. What is most ... | |
| Aging Interior Cedar Tongue and Groove | 3/2/2010 |
| Q: My house has extensive tongue and groove cedar siding. It is about 20 years old. When I remove a ... A: leaving the area exposed will allow it to darken with the rest of the surrounding area, but it's ... | |
| Teak table finish repair | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: My MIL managed to put a large surface scratch (1/2 inch wide, by 2 inches long) in the field of her ... A: Hey John, I wouldn't waste my time trying to pull off a spot repair on a dining table. Even for a ... | |
| Determining stain colors to mix | 3/1/2010 |
| Q: How does one go about determining stain colors to mix in order to get the desired color? Going from ... A: it's really a matter of experience, as there are many variables to consider....wood type and ... | |
| finish for clear redwood | 2/28/2010 |
| Q: I am building a house with clear heart redwood porch posts and I would like to keep the the posts as ... A: Hey Chris, you're only going to be able to forestall the weathering, graying, etc. for so long, but ... | |
| refinishing pickled pine cabinets | 2/27/2010 |
| Q: My cabinets are from 80's and have a pickled paint over (I think) varnished stock builder grade ... A: If they're pickled and clear finished, and the finish is failing, they'll need to be stripped which ... | |
| glue repair on a chopping block | 2/25/2010 |
| Q: I have a chopping block on legs which my son gave me. He had left it out in the weather and some of ... A: I would be very surprised if a block this size isn't bolted together.....WeldBond is sold many ... | |
| clear coat | 2/24/2010 |
| Q: We put a clear coat epoxy on our countertop but when it dried it is not level in some spots. How ... A: Hey Jeff, you likely can't....was this a 'pour on' finish or something else?Epoxies cure so hard ... | |
| Re-staining cabinets | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I would like to re stain kitchen cabinets from a light stain to a dark oak or maple look. Can you ... A: Hey Rick, hard to know sometimes if I'm talking to a novice or someone with experience...yeah, the ... | |
| Re-staining cabinets | 2/23/2010 |
| Q: I would like to re stain kitchen cabinets from a light stain to a dark oak or maple look. Can you ... A: Hey Rick, it's not just a matter of stain...your cabinets are finished with a clear finish on top of ... | |
| glue repair on a chopping block | 2/21/2010 |
| Q: I have a chopping block on legs which my son gave me. He had left it out in the weather and some of ... A: glue and clamps may not work, as these blocks are bolted together, usually in two directions, with ... | |
| Hello!!! | 2/20/2010 |
| Q: I've read several entries on your blog that have been very helpful and I have a refinishing mystery ... A: I think what he surmised is somewhat accurate in that what you're seeing is the result of a power ... | |
| Dull finish with Polyurethane | 2/16/2010 |
| Q: I've started to finish and OLD Oak dining table, I've used stain/polyurethane, Bombay/Mahogany ... A: are you using Polyshades? If so, it's not really desirable to use them so thickly.The pigments will ... | |
| Restaining Staircase | 2/15/2010 |
| Q: I currently have oak staircase handrails and posts finished in a yellow-gold colour. I would like ... A: in order to accomplish this the first order of business would be to chemically strip all the old ... | |
| Bubbles in Minwax polyurethane | 2/12/2010 |
| Q: I am putting Minwax oil-based polyurethane on the top of a solid alder table. Only Minwax wood ... A: Modern poly's don't really need sanding between coats for adhesion....roughness and dust is another ... | |
| Bubbles in Minwax polyurethane | 2/11/2010 |
| Q: I am putting Minwax oil-based polyurethane on the top of a solid alder table. Only Minwax wood ... A: Hey Mike, there's no need to use the wood conditioner if no stain is being used..it's really only ... | |
| pine dresser | 2/5/2010 |
| Q: I have been given a pine dresser which has been varnished with clear varnish. How can I strip off ... A: you do just what you said,...strip the dresser with stripper, (or have it stripped). If you're ... | |
| Stripping | 2/3/2010 |
| Q: Bought this house and someone stained some knotty alder doors with a Minwax water based stain, they ... A: Hey Matt, some stains, especially with red tones in them, are really difficult to remove totally. ... | |
| furniture repair | 1/31/2010 |
| Q: A: .it depends on the finish, but usually this is a case where refinishing is necessary if you hope to ... | |
| refinishing top of desk | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a rolltop desk and a side table that have the tops scratched and cup have been put on them. I ... A: sanding is not the way to refinish. The area needs to be masked off, be chemically stripped, then ... | |
| scroll saw blades | 1/27/2010 |
| Q: I have a small workshop in Guyana making wooden toys mainly for nursery schools. The wood we use is ... A: I'm sure you can get a "down" cut blade which will eliminate the ragged cut on top...and you will ... | |
| scroll saw blades | 1/26/2010 |
| Q: I have a small workshop in Guyana making wooden toys mainly for nursery schools. The wood we use is ... A: what type of machines are you running...and you stated you can't get the blades there....but I'm ... | |
| Pergola Materials | 1/24/2010 |
| Q: Scholl, I am going to build a pergola in my back yard and I have heard that besides the treated ... A: White cedar, Mahogany, Teak,Redwood, could also be used...all will weather to a gray color ... | |
| Wooden staircase and railings | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: We live in the UK and have an open wooden staircase and railings which is split halfway up by a a ... A: YES,...a belt sander is a no-no for this type of sanding....as I said....you're MUCH better off NOT ... | |
| Wooden staircase and railings | 1/20/2010 |
| Q: We live in the UK and have an open wooden staircase and railings which is split halfway up by a a ... A: ..they're beautiful, and likely Mahogany, at least the risers from what I can see. While sanding ... | |
| Staining and Finishing Wood | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: I have a question regarding an unfinished dining set my husband is working on. He stained using an ... A: it almost sounds like the stain coat is too thick...was he careful to apply thin coats of stain, and ... | |
| wood Shrinkage in Final Product | 1/17/2010 |
| Q: Now that my TV armoire has been in the house for 3 months (Sept-Jan) I have noticed that the space ... A: I'm surprised that they shrunk that much as Cherry's pretty stable if dried to 8-12%...the problem ... | |
| Staining Danish oiled teak furniture | 1/15/2010 |
| Q: I have 70's Danish teak oiled living room and dining room furniture, some solid teak and some teak ... A: if you want to make a drastic color change to the Teak, like substantially darker, you'll want to ... | |
| Finish for a plywood table top. | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: I am going to build a solid, 14 foot by 2 foot table out of plywood and thick 4-inch or 5-inch ... A: Hey Jeremy, the tackiness of the bar is likely due more to a layer of spilled drinks, grime, etc. on ... | |
| White on pine floors. | 1/11/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I bought a unit in a brownstone building about 2 years ago and are thinking of a new ... A: you could do a pickled or white floor, and coat it with an Acrylic urethane floor finish. These are ... | |
| Refinishing old banister | 1/10/2010 |
| Q: My husband and I bought a >120 year old home with all the original wood floor, trim, banisters, etc. ... A: I wouldn't do anything differently really...their finish will be the same age and condition, and it ... | |
| pergola reflex | 1/8/2010 |
| Q: i was wondering if you can help me to build my own pergola reflex considering that i have my ... A: It could work out even more expensive to use reclaimed wood, because, as with almost everything, the ... | |
| Food Safe Finishes | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I am currently in the middle of a search for a product that can hopefully accomplish the following: ... A: I know these companies are very possessive and secretive about their products, formulas, ... | |
| Stain odor removal | 1/7/2010 |
| Q: I removed 6" of wall in a closet to put in bifold doors. I retrimmed the area in red oak. I also ... A: Hey Dog, it's likely the Minwax is not drying, because the Gel stain has a polyurethane carrier in ... | |
| reducing the size of a coffee table | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I would like to reduce the size of my 40 in. square coffee table to about 20 in by 40 in. so it ... A: it likely could be done, but it would take some advanced woodworking skills, and finishing skills as ... | |
| Food Safe Finishes | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I am currently in the middle of a search for a product that can hopefully accomplish the following: ... A: I'm afraid you're seeking the holy grail of a finish here, and that it may not exist. While I'm not ... | |
| Stain removal | 1/6/2010 |
| Q: I tried a washcloth soaked in mineral spirits and used a lot of elbow grease but it didn't seem like ... A: I was pretty sure they wouldn't like the Acetone idea, it will attack the floor finish....there is a ... | |
| Reed Diffuser Oil Spill | 1/4/2010 |
| Q: I spilled some Reed Diffuser Oil on a brand new sofa table. It is made with hardwood solids with ... A: unfortunately it's likely that the oil, which has solvents in it, has damaged the lacquer and it ... | |
| POLTURETHANE PROTECTIVE CLEAR FINISH | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I AM WANTING TO RE-FURBISH THE WOODEN HANDLES ON SOME KNIVES. THE WOOD IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND I ... A: It's hard to know how the wood was treated originally, but if the poly isn't drying, that's a sure ... | |
| POLTURETHANE PROTECTIVE CLEAR FINISH | 1/3/2010 |
| Q: I AM WANTING TO RE-FURBISH THE WOODEN HANDLES ON SOME KNIVES. THE WOOD IS IN GOOD CONDITION AND I ... A: It depends on the finish that was on the wood...sanding down does not remove wax, oil, or other ... | |
| Window trim | 12/31/2009 |
| Q: The windows in my house have no trim only the stools and apron. The windows are finished out with ... A: there's a few ways you could trim out such a window depending on how much area there is to fill. If ... | |
| Repairing dining tabletop finish | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I am trying to do a spot repair on our dining room table. (Oak table with early american finish). At ... A: unfortunately you won't get the Minwax oil stain to "take", it's just the nature of that type of ... | |
| quick seasoning of wood for carving | 12/30/2009 |
| Q: I have (12) 36" tall by aprox. 10" diameter aromatic cedar logs that were recently cut from trees ... A: any attempt to "quick" dry logs of Cedar like this will cause them to crack and check badly, I'm ... | |
| Stain removal | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: I tried a washcloth soaked in mineral spirits and used a lot of elbow grease but it didn't seem like ... A: I spoke with Minwax, and they suggest trying Acetone, which frankly, I wouldn't suggest....unless ... | |
| Stain removal | 12/29/2009 |
| Q: Do you know the best way to remove or lighten the color of some wood stain that spilled on and dried ... A: Rubbing with a rag wet with mineral spirits should remove it. Paper towels do not give you the same ... | |
| refishing oak floors | 12/28/2009 |
| Q: I recently read an article about refinishing floors that are generally in good shape, but have ... A: peeling and flaking is almost always the result of adhesion problems caused by poor prep of the ... | |
| parawood-rubber tree | 12/27/2009 |
| Q: Ijust purchased a kitchen island made of unfinished parawood. the man at the store said i could ... A: you probably would be smart to lightly sand it with some 220-180 sandpaper....and then I would ... | |
| CNC Wood Wroking | 12/26/2009 |
| Q: I'm sure you're not an expert on technology wood work, but it would be nice if you could possibly ... A: Well, you wouldn't be able to get into something like that for less than a few thousand dollars, I ... | |
| making a wood conical lampshade | 12/24/2009 |
| Q: I have a place in my home that I wish to hang a lampshade over a dining table and thought I might ... A: Hey John, yes that would vary them, and the overall size of the piece would have to figure in there, ... | |
| Hardwood Floor Finishing | 12/23/2009 |
| Q: I had to replace a section of damaged hardwood flooring in my kitchen. The contractor took a sample ... A: it's probably a combination of the particular piece of wood, the staining and finish choice, but ... | |
| Daily Care for a Lacquered Dining Table Top | 12/21/2009 |
| Q: Aside from using a table cloth during meals, what is the best method for caring for a solid wood ... A: yes all lacquered tops will eventually require refinishing, but certainly 5 years is a bit young. I ... | |
| advice on gluing hard plastic to wood | 12/18/2009 |
| Q: I have a swing arm lamp made out of hard plastic mounted on a table that the base has broken where ... A: Hey Steve, without seeing it, it's difficult for me to advise you as to whether gluing it would ... | |
| Refinishing old banister | 12/17/2009 |
| Q: My husband and I bought a >120 year old home with all the original wood floor, trim, banisters, etc. ... A: when a finish has broken down to this point, it's really advisable to strip it and then refinish it. ... | |
| Making your own oil finish | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: Greg, A few months ago, I wrote you to ask about appropriate finishes to use on a baby crib that I ... A: yeah, I think that's somewhat accurate, but there are other resins involved as well, Phenolics, ... | |
| Dove tails | 12/15/2009 |
| Q: easy question for you.... I have Porter Cable dove tail jig, which came with a 7 degree 7/32 ... A: I'm assuming this is one of those jigs that cuts both parts in one operation clamped 90 degrees to ... | |
| outdoor glider refinishing | 12/9/2009 |
| Q: I am refinishing an outdoor glider and want to know the best direction to go....should I use a ... A: sorry about the tardy reply, I don't like either of those, as they're surface finishes that will ... | |
| polyurethane and silicone surfaces | 11/30/2009 |
| Q: I am having a heck of a time refinishing a table that has been cleaned with a silicone based ... A: did you strip this table chemically before refinishing? There is no way to test for this other than ... | |
| Gumwood trim treatment | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: My 1920s Massachusetts home has gumwood trim and the original varnish was stripped by the previous ... A: the wood is as dry as it's going to be, likely...and Lemon oil is NOT a good treatment, as it ... | |
| Poly tips | 11/29/2009 |
| Q: Now my floor is ready for a coat of poly. Its our first time using poly. do you have any tips for ... A: You should "screen" between coats which is an open mesh sanding sheet available at most places that ... | |
| Mineral spirits | 11/28/2009 |
| Q: I applied too much stain to a floor. I am getting it up with mineral spirits and its doing a great ... A: the mineral spirits will just dry off, and then you can apply the poly....just make sure that the ... | |
| Poly Urethane over an oil fuinish | 11/27/2009 |
| Q: I have unfinished pine logs that I washed with a commercial log wash. I would like to give them a ... A: WaterLox is really a modified, penetrating Tung oil/varnish product. Because it penetrates into the ... | |
| Poly Urethane over an oil fuinish | 11/26/2009 |
| Q: I have unfinished pine logs that I washed with a commercial log wash. I would like to give them a ... A: Hey Doug, I wouldn't use poly on them at all....it will eventually fail, chip, peel, etc. Why not ... | |
| beechwood finishing | 11/25/2009 |
| Q: is beech an oily wood,trying to refinish kitchen doors with lacquer but keep getting fisheye,even ... A: Beech is not oily at all...and should finish beautifully with ANY finish. What you're describing ... | |
| Old Oak | 11/24/2009 |
| Q: I have just bought a few very old oak beams, out of a old barn in England UK, However they have been ... A: although these look dry, they won't be...they need to be around 8-12% moisture, and if they've been ... | |
| stained maple | 11/22/2009 |
| Q: I have acquired a lovely maple burl bowl. It's not antique, but the bottom of the bowl has a 25 ... A: getting a stain out of wood's grain like this can be tough, Oxalic acid solution should be able to ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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" ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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" ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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), ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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? ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 : ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| "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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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.) ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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, ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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. ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
| 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 ... | |
Greg Scholl
Top Expert on this page
Expertise
Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects,Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings,wood species recognition,usage,etc.
Experience
Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. Sold, built, serviced, setup Home,Industrial and Commercial stationary woodworking tools for a major tool retailer in CT. for three years, sold hand and power tools, and offered instruction on use and care as well.I even have some Trade show Demo experience.
Organizations
none at this time.
Publications
Published in Fine Woodworking Magazine (12/97), included on Fine Woodworkings first "Best of Fine Woodworking" CD-ROM (2002) ...("27 year compilation of expert know-how"), local newspapers as well
Education/Credentials
Art School at Silvermine Guild in Norwalk, CT., 9 year apprenticeship in a European run Cabinet and Restoration shop in CT., various classes on subjects having to do with the field. Seminars by Major tool manufacturers, Delta, Powermatic, Performax, Porter Cable, Skil/Bosch to name a few.
Past/Present Clients
Many varied clients including work on Martha Stewarts' Westport, CT. show house, many fine Antique dealers and private collectors in and around Fairfield County and in Woodbury, CT.(the Antiques capital of CT.)
Consulting for area Painting/Decorating and Building contractors on non painting issues..(staining, wood prep.,clear finishing, floor restoration and architectural detail restoration and repair, etc.), local Museums and Historical Societies.
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