LOWELLVILLE -- Jeff Kelso likes refinishing and restoring wood products because he enjoys working

LOWELLVILLE -- Jeff Kelso likes refinishing and restoring wood products because he enjoys working with his hands and bringing new life to items that might otherwise have been thrown away.
"I like to give people something that will last and be of value to them," said Kelso, the owner of Kelso Stripping & amp; Refinishing.
He always enjoyed working with various chemicals and types of wood and had an early interest in finishing wooden boats.
When he started out 26 years ago, Kelso experimented with chemical combinations and once discovered that mixing lye and oatmeal under a heat lamp creates a substance that makes stripping paint easier.
His interest in restoring and refinishing wood grew, and Kelso, who spent four years as a medical technologist and lab manager at the former Youngstown Osteopathic Hospital, eventually decided to do it full time.
He started his business on Youngstown's South Side, relocated it to Austintown and, a few years ago, moved it to Lowellville.
Scope of services
Now Kelso and his two part-time workers do antique restoration, waterless hand stripping and custom and contemporary finishing. They work on kitchen cabinets, table tops, old and new chairs, framework in homes and many other pieces of furniture and wood products.
Kelso has tried many types of finish removal and hand stripping over the years and now uses a faster method that he said allows him to adjust the strength and type of stripper to the job. Kelso avoids using water because of the damage he said it can cause.
"I use many types and applications of finishes to suit the individual piece, its history and use," he said.
Kelso added that he also includes various clear-coat finishes that will prevent a white or light colored surface from turning yellow over time.
"This was a major problem with older furniture pieces, particularly French provincial sets," he said.
Kelso Stripping & amp; Refinishing does commercial and residential work, and Kelso said that many people he works with want to have selected items refinished and restored before they move or give them as gifts for weddings, holidays and other special occasions. His business offers free pickup and delivery to customers living in the five-county area.
Kelso said that he gets many referrals and also has a stream of regulars -- some of whom he's worked with for up to 20 years. Kelso added that he hopes to build a showroom to display and sell various items that he's refinished and to create a Web site that would show a piece before and after it has been restored.
He said he plans to stay in the business and continue to perfect his craft.
"[This work] is like being a musician. The more you do it, the better you get at it," he said.