Expert: Jamie Yocono - 4/30/2008

Question
QUESTION: Hello, I just purchased a new collectors chest from stickley in oak with a onodaga finish (sort of cherry color).  The wood is quarter sawn wood and on the front of the chest there is black shading on all the wood across the front. Each wood piece is about 8" wide with grain running vertical and there are 4-5 pieces.  It doesn't look like it would be the wood itself as the marking runs horizontal not vertical.  Could this be the way it was sanded? Could it be the way the wood took the stain.  The look really bothers me and I want to make sure it isn't a flaw.  Thanks.

ANSWER: Sara,

I'm not sure I understand the defect you're describing. I've re-read your question a few times and I still can't get the gist of it.

Here's the only way I can help - take a few digital pictures of the area and send then to my personal e-mail address. There isn't a way to send photos through All-Experts, so you'll have to send them to me privately. I will be glad to take a look at them and venture a guess. My website is www.wooditis.com, there is a link on that site to contact me. If you have problems with that, send them directly to: jamie@wooditis.com

I'll wait to get your images, try to get a few detailed shots that are close-ups. Those will help immensely in figuring out what the problem is.

Jamie Yocono
Wood It Is! Custom Cabinetry
Las Vegas, NV

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: Unfortunately, I can't take pictures because I returned the chest.  The company reordered this chest for me as the first one I received had flaws too, but when I saw the latest one (with the flaws I described in my question to you), the first one began to look better to me so I kept that one.  I want to feel good about my decision to not except the one with the black marks and was hoping I could describe it well enough for you to diagnose the issue.  Can you venture a guess?  It almost looks like a straight horizontal black smudge across the length of the chest, spanning all of the separate pieces of wood and it is definitely not something that would come off.  Thanks.

Answer
Sara,

The only thing I can come up with is that it's part of the design/finish of the piece, and it's intentional. My best guess? It sounds as if it's part of the "design" of the piece, since it spans several pieces of wood.

It might be some "antiquing" that they are applying to the piece, to give it a rough-hewn look.

Have you asked the salesman?

Other than that, if it's on both pieces, I don't think it's a sanding defect, it sounds like it's an intentional design mark.

Sorry I can't help much more, without seeing it. Is there a website where it would be pictured? Do you have the name of the manufacturer, and a model number or name?

Jamie in Las Vegas
www.wooditis.com