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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Care and cleaning of Rosewood furniture

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Expert: - 5/28/2009


Question
I have many pieces of rosewood furniture we had made in HongKong when we lived there.  I was told to clean it to wipe with a water+vinegar solution.  I've done this a couple of times but not recently so forget the mixture ratio?  Also, I was told NOT to apply any oil to it, but only to clean with this water/vinegar mixture but I see some postings here there are some oils that can be used?  What would you suggestion?

Answer
Hi Sue, it depends on how they were finished, but honestly, I would NOT apply water and vinegar to ANY furniture. Vinegar is Acetic acid, and will break down a finish over time....these could be finished with lacquer,which is a surface finish, or an oil finish. These oils, (Tung oil, Danish oil, etc) are drying, oil based resins, and Phenolics, that will penetrate and harden within the wood, unlike so called "Lemon Oil" (really just white mineral oil with fragrances),and other non drying oils.Without knowing how they're finished, it's hard to advise you. If it is an oil finish, then a coat or two of a similar penetrating product will revive the finish and renew it...I'm a big fan of WaterLox, which is a modified Tung oil product....but if it is lacquer, it might not be a good idea to apply this to it. If you can see the pores of the wood, and it doesn't look like a shiny, film finish is sitting on top of the wood....then it's likely an oil finish. Is it possible to contact the manufacturer? That may be the best bet....hope that helps a little - post back if need be- Greg

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Greg Scholl

Expertise

Questions on Woodworking, wood finishing and refinishing of all kinds, repairing furniture and wooden objects, Architectural details, Woodturning, carving, tool usage, product usage, some chemistry as it applies to woodworking and related interests,cabinet making and furniture construction/design, etc. I have experience with all manners of colorants, finishes, paints, stains, dyes, glazes, and coatings, wood species recognition and usage,tool recommendations, blade types and recommendation,techniques and methods for many Woodworking related issues, etc.

Experience

Fine furniture restorer and cabinet maker for over 30 years,serving high end Antique dealers, Interior designers, Collectors in the CT area. 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.) 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 , provided knowledge, parts replacement, service, and on site service, Trade show Demo, and training as well.

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")

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 from major Tool manufacturers, Skil/Bosch, Delta, Powermatic, Ritter, Porter cable, Milwaukee, Dewalt/B&Decker, Performax.

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.), Golden Age of Trucking Museum, Wilton Historical Society.

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