Aboutmaura macaluso Expertise I can answer most questions, regarding, wood sculpture, wood carving, carving tools and accessories and different types of woods.I am not an appraiser of carvings nor an antique dealer.
Experience I do full design work, custom carving, restoration, fabrication, repair and refinishing. I can take a piece of raw wood and turn it into a work of art and I can help you do the same. I am "the" carving instructor for the new york city parks dept. I am heavily involved in carving on the internet and belong to many, many mail lists which are quite active. I am also an international promoter of woodcarving and am affiliated with many master carvers, notably nora hall, originally from holland, now in the U.S. and kalina pavlova, a bulgarian master carver. I routinely communicate with the top names in professional woodcarving nationally and internationally.
Organizations the national association of woodcarvers. the woodcarvers of queens NY, the staten island woodcarvers. the northeast woodcarving association. the world wide carving internet list
Publications chip chats-the national magazine of woodcarving. also at www.carvinginnyc.com
Education/Credentials Self taught artist and sculptor, 40 years of drawing and painting as a hobby, 5 years of serious woodsculpting. I have my own website and have written a 300 pg book on carving. I have published online tutorials and pictorial projects
Question hello. I am trying to get rid of some marks on 'satin' finished wood furniture. The marks are shiny and are where people continually put their hands and are of a usual traffic hand area. Do you have any suggestions for a product or technique that can rid these marks from the wood without ruining the finish? Any advice will be greatly appreciated. I've already tried a furniture polish (the one in the yellow can), murphy's wood soap diluted and vinegar/water.
Thanks. Katie.
Answer Hi Katie, I am having a real hard time visualizing the marks you are referring to. My first suggestion would have been to try a mild soap to see if it was caused by the oils in peoples hands polishing those spots over time, but you say you have tried wood soap already. If it is not something that is atop the actual finish, it must be the finish itself which has been affected. You don't say how old this furniture is or its value. If it is a valuable antique or one day it might be, you may not want to fool with the wear marks at all. They will add to its value eventually. Without seeing this problem in person, it is hard to diagnose it. Perhaps you have a friend who is either a carpenter, woodworker or re-finisher who may be able to look at it. If it is only shiny and not discolored, it may be normal wear marks where the finish itself is wearing away. I would hate to suggest you refinish and blend those spots into the rest of the piece, but I won't because there may be a simpler solution. Sorry that I could not be of more help to you but thanks for the question and good luck with your problem.
