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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Wood Stove Smell in Dressers

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Expert: - 6/22/2010


Question
Hi.  We purchased two dressers at a garage sale, got them home and they smell like the wood stove!  Have tried vinegar and water and ammonia, cannot get the smell out.  Really bad when it gets humid.  Can you help?

Thanks a million!

Answer
Hi Mary, smoke odor can be difficult to remove completely.Professionals use counteractants, some enzyme based, and sometimes in combination with ozone treatments. It permeates the cells of natural materials like wood,fabric, paper, etc.. as you've found out. Fabrese is a viable and inexpensive treatment, but whether the results would be good,or would last, I'm not sure...the only other option is to consult a fire restoration company and see what they could offer you. Perhaps they could treat the piece in an Ozone tent during treatment of someone else's restoration job....these may have been in a house fire....and it may not be possible to completely remove the odor......but a professional would be the best route if you're really serious about it. Regards- 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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