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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/Chemical Smell from Cabinets Installed 7 Months Ago

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Expert: - 7/27/2011


Question
Hi Greg, I've read your many posts about cabinet smells and wondered if this situation is any different.  We had brand-new cabinets from WoodMode's semi-custom line, Brookhaven, installed in our kitchen in January 2011.    They are maple with a "carmel" stain.  The insides of the boxes with glass doors are finished differently from the insides of boxes with solid doors - the varnish might be different or thicker, not sure.  From January to June the cabinet doors were not opened often.  In June, we noticed that the insides of the boxes with glass doors give off a strong chemical varnish-y smell.  It is bad enough that I thought I had opened a very bad bottle of usually very good wine given the taste in the glass, until we realized it was the glass, not the wine, and that the glass had come from one of the cabinets with a glass front.  The smell had totally permeated the wine glass.  
So, we have been keeping the glass doors wide open for the last six weeks, but the smell is still strong.  I have contacted my kitchen contractor but haven't heard back from them yet.  Any possibility the two boxes can be refinished on the inside or cleaned with anything that would remove the varnish smell?  Thanks in advance!

Answer
Hi Marla, that's unusual, especially from a large manufacturer like WoodMode, as they have been moving to waterborne finish technology that off gasses less and uses different chemical technology...I would contact WoodMode directly ASAP and see what they say...it is unlikely that you could mask it or clean the smell away....but they warranty their finishes and should help you ...let me know- regards- Greg

http://www.wood-mode.com/CONTACT-ME/default.htm

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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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