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Cabinets, Furniture, Woodworks/warped wood-- dresser drawers

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Expert: - 9/1/2007


Question
hi, I recently acquired an antique wood dresser.  I think it had been stored in a garage, and, due to the heat, the drawers have expanded... now I can't open them.  What do I do to fix this problem? Thank you!

Answer
You don't say where you're from as climate may be the issue as it has been moved.  Warped wood can present a problem, sometimes it can be fixed, sometimes it must be replaced.  It is a change in humidity, rather than the heat which can cause much warping.  Heat will tend to shrink the wood a bit but may also cause actual splitting of a board. Being this is an antique of unknown value it should be treated conservatively. If the drawers are only slightly warped try changing its enviornment.  Take it inside(first) or into the cellar(next choice), observe it after a week or two and see if the drawers slide better. You can try applying some bees wax or even soap to the runners or to the drawer edges to see if this helps.  If all else fails, it will need to be looked at by a decent restorer to see what the problem is.  It is difficult to be of more help not being able to see the item in person.  Hope it helps.

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maura 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

Awards and Honors
many first place awards

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