Some of you will remember that I posted some weeks ago concerning a pair of window sills with an unusual finishing problem for which an answer was not found at that time.

Here’s bit of a recall and the latest for those of you who might be interested.

Said window sills had been “ravaged” by a boxer (dog) which then necessitated refinishing. After substantial sanding the sills were refinished. The finish blistered or bubbled on the one approx. 12 hours (or at least that’s when I saw it……gotta sleep sometime <g>) and on the other after……… 5 days! I jokingly suggested that maybe I should be talking to a vet for an answer.

Well as it turns out, that’s pretty much what I did. I got to thinking about the contents of that dog saliva and wondered if any contained bacteria could have survived in the wood for six weeks and then fed off of the shellac sealcoat. No, was the resounding answer. Well, so much for that notion.

I continued to churn the situation over in my head and returned to ask if any salivary enzymes could remain in tact on that surface for that period of time. Answer………yes!!

Theory……The salivary enzymes that were soaked into the wood began digesting the protein in the dewaxed shellac sealcoat and the subsequent outgassing bubbled the yet semi-soft nitro finish.

Since these enzymes are dependant upon a neutral or near neutral PH environment to remain in tact, I decided to alter that by applying some white vinegar and then allowing the wood to dry overnight before proceeding with the next days experiment. Next day, I masked off the previously hottest area on the sill and as before applied the Sealcoat, then the color coat, then the clear finish.

This morning was three days since application and nary a sign of problem.

What’s a good vintage of champagne?

Knowledge is power, but only if applied in a timely fashion.