Replies

1. 
   mwenz | May 31, 2007 06:21pm | #1

   I use shellac and wax all the time on exotics, including Cocobolo and haven't seen anything which is out of the ordinary.

   It actually sounds like simple dust from the air.

   Mike

2. 
   SteveSchoene | May 31, 2007 08:18pm | #2

   Dust sounds right.  (After all our mothers or grandmothers felt in necessary to dust just about every day.)  Dust is much more visible on glossy dark woods than more satin finished surfaces so you may notice it more on this piece.

   It's pretty easy to remove the wax to see if that is having an effect.  Just wipe the piece down with generous amounts of naptha or mineral spirits, using plenty of rags or paper towels so you don't just smear it around.  (These won't hurt either shellac or lacquer.)

    

1. 
   gerrha | Jun 01, 2007 06:30am | #3

   I attached a poor photo in which you can sort of see what I am talking about. Except for the right corner where I wiped it off so you can see the difference, this is what it looks like after about a month. At first, it looked like mold to me, but again it just wipes off. If it is dust, nothing else in the house gets dusty like this so it must be a dust magnet.

   Do you think it is just dust?

   Thanks 

   
1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jun 01, 2007 06:58am | #4

   That does look like a mildew, and on a well finished surface it could just wipe off, but it is puzzling, since unless it's in a odd damp location it doesn't make much sense for mold or mildew to concentrate on this one piece.  If there is a chance that it could be a damp location moving it to a dry location could help.   

   I'd first take off the wax and see that has any impact.  Not a problem to restore the wax, and no risk of damaging the underlying finish.  In the interest of science only do this after you determine that the damp location idea either made no sense, or that moving to a dryer place did nothing. 

2. 
   mwenz | Jun 01, 2007 07:09am | #5

   Odd looking--from what I could tell from the picture.

   If it is mildew/fungus, I would wonder what the moisture content was before you built it. As both shellac and wax can allow some moisture transfer (in and out), I would suspect this is moisture trying to get out in that case because other items are apparently not affected.

   Questions. What wax and how old was it? What kind of shellac?

   If this is a finish (shellac or wax) problem, strip the thing and let it breathe a bit and then refinish it with fresh shellac and or fresh wax.

   Take care, Mike

1. 
   gerrha | Jun 01, 2007 07:35am | #6

   The location where this box is located is not damp. In fact, it is less than 3-feet from the dining room table, which shows nothing like this.

   Although I did not check the moisture content of this wood with my meter when I started, I think it was dry since it was stored for a year or so in my hot storage area.

   You asked about the age of the wax. Does this matter? If so, this could be the problem. The wax is Trewax in a small can given to me maybe 35 years ago by my grandfather who had it for who knows how long before that.

   I am pretty sure that it is some kind of mold thing because if I rub all of it off the piece onto my finger and then rub my fingers together, it just sort of disappears, which I don't think would happen with dust. Something there must be eating the wax.

   An earlier poster mentioned mineral spirits for removing the wax. I guess I can try that and see what happens.

   Thanks for the help. 

1. 
   Kevin | Jun 01, 2007 08:20am | #7

   I was going to echo the dust suggestion, but what you're saying here seems plausible to me. It's probably something that likes 35 year old wax. Or, and I am just guessing here, perhaps the old wax is degraded to the point that some component is coming out of solution? Either way, I'd follow Steve's directions for removing the wax and then rewax it with newer wax.

2. 
   mwenz | Jun 01, 2007 09:33am | #8

   Trewax can react with certain chemicals (including alcohol finishes and lacquers)...and guess what? The reaction results in a powdery substance forming.

   As well, while it may not be a mold, Trewax is a vegtable-based wax. It is possible after all this time the stuff has gone "bad."

   Clean it off and let it set. You may find you need to clean it a few times. If you find this substance is going away after a cleaning or two, it was the wax.

   Take care, Mike