Woodworkers of the World, I need your assistance......?

Question

Just bought two huge tallboy chests of drawers. They smell bad, quite chemically really, they came from O/s and are stained in a mahogany stain which still smells really potent almost 2 weeks after we got them, windows open drawers open, no good. I would like to know what I can 'oil' them with that I can get at the hardware store that will put a nicer smell into the timber. I would really appreciate an inexpensive remedy if you know of one. PS, my daughter has Asthma, so the more natural the solution would be appreciated. Thankyou.xx

Answer 1

Try Lacquer = )

Answer 2

I'd say you have two options.  Option 1 is to let it sit long enough for the smell to go away.  The problem is that that can take a very long time depending on what was used to finish it.  Option 2 is to seal in the odor.  To do this, you would use shellac.  You can buy premixed shellac at the hardware store.  One brand is Zinsser Bulls Eye.  Coat the insides with shellac, and that should cut down on the odor greatly.  As for natural, it doesn't get any more natural than shellac.  It's a secretion of the lac insect.  Some drug companies even use it to coat pills, so it's definitely safe.

Answer 3

Sounds like it is made of particle board, maybe covered with a very thin veneer. The hotter it is the stronger it will smell. If it has particle board in it, it has formaldehyde resin glue. It is cheep to build, but in your case, not good to be using. Solid American woods would have already quit smelling. Imported woods stink when being cut.

If it was aromatic cedar, it should be sprayed with several coats of lacquer to seal the smell.