To echo others and to quote a well-resepected furniture conservator who
serves on my curatorial committee: "Wood is dead, it doesn't need fed."

Unfortunately, this seems to be a common misconception about wood and
advertisements for Pledge and Old English furniture polishes don't help by
telling you to feed the wood - and their product is the best way to do that.
Basically most of these polishes and oils create more of a problem than they
solve as they actually will build up and hold dust and dirt to the finish.
Why does the volunteer think the wood needs to be fed? Does it look hungry
(just kidding) but does it look like it is dry or has a dull finish?
Depending on the item and the original finish, some things could be waxed
with microcrystilline wax. But even objects that are waxed, if they are not
handled much, should only be waxed once a year at best, to prevent build up.
If it is something that is handled, even with gloves, then you may want to
wax it more often since touching the service will wear off the wax sooner.
But before you do anything like that you should consult a conservator.

You can also explain the best way to take care of wooden artifacts is to
keep them in a temperture and humidity controlled environment -
70 degrees/50%humidity is the general rule of thumb. That way they are
neither too dry which could cause loosening of joints and possibly a dry
appearance, or two wet which would cause swelling and cracking of veneers
and panels and possibly a hazy appearence to the finish.

Heidi Campbell-Shoaf
Curator
Historical Society of Frederick County
24 E. Church St.
Frederick, MD 21718
[log in to unmask]
----- Original Message -----
From: "Erin Quinn" <[log in to unmask]>
To: <[log in to unmask]>
Sent: Monday, May 17, 2004 11:32 AM
Subject: Feeding Wood


I have a volunteer who insists that we should be "feeding" our wood with
linseed and/or orange oil.  I know that this is not the correct thing to do
but have yet to say anything that convinces him.  Any suggestions for a
tactful way to tell him this is not the best thing for the wood?

Erin

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