cracking up - furniture

[toby]

Can anuone tell me how best to deal with chinese furniture that has begun to crack. We purchased it in Hong Kong about four years ago and it's been fine. Now it is starting to crack. Someone said just to revarnish it again. It's rosewood and aready has a varnish on it, can I just revarnish, and if so what should I use.

Thanks

[SoSo]

You may have a problem. The cracking of furniture (so I'm advised) is because of the climatic changes from dry to humid. Singapore is humid all the time and maybe that means that there is no reason for the wood to crack.
When I bought my rosewood from Hong Kong (10 years or so ago) I was told to look for a shop that seasoned its wood for sufficient time. I have taken this furniture to UK, back to Tokyo (where summers are more humid than Singapore and winter is excessively dry) and *touch wood*! I have had no problems.
I have no idea how to remedy the rosewood that subsequently cracks but I fear you may find it impossible to remedy...
However, I hope there is some way... good luck...

[PhilM]

Toby - it is usual to cut rosewood and then leave it to season before making furniture from it, then cracks are never a problem. Some makers do varnish, others just stain and polish the wood, either is OK.

Unfortunately some characters make furniture with green wood which has not dried properly - this can be prone to cracking. Others even worse, take cheap wood and stain it to look like rosewood - you can normally tell this from the heavier grain.

If the wood itself has cracked you can buy wood repair putties from Home-fix in various wood colours if you feel you have the ability to repair it and possibly stain and polish or varnish it yourself. If not you are better going to a reputable rosewood manufacturer such as Singapore Woodcraft to get a quote to refurbish for you.

[Yep!]

We have the same prob. because the timber is not kiln dried- we've gone from humidity in Asia to Australia(2 different states and another 2 climates!!) and then to here and the cracks open and close so don't fill them...use oil!! mend waht you can if it is essential like the leg falling off a table top but you can't really fix it.

[toby]

That is exactly like us we left Hong Kong went to Australia and then came to Singapore. Have you just oiled your furniture and if so which oil did you use or did you get professional advice. I am probably going to take Phil's advice and ring Singapore woodcraft.

Thanks

[Yep!]

On the corner of Bukit Timah and Sixth Avenue is a teak shop which sells oil...you could ask them. My husband is a carpenter and I can tell you you can pay good money to have someone fix your furniture and it going to make bugger all difference...we bought our furniture 6 years ago and it keeps on changing depending on where we live, air con, dehumidifiers(now that really sucks the moisture out!!), heating, summer, winter etc. Polish it yourself if you want..strip it first with methylated spirits and fine steelwool and french polish with a fine cloth...personally I'd leave it until you are home for good!!