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Restoring Great Grandfather's Clock

Fire damaged grandfather clock

For the exterior, Murphy's oil soap and water, using rags. If this doesn't clean it up, try ordinary paint thinner - it won't hurt the finish.

For the interior, you have a couple of choices - but before you can use any of them the works of teh clock must be removed from the head. No, you can't just take the head off - the smoke smell is inside it, too.

The quickest cure would be to reseal the interiorof teh case - completely. I'd suggest an aerosol shellac. Once the case is sealed, the smell of smoke will be gone.
  • Murphy's Oil and Soap (or paint thinner, won't hurt finish)

Saving Fire Damaged Furniture has a list of things to buy.

  • Pour Mixwax or Formby's furniture refinisher in a quart cup. I filled it about 1/2 full.
  • Rub with 0000 steel wool with grain
  • Then apply Howard Feed-N-Wax

Next, place the steel wool in the cup and let sit for a few minutes.

How to clean wood furniture after a fire.

  • Mix 1 cup ammonia with 1 cup water. Use cloth
  • Mix 1 gallon of hot water with 2 tbsp. turpentine and 4 tbsp. linseed oil. Use the hottest water that your hands can handle.

What do professionals use to clean smoke damage

  • (No) Trisodium Phosphate (TSP) (Hazardous, small amount heavily diluted)

How to Remove Soot from Wood Surfaces.

  • (No) In extreme situations, you can use a weak dilution of Unsmoke Degrease-All. Rinse well after cleaning. (Sold by the gallon)
clock.1635616938.txt.gz · Last modified: 2023/04/12 20:44 (external edit)