Est. 1998 — 27 years of woodworking knowledge
Oak smell - for Jennifer
Johanna
>I was surprised to read that an oak cabinet smelled bad. What kind of oak was it, do you know? Could he have used a smelly finish? I have used both red and white oak extensively and have never noticed any odor at all.
I think the answer is shellac. I tend to use SealCoat on almost everything -- inside and out. Wonderful stuff.
I will take a guess that it was....
SanMan
>....likely red or black oak that was smelly.
Ive got some that smells like dog poop ...until its sealed by a finish that is.
SM
Re: I will take a guess that it was....
Grant Smith(remove 1 for email)
>Dog Poo and Pee combined are what I've decided my black oak smelled like when it was air drying in my shop.
Mind you it was FRESH poo and pee, and not the more objectionable rotted variety. And it was only a slight odor, not an overwhelming wheel-barrow load type smell.
I Kind of learned to like the smell after a few days.
Am I the only one that has noticed that Walnut smells like the Vets office for some reason? I am suspecting that vets use some type of cleaning agent that is made up of a Walnut derivative... Juglone perhaps?
Re: Oak smell - for Jennifer
Keith Newton
>I think I have read something posted on this subject by Dr Wengert over on the woodweb. I think he said that it may be caused by an incipient (early stage) level of decay or bacteria in the wood. I have smelled it more in red oak than in white.
Re: Oak smell - for Jennifer
Malcolm Timbers
>If you use an oil finish on the inside of a cabinet it will smell rancid after a while especially if it is humid.
If the oak smells it is a bacteria infection in the live tree. Also pin oak smell like horse manure untill it is dry and then the smell goes away.
Re: Oak smell - for Jennifer
paul in AZ
>I've heard old time New Englanders refer to red oak as "piss oak" because of the smell.
Maybe it is because
Johanna
>I live in the desert -- I have never experienced that smell. Sounds like it occurs in high humidity.
Re: Maybe it is because
Keith Newton
>It is more prone to be in wood grown in more wet conditions,
However I recall cutting a tree for firewood about an hour's drive away in the Ouachita Mountains, and loading it into my old van. Wow, that was a long drive home. It had the fresh dog poop smell.
piss oak eh?
Scott in Eastern Iowa
>Ive heard elm around here called piss elm....reckon its cause it aint worth the piss it would take to mess with it?!
Scott
after a few days....
Scott in Eastern Iowa
>....you too eh Grant? I would agree our black oak is not the overpowering rancid poo smelling type, but it is very strong at first.
I get used to it too....very distinct smelling it is.
Ive not noticed wallynut smelling like a vets office either?
Ever notice white oak smells kinda like a faint vanilla?
Later gater