I am also very interested in this topic as I am involved with a project of
rebuilding a 1790's general store that was badly burned last May.  We are
trying to save SOME of the burned parts and need a method of cleaning.
Thanks, Ruth



At 9:31 PM -0700 3/11/09, Cuyler Page wrote:
Seeking comments about "Ice Blasting" as a method for cleaning a
historic wooden stair and bannister scorched and charred in a flash fire.

Craigflower Farmhouse
<http://bcheritage.ca/craigflower/tour/manor/index.html>http://bcheritage.ca/craigflower/tour/manor/index.html
built in 1856, recently suffered a fire in a closet under the stair.   When
it burned through the stair treads, some of the bannister was scorched by a
fireball and some parts actually burned and are now charred.   A local
company is recommending Ice Blasting to clean up the bannister.   The
bannister is remarkable in that it is made of Arbutus, also called Madrone
in Washington and Oregon, a very hard, twisty grained and difficult wood to
craft.

Built here in the pioneer era as one of the first substantial homes in
Victoria, the  original ballusters would have been turned on a treadle
lathe.  I would like to replace the badly burned ballusters using the same
kind of lathe as a public demonstration.

I will really appreciate any comments about ice blasting of wood in the
setting shown in the web site photos.   Just imagine it with smoke damage
and varying degrees of scorch and char on the wooden surfaces.


With thanks,
Cuyler Page in bc

-- 
Ruth Barton
[log in to unmask]
Dummerston, VT

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