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September, 2019 The Antique Shoppe Page 5
Michael – You are encountering the classic problem that almost all
Questions & A. wooden rockers eventually have to face. Of course the squeak is
caused by friction and friction is the result of something moving. You just
have to find it and fix it. Be very careful about “oiling” the joints. Quieting
Common Sense Answers the problem does not solve the problem. Just because it doesn’t squeak

anymore doesn’t mean that the offending movement has stopped – it’s just
with Fred Taylor quieter. Also don’t use petroleum lubricant on the wood. It will seep into
the grain and try to resurface under the finish. The finish will eventually lift
because it doesn’t have adhesion to the oil layer. You should lubricate wood
with upholstery or food grade silicone (http://
www.glfi.com/supplycatalogs.htm). But you still
I bought a china cabinet at auction haven’t solved the problem. You must locate
Q. recently and during the preview I the friction point. Have someone else sit and
checked it out pretty closely. It passed my rock in the chair while you listen for and try to
diligent scrutiny but I sure must have missed pinpoint the source. Use a wooden dowel or the
something. When I got it home, unloaded it equivalent as a “stethoscope” to help you locate
and set it up, the doors would not open or close the source. Once you locate the source take the
smoothly. I have to jerk on them a little to open chair apart as far as you have to, to get to the
them and push hard to close them. I am afraid offending joint and reglue or repair it. You need
I will break a door or a piece of the glass. My the original source of the squeak to be tight as
sister says I need to take the doors off and trim well as quiet.
them but they seemed to work fine when I first
looked at the cabinet. I did bring it home in an
Send your comments, questions and pictures to me at PO
open pick up and it was pretty hot that day. Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423 or email them to me at info@
Do you think the doors swelled that much, or furnituredetective.com
could it be something else? I read your columns Visit Fred’s website at www.furnituredetective.com and check
regularly. Thanks. Bonnie G. 70 out the downloadable “Common Sense Antiques” columns in .pdf 17
University Pkwy
format. His book “HOW TO BE A FURNITURE DETECTIVE” is now
Bonnie – The doors probably didn’t available for $18.95 plus $3.00 shipping. Send check or money
75
301 A. swell that much unless you trucked the order for $21.95 to Fred Taylor, PO Box 215, Crystal River, FL 34423
Fred and Gail Taylor’s DVD, “IDENTIFICATION OF OLDER &
cabinet cross country on the way home from
MLK Hwy ANTIQUE FURNITURE”, ($17.00 + $3.00 S&H) are also available
Sarasota at the same address. For more information call (800) 387-6377
Lockwood Ridge Rd
Central
10th the auction. When that cabinet was built the (9AM-4PM Eastern, M-F only), fax 352-563-2916, or e-mail info@
Fruitville
doors and case were almost assuredly square Everything about this 1930s Circassion walnut armoire is out of furnituredetective.com. All items are also available directly from
and worked perfectly. While it is possible that whack. The case drastically needs to be leveled so the doors will the website, www.furnituredetective.com
time has altered the shape of the cabinet and its work properly, extending the life of the cabinet.
doors, it is not likely unless it had been exposed
Honore Ave
41 to severe extremes of temperature and humidity. SW Florida Vintage Dealers
Tuttle Ave
And that didn’t happen in the time between when you saw the piece at the
auction and the time you got it home. North Port - Port Charlotte
72
After being moved, a cabinet often has shifted its weight and when
it is placed in it’s new location, sometimes the weight does not shift back Vintage Finder’s 70 17
properly. You can tell if this is the problem by looking to see if the doors line Warehouse “llc”
up with each other when there are two doors or line up with the frame in  Cherry Hill
the case of one door. Again, when this case was made, the doors lined up. If Dean & Diane Castellano Where Fun & Design Come Together
75
they don’t now, the case probably needs to be leveled or adjusted, not the 1075 Innovation Avenue Antiques, Art, Vintage, Decorating Decor, 72
Unit 106
door trimmed. If there is only one door, sight along the crack at the top of North Port, FL 34289 Famous Marc Art, New & Recycled
Osprey
the door from the hinge side to the other side. Is the top of the door parallel 941-228-8112 2811 Tamiami Tr. Unit C
to the rail in the case? If not the case usually needs to adjusted, not the door 941-228-7804 Port Charlotte, FL
or the hinges. The cabinet just needs to be leveled by the use of shims under (Between Port Charlotte Blvd. & West Tarpon)
41
one or more feet. This is not to be confused with leveling something using Priced to Sell 941-286-8617
Fri. & Sat. 10-4 or Appt.
a carpenter’s spirit level. This is leveling to the satisfaction of the doors, the & Dealer Friendly (We love appointments - one or a bunch - always fun)
frame and the floor. Laurel Rd See Our New Store
(Same Mall - Different Store front Unit C)
75
Try installing combinations of coins under one leg or corner. If that Exclusive Retailer New Store - New Look - New Products
Dixie Belle Paint
Nokomis
seems to help, try the opposite corner, i.e. left rear and right front. If that www.vintagefinderswarehouse.com Text or Email: artist3398@peoplepc.com
vintagefinderswarehouse@yahoo.com
makes the door problem worse, reverse your process. Keep at it until the 1 Facebook: Marc Washicheck 2
Venice Ave
doors swing free. I prefer to use coins rather than match books or wooden
Venice
shims because they do not compress like wood or paper over time. Also be
sure that if the cabinet is on a carpeted floor that it is not sitting on the tack 1 Toledo Blade 75 17
Center Rd
River Rd
strip under the carpet. Just move it out away from the wall slightly. Price Blvd
Finally use a small amount of upholstery or food grade silicone spray North Port
North Port
41
on the door frame. That always make it work better.
Hillsborough Blvd
Fred if you could please offer me some advice regarding an antique 41 Port Charlotte
Q. wooden rocking chair that squeaks when you rock in it, it would be Veterans Blvd
greatly appreciated. As you may suspect it only squeaks when you sit in it and Tamiami Trail Midway Blvd
are putting weight on the wood itself. I tried oiling all joints and tightening all Olean Blvd
the screws whenever possible. Your thoughts are greatly appreciated. Please Edgewater Blvd 2
777
feel free to either e-mail me or call me if you prefer. Michael. El Jobean Charlotte Harbor View Rd
Englewood Harbor Sibley Bay Dr 75 17
776
McCall Rd
771 Taylor Carmalita Florida
Airport
Punta
Gorda