Re: [A/S] Funky Smells

["j54mark" <jmrdse@xxxxxxxxxxx>]

I am going to mix knowledge and speculation here; always a dangerous 
combination.

First, oak - red or white - has very little discernable odor once it 
is kiln dried.  But I doubt the cabinets are solid oak.  I have not 
seen them, of course, but it is likely that they are oak, oak 
plywood, and probably some pressed board/vinyl material.

The "rancid oil" smell strikes me as have two possible sources: one 
is a breakdown of an oil-based varnish product.  I have not seen this 
sort of thing happen with any varnish or wood finish made these past 
20 years, but it certainly is possible.  The other is a breakdown in 
a pressed board (Masonite, any number of other similar brands) 
material.  One of the components of many of these things is linseed 
oil.  Perhaps it is leaching a bit of aging, rotting oil.  I've never 
seen that either, but it could be so.

A possible solution, and I offer this with the utmost caution, is to 
brush or spray the inside of the cabinet with lacquer.  This would 
have to be done with a respirator, and you would not be able to 
occupy the trailer for some hours.  It is an outstanding sealant, 
however, compatible with just about anything (excepting, possibly, 
vinyl coatings), and would not change the appearance materially.

Re: oak.  I have lived long enough to see oak go from the cheapest 
possible furniture, to the highest quality.  It can be cut and 
finished very attractively.  It usually isn't, however.

Mark