EFTA02503057

From: Richard Kahn < Sent: Wednesday, April 22, 2015 1:42 PM To: jeffrey E. Subject: Fwd: Library long winded and thorough will forward =hotos when received this afternoon thanks Richard Kahn HBRK Associates Inc. Begin forwarded message: Date: =/b>April 22, 2015 at 9:22:49 AM =DT Subject: =/b>Re: =ibrary From: =/b>Brandon Thompson < To: =/b>Richard Kahn < We =re in the process of deciding the best way to go, so I am doing a lot =f trials. I am also using different techniques so =he materials I am using dry much longer. I will =end you some samplings this afternoon. Once the techniques are set in =otion, the work progresses in a prompt manner. I =ecommend, not to use wax finish any more. If Mr. Epstein likes this =ind of finish, I will imitate this finish, but the wood HAS TO BE =EALED, in order not to be susceptible to fungi and molds. The wax =inish does not prevent the molds and moisture to penetrate the wood. I =ill stay in touch with you from now on, and you will receive updates =aily. There is a lot of other implications coming =ith the way it turned out. One of them is color. The color of the floor =eeting the woodwork. What I like to suggest is that I will finish one =ide, the large wall on the East side and let Mr. Epstein look at it, =nd if he will like it, I will go ahead and finish the rest of the =ibrary. May be this is safest way to go for now. Every time you start the project, the beginning is most =ifficult. Remember the Library in NY. Because of the problems, I had to =hange the way was finished. Many times the =ethods will change, because I am not only finisher but also conservator =pecializing in wooden objects. I always choose what is the best not =nly to finish but also to last. If I only cared =o earn money, I would not bring these problems to light. It is not =rofitable. You also have to trust me, that I want the very best for my =lient. EFTA_R1_01631682 EFTA02503057 Brandon On Tue, =pr 21, 2015 at 11:05 PM, Richard Kahn < <mailto > wrote: Thank you for =pdate. Please send photo of piece that Is finished. Thank you. Richard Kahn HBRK Associates Inc. > On Apr 21, 2015, at 9:04 PM, Brandon Thompson < > wrote: > Dear Mr. Kahn, > Time to update you with the progress on the restoration of the =ibrary. > Believe it or not, the beginning of this restoration is like a =etective story. > We have a lot of dark-purple sections, still did not dawn on me =hat the worst will be the true. During the work today, as we =is-attached the doors from the lower cabinets, we found molds in some =laces. What happen, the moisture causes the condensation and than sets =n the objects. In one place was so severe, that I thought it was = flooding or leak from the roof. I HAVE TO GO WITH ALTERNATIVE =ESTORATION. I am presuming Mr. Epstein loves the liming wax finish, but =his kind of finish does not adequately protects the wood from damage. =eedless to say, oak wood have largest expansion and contraction rate =rom all the woods. This causes the wood-grain to absorb the moisture =nd with time create spots. Oak contains iron, which in turn will create =n the surface dark spots. Right now, we have thousands tiny dark spots, =hich can be eliminated. The darkening of the wood can be confirmed by =11 the peoples witnessing to it. > I am coming with the solution to this problem. I will strip and =ash all the wood.. I will emphasize the grain of the wood but than I =ill seal it may be even two times and finish with varnish (satin) =inish. Once this is sealed and finished, I will rub the surfaces with =he steel wool and apply the wax finish. I could apply liming-wax finish =s well. > Tomorrow, I will take a hair dryer and will kill the molds. This is =he type of the mold, that sucks moisture from environment and uses it =or its own purpose. > Also, I will recommend to use Silica Gel. There is a Silica Gel =hat changes the color once is saturated with water. You can process =ilica Gel by baking it in the oven in 185 degrees of F and reuse it as =any times as you want. > This would solve some of the moisture problem in the Library. > I was thinking that I may finish one wall for Mr. Epstein, for him =o see and if he approves it, I will finish the rest of the Library in =he same way. > Please give me some feed back on the subject. > Thank you. > Brandon Thompson > PS there is a way I could finish the Library by covering most of =he problems and make easy money. I would not feel well doing this. I =now the way I want to go is more difficult but at the same time, better =ervice and lasting restoration. 2 EFTA_R1_01631663 EFTA02503058 > Change in the method of restoration caused me to buy different =aterials. > If this could happen in NY you would not even know, as I have most =f these materials in stock. Unfortunately, this is different, I am away =rom my "perch". 3 EFTA_R1_01631684 EFTA02503059