Camphor blanket box finish?

[corbs]

Evening all, I am in the middle of gluing up panels to make my camphor blanket box. Its time to start thinking of how to finish the project. After some investigation in here I am swaying towards a danish oil (or similar finish). My biggest concern is that I want to keep the camphor smell inside the box and not seal it in the wood. Here are the questions that I have...

1. Do I apply oil to inside and out of box?
2. Will this seal the smell in the wood?
3. If I only oil the outsides will this affect the moisture flow rate with seasonl changes?
4. Not a question but open to other ideas:D

[echnidna]

I think you could apply any finish to the outside.
I wouldnt apply any finish to the inside of the chest as it may seal the aroma which is desirable to deter pests.

Most antique furniture was never sealed inside so leaving it unsealed inside is not a new idea. Oil and wax finishes dont inhibit timber absorbing moisture very much, but I still wouldn't use them inside an aromatic chest anyway.

[Neil]

Leaving the inside un sealed also allows the timber to take the moisture away from blankets etc and stop them from going musty. The same applies for drawers, and is essential for enclosed book cares, which should never be finished inside as the books will go musty and mouldy with time.

Cheers - Neil :)

[corbs]

Thanks for the replies echnidna and neil. I am happy with whats going to happen now and should have some pics in the next couple of weeks with a finished product.

[Phil Mazey]

Hi Corbs

Interesting posts. See you live in Canberra. Me too. Am thinking of a BBox, with at least some camphor bit(s). Could you please tell me where yo can get it locally?

Phil Mazey
Weston 62880840