msg wrote in message
ernet...
msg wrote:

I remember reading a thread within the last month regarding explanations
for why some old wooden cases with leatherette (or leather) fabric
coverings
smell (or stink) with a very vile smell. The expression I remember
reading
in the previous thread was "smells like poop". All attempts to locate
this
thread using Google Groups has come up null for me, so I would
appreciate
either a pointer to it or some replies in this thread. IIRC, one
explanation
involved perhaps the use of horse glue which has deteriorated over time,
but
there were other ideas mentioned as well.

I would also appreciate suggestions for remediation of the foul odor.

Regards,

Michael

I have now found the reference, by searching on "horse glue"; it was in a
thread involving bakelite and plastics and was a digression from the
original
topic:


http://groups.google.com/group/sci.e...hread/thread/1
1788b89ecad9b0a/c4390e64e6145bf5?q=horse+glue+smell#

Anyway, how might I deodorize the case? At the moment it is so offensive
that
it must be kept out of any space in which people may be present. I tried
desiccant, perfume, lysol, soap and water wash, and a few other things
without
much success.

Michael



What is that volcanic ash stuff? gypsum? huge surface area to its volume,
great at absorbing nasties, think "shake and vac".

Could also tie in with the more recent thread on telling real leather from
faux leather. Perhaps real leather structurally degrades biologically from
microbial attack.

Caproic acid goat/horse manure smell and butyric acid , vomit smell, maybe
other related breakdown chemicals from such biological materials as leather
, horse-glues, shellac and other insect resins etc. That I've sometimes
smelt inside old equipment as well as the nice shellac smells etc


--
Diverse Devices, Southampton, England
electronic hints and repair briefs , schematics/manuals list on
http://home.graffiti.net/diverse:graffiti.net/