Oilierthanthou wrote:
> "Jerry Built" wrote...
> > It is not a home-made article, it was purchased from a Dept.
> > store in 1949. It is rather puzzling. I would like to know
> > what this stuff is, since I have never heard of such being
> > used in furniture before. This stuff is quite hard, it is
> > possible to carve slivers off, which break up to some
> > extent (like trying to carve solid dry plaster, for instance).
> > The panels are quite rigid.
>
> I think I have a similar piece of furniture, it's an oak
> sideboard believed to date from 1944. The back and drawer
> bottoms are made from a material that looks very like
> asbestos/cement sheet, but the colour is more streaky
> (marbled) blue/grey. Rather than the grey/white of other
> asbestos/cement that I've seen. Worrying isn't it :-(

I stripped off the old paint with stripper last night, the
stuff is black/blue/grey but blotchy, rather than being
a nice marbled effect - I can't see this being a desirable
finish for an item, I think my item was originally painted.
I have asked on rec.antiques, in case anyone has seen this
sort of thing, but not looked for replies since yesterday...


J.B.

On 18 Aug 2004 08:09:38 -0000, Jerry Built <(E-Mail Removed)>
wrote:

>I stripped off the old paint with stripper last night, the
>stuff is black/blue/grey but blotchy, rather than being
>a nice marbled effect - I can't see this being a desirable
>finish for an item, I think my item was originally painted.
>I have asked on rec.antiques, in case anyone has seen this
>sort of thing, but not looked for replies since yesterday...

Hi,

AKIAK there are companies that offer an asbestos testing service:

http://www.google.com/search?q=site%...bestos+testing

However unless you want to grind it into a powder and snort it I
wouldn't worry.

cheers,
Pete.