Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - Restoration Problem

I rescued an old Southern Heart-Pine Pie Safe. I am trying to restore it. It was used last as a cabinet to store salt meat.

Now that caused two problems...

1. Rusted square nails, which I think I can handle.

2. The wood has absorbed animial fat in a number of places. In our summer humidity, this area of the wood grows a black mold.

I need suggestions as to how to deal with the fat and mold!

I don't mind keeping this piece primitive. Some of the wood can just be replaced with other heart-pine wood, but it is the four leg pieces that need this attention the most, otherwise I am replacing most everything.

How big are the legs? Are they removeable?

To kill off the mold and maybe do something with the animal fat, I'd personally try to soak the things in denatured alcohol (this could be costly). Or just pour it on and let it soak in. The wood will need a good sanding afterward.


Or you can try to rub the area well with lacquer thinner (GLOVES!). It will kill the mold and may remove the fatty oils.

Legs are almost 6 feet long.

Getting the fat out of the wood fibers enough to maybe put a sealer on it to stop the seeping and mold return... maybe the two you mentioned will help!

Thanks!
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ANY OTHERS FACED THIS PROBLEM?

To kill the mold, mix some household bleach 25% in water with some tide. Wearing protective gloves and working somewhere where spilling this mixture won't damage the surface, wet the moldy wood, let this sit for minute, then scrub with a brush. The bleach will kill the mold and the tide will allow the residue to be washed from the surface. Rinse thoroughly with clear water to remove all residue.

You can repeat this application, but don't allow the mixture to sit on the wood for long lest it bleach the color of the wood. This may remove some of the animal fat from the wood.

After this dries, sprinkle some water on the area where the fat was left to see if the water beads up on the surface or soaks into the wood. If it beads up, you can wipe the surface with a cloth dampened with lacquer thinner to remove the surface fat and allow you to apply a sealer to the wood. Dewaxed shellac, available in a can from the box stores, makes for a sealant that dries fast, can be recoated soon, and will build a film for other work, if so desired.

Hope this helps.