Hello all. I found a fantastic chest that I would like to keep a portion of my shells in. Unfortunately it is made of oak and I understand oak can do serious damage to shells. So, is it just physical contact with the shells I need to be concerned with or does the oak also release harmful gasses that damage shells? If the former is true then can I simply line the drawer with wax paper or someother protective layer that someone here might be able to suggest. By the way for many years I keep my shells in a Maple chest (well before I was aware that wood could damage shells) and after many years never saw any damage. Doug ---------------------------------------------------------------------- [log in to unmask] - a forum for informal discussions on molluscs To leave this list, click on the following web link: http://listserv.uga.edu/cgi-bin/wa?SUBED1=conch-l&A=1 Type your email address and name in the appropriate box and click leave the list. ----------------------------------------------------------------------