Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher

CPSC Recall #00-054 — January 17, 2000

Recall Summary

Recall Number00-054
Recall DateJanuary 17, 2000
Remedy TypeRefund
Units AffectedAbout 3,000

Where It Was Sold

Discount department
hardware and hobby stores nationwide sold the refinisher from October 1999 through January 2000. The individual cans sold for about $13 and the kits sold for about $16.

Product

Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher

Description

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), The Sherwin-Williams Co., of Cleveland, Ohio and Brockway Standard Inc. of Atlanta, Ga., are voluntarily recalling about 3,000 cans of Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher. The product and its vapors can seep or leak from the nozzle base at the top of the can, posing a risk of fire and chemical injuries. The firms have received one report of an employee suffering minor burns when refinisher vapors ignited in a retailer's distribution center. Formby's Conditioning Furniture Refinisher, used to refinish wood furniture, is sold individually and as part of Formby's "Introduction to Refinishing Kit." The 32-ounce metal can reads, "Formby's Furniture Workshop" and "Furniture Refinisher" in white lettering on a burgundy and mostly green background. A depiction of Homer Formby appears on the face of the can. The product can be identified by a code on the bottom of the can written in black ink with one of the following lot number sequences: A961600, A961610, A961620, A961630, A967270 and A969330. Cans with blue ink codes are not subject to this recall. Discount department, hardware and hobby stores nationwide sold the refinisher from October 1999 through January 2000. The individual cans sold for about $13 and the kits sold for about $16. Consumers should stop using this refinishing product immediately, and place the product in a well-ventilated area. Since it can leak, care should be taken to keep the product from spilling by always keeping the container upright. Also, do not store near any source of ignition, such as near a gas-fueled appliance. Consumers should call (800) 523-9299 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for instructions on how to handle and return the refinisher for replacement or a refund.

Hazard

The product and its vapors can seep or leak from the nozzle base at the top of the can, posing a risk of fire and chemical injuries.

Incidents & Injuries

The firms have received one report of an employee suffering minor burns when refinisher vapors ignited in a retailer's distribution center.

Remedy Instructions

Consumers should stop using this refinishing product immediately, and place the product in a well-ventilated area. Since it can leak, care should be taken to keep the product from spilling by always keeping the container upright. Also, do not store near any source of ignition, such as near a gas-fueled appliance. Consumers should call (800) 523-9299 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. ET Monday through Friday for instructions on how to handle and return the refinisher for replacement or a refund.

What Should You Do?

Stop using this product immediately. Contact the manufacturer for a Refund at no charge. If you experienced an injury, report it at SaferProducts.gov.

Frequently Asked Questions

Follow the consumer action instructions in the recall notice above. Most recalls require you to stop using the product and contact the manufacturer directly — either by calling the toll-free number listed in the official CPSC notice or by visiting the manufacturer's website. You generally do not need a receipt or original packaging to claim a remedy. The manufacturer is legally required to provide the remedy (Refund) at no cost to you.

If the product caused a fire or burn injury, document the incident with photos and preserve the product if it is safe to do so. Report the incident to the CPSC at SaferProducts.gov and to your local fire department. Contact the manufacturer to inform them of the incident — they are required to track and report injuries to CPSC. You may also want to consult a personal injury attorney, as fire and burn injuries caused by defective products can be grounds for a product liability claim against the manufacturer.

In most cases, no. CPSC-coordinated recall remedies are designed to be accessible without proof of purchase. Manufacturers typically ask consumers to self-certify ownership and may ask for photos of the product or its serial number. Some manufacturers request that you mail in a portion of the product (such as a cut cord or removed component) as proof of disposal. Check the specific remedy instructions for this recall for exact requirements. If you registered your product at the time of purchase, the process is usually even simpler.

If the original manufacturer has gone out of business, the recall remedy may no longer be available through them. In this case, contact CPSC directly at 1-800-638-2772 or cpsc.gov for guidance. If the brand was acquired by another company, the acquiring company may have assumed recall obligations. In some cases where a remedy is unavailable, CPSC advises consumers to safely dispose of the product. If you were injured by the product of a defunct company, consult a product liability attorney — parent companies, distributors, and retailers may still bear liability in some circumstances.