Wood stains

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Wood stains

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sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 04 12:59 pm Post subject: Wood stains
The fireplace surround/mantelpiece in our front room is stained dark brown, as is all the other woodwork. I'm just going to paint over the rest of the wood, but I was wondering if there was any way of removing the stain and replacing it with a lighter colour?

Sarah D

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 2584

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 04 1:40 pm Post subject:
You can buy something called wood bleach which may work on the stain and make it lighter, but I don't know about removing it if it has penetrated the wood.

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 04 1:44 pm Post subject:
I'll try more or less anything, it's a modern (1970's I guess) replacement bit of kit, not a valuable original feature, but it seems silly to replace it when it's basically sound. Cheers, Sean

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Nov 11, 04 9:18 pm Post subject:

If you're not in any rush I'll have a dig over the weekend. I've collected a few woodworking books over the years and I also know a very good old fashioned builder / decorator / guru type chap (my mums OH).

I do know from experience that chicken droppings actually take out the colour from dark wooden floor boards.

I could send you some in the post.

(I assume it's the ammonia in them?)

I would suggest paint stripper as that has taken out ink from floor boards.

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 04 10:58 am Post subject:

Treacodactyl wrote:

I also know a very good old fashioned builder / decorator / guru type chap (my mums OH).

Sounds like the ideal chap to do a little article on downsized building techniques...

Bugs

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 10744

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 04 11:16 am Post subject:
Yes...that's what we thought. We're going to have to try to break it to him gently though...

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Fri Nov 12, 04 11:18 am Post subject:

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 11:01 am Post subject:

A lot depends on the wood. Pine and softwoods tend to soak up the stain to a greater depth than hardwoods, so getting rid of colour can be a bugger. Also, if any end grain is showing on the work, the dye will have penetrated deeply into the fibres, so they will always remain darker.
Oak can be bleached with oxalic acid, but it's highly poisonous and needs care in use.
On a pedantic note, the passion for natural wood is a fairly modern thing - particularly with pine and other softwoods. In the past they were always painted or at least limed. You can even let your fancy run riot: the Victorians and Edwardians produced some beautiful marbling effects using oil paints applied with scrunched cloths and feathers, while artificial wood-graining using two-tone paint and combs was also popular. It's all a matter of taste, though, and you have to live with the finished result!

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 11:06 am Post subject:
I'll probably end up painting it. I was just wondering about alternatives, 'cos I wouldn't have minded staining it a lighter colour. Cheers, Sean

Gervase

Joined: 17 Nov 2004
Posts: 8655

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 2:22 pm Post subject:
It's one of the great thingies of life - you can go from light to dark, but the other way round is bloody hard!

tahir

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 45674
Location: Essex

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 2:24 pm Post subject:

Gervase wrote:

It's one of the great thingies of life

I like that, very profound

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 7:34 pm Post subject:
You could try stripping/bleaching and it it doesn't work then paint?

sean
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 42219
Location: North Devon

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 8:06 pm Post subject:
I know that, I was hoping that somebody would say: " What you need is: Acme Fire Surround Colour Changing Stuff TM" But obviously not Damn, the hard-work option wins again...

Treacodactyl
Downsizer Moderator

Joined: 28 Oct 2004
Posts: 25795
Location: Jumping on the bandwagon of opportunism

Posted: Thu Nov 18, 04 8:23 pm Post subject:
Now's your chance for fame. "Sean's famous woodstain remover" or, taking a leaf out of RC, "Downsize.net woodstain remover".

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