Can I make dark oak lighter?

Rodge · 22-11-2005 10:39am #1

Sanded and stained my stairs using dark oak and it looks like my stairs has been in a fire. Its almost charcoal. There is no way I am going through the whole sanding thing again. Before I go and buy carpet is there anything I can do with it? Is there some sort of bleaching agent that I can get?

Thanks for any help.

yop · 22-11-2005 12:33pm

Rodge,
Would you mind if I jumped on this thread??

I am asking the opposite question, for a beam on a mantlepiece, got a new oak beam from Coillte but want to make it look a bit rustic, any ideas?

Gandhi · 22-11-2005 1:05pm

Maybe you lads should meet up and swap wood...???

Yop: What do you mean by "more rustic"? Are you looking to distress the wood - make it look like it has been painted, sanded off, kicked by a horse etc. numerous times?

There are some links here about distressing.

http://www.ext.nodak.edu/extpubs/yf/home/hf519w.htm

http://www.woodweb.com/knowledge_base/Getting_the_Habersham_Distressed_Look.html

Disclaimer: I've never needed to do any of these myself - anything I work on looks pretty distressed by the time I'm done.

Edit: Here is a link to a cabinet with a distressed base. Sorry I couldn't find a better picture:

http://www.shakershoppe.com/images/show003.jpg

Capt'n Midnight · 22-11-2005 1:09pm

If the wood is of a dark colour then not much you can do, I don't think you can bleach wood ?

If the wood is of a light colour and stained then it might be possible to sand back to the lighter interior. Depends on how deep the stain / varnish is - try out on a scrap or hidden bit first.

Fingalian · 22-11-2005 1:15pm

I've 'aged' wood in the past by hitting it with a bunch of old keys attached to a handle made out of a cut down broomstick. Kind of a flail..it puts random marks on the wood , I would then put black or dark brown paint into these marks and let it dry . You can reproduce 'black fly specks' by dipping an old toothbrush in black paint and flicking it at the piece. When dry wax/varnish or polish. Instant antique!! Practice on scrap timber first though.

yop · 22-11-2005 2:05pm

Gandi, your gas, kicked by a horse look, uummmm not too sure

I am sure you are committing a crime there with your cruelty to wood!!!

Fingalian, are you messing?? With a bunch of keys? But what you are saying it makes sense!

CJhaughey · 22-11-2005 2:06pm

Oxalic acid, Lye will both lighten wood.
In the case of Lye it will also raise the grain and will require sanding, also depending on what product you use it will also need to be treated/oiled.

patrido · 22-11-2005 2:11pm

might be a bit late now, as you've already bought a beam, but a genuinely old, reclaimed piece might look best.
I'm getting one from these guys www.heartwoods.ie

yop · 22-11-2005 2:24pm

Aw feck!! what sort of sponds Patrido? I got a 73" by 10" by 4" for 74 yoyos from Coillte

patrido · 22-11-2005 3:54pm

not sure exactly. if i remember correctly, you'd probably be paying double that. my old man got enough pitch pine to do a standard fireplace a while ago for about 300 i think.

Fingalian · 22-11-2005 6:00pm

'Fingalian, are you messing?? With a bunch of keys? But what you are saying it makes sense!'

No Yop , done this loads of times on both furniture and to age bits spliced into interior trim in old houses. Look at the piece in question and try and figure out where the 'wear patterns' and usage would be down through the years. If you are trying to create a patina of age with stains or paints it is very important that you first test your method on a similar bit of wood before you tackle the 'big project' Good luck.

Capt'n Midnight · 22-11-2005 6:29pm

CJhaughey wrote:

Oxalic acid, Lye will both lighten wood.
In the case of Lye it will also raise the grain and will require sanding, also depending on what product you use it will also need to be treated/oiled.

Lye is extrememly caustic - be very careful always wear gloves and eye protection, burns with it can leave weeping wounds that take months to heal properly.

kadman · 22-11-2005 6:42pm

CJhaughey wrote:

Oxalic acid, Lye will both lighten wood.
In the case of Lye it will also raise the grain and will require sanding, also depending on what product you use it will also need to be treated/oiled.

Dont forget to mention....oxalic acid is ...DEADLY POISON...and I do mean DEADLY.

It should not be used by amateurs.

Sorry for the hysterics...but I may have just saved your life.

kadman;)

Can I make dark oak lighter?

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