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Thread: Bleaching Wood To "near White"

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Kennewick, WA
    Posts
    349

    Bleaching Wood To "near White"

    OK folks, in your bag of tricks, what do you use, how, etc. Am interested in trying bleaching. Maybe on some white birch, redwood, and sycamore.
    Thanks in advance,
    Ernie
    Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA

  2. #2
    Join Date
    May 2007
    Location
    Shakopee, MN
    Posts
    125
    Give some two part "A" "B" bleach a try, it should do the trick. I've used it to bleach streaking/staining out of red oak successfully. Multiple applications will turn the wood almost pure white. Its available from a few different manufacturers. Rockler and Woodcraft both carry it, believe Kleen Strip is one brand Be careful though, wear gloves and eye protection, this stuff will burn your skin in a hurry.

    Alternative is a single part Oxacalic (spelling?) acid bleach. I picked it up at the local Hirschfields paint store. Haven't yet had a chance to try it out, but its supposed to bleach aged or darkened woods back to their fresh cut color. I don't think it will bleach lighter than when the wood was fresh though.

    Good luck.
    Kim

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Kennewick, WA
    Posts
    349
    Kim,
    Thank you so much. I'll be off to one of them this coming weekend. Really appreciate your help.
    Ernie
    Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Mar 2003
    Location
    Southport, NC
    Posts
    3,147
    Quote Originally Posted by Ernie Kuhn View Post
    Kim,
    Thank you so much. I'll be off to one of them this coming weekend. Really appreciate your help.
    Ernie
    Kim, oxalic acid is used to remove black mineral stains from wood. It has minimal affect on the natural color of the wood. What you want is the A/B two part bleach.

    Do most of your sanding before bleaching. The bleaching effect does not penetrate too far and agressive sanding after bleaching can remove much of the bleached wood layer.
    Howie.........

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Feb 2003
    Location
    Kennewick, WA
    Posts
    349
    Howard,
    Thank you. Wondered how deep the bleaching effect went.
    Ernie
    Ernie on-the-dry-side; WA

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