Hi everybody, first time posting on knots, thanks in advance for any help.
I’m wondering if anyone knows a treatment to quickly fade redwood to the aged silver grey color it gets after years. I’m adding some elements to a 15-yr. old redwood deck, and would like them not to jump out visually too much.
I seem to remember something about vinegar and sunlight, but I may be making that up…
thanks,
k
Replies
There's something about Hydrogen Peroxide in the mix as well, KFC.
It's been a while.
Basically, you're trying to oxidise the surface.
Cheers,
eddie
edit: it's a two part mixture - was it paint the fence with bleach then follow up with peroxide???? I'm hazy on the details.
Edited 4/27/2009 1:08 am by eddiefromAustralia
All right, that's a start.
Vinegar and bleach are cheap enough, and hydrogen peroxide isn't too pricey. I'll try a few combos. Maybe I'll swab down a couple pieces tomorrow and see what happens, until I hear the definitive word.
Thanks,
k
Hi kFrom further recesses of a dim, dark hazy memory, it was a wash down with dilute ammonia and then a follow up wash with bleach.There's a problem here - never mix bleach and ammonia together, especially in the presence of a metal (gal nail?) Toxic gases are emitted (mustard gas)Be careful.I looked up google for you - http://www.ehow.com/how_4530724_artificially-weather-wood-shingles-siding.htmlCheers,eddie
Edited 4/27/2009 2:24 am by eddiefromAustralia
Thanks for the reminder about bleach and ammonia- I did know that (I was going to do all my swabbing sequentially, not at the same time,) but still better safe than sorry.
k
I've heard from one well-travelled antiques buff that that's one way they age fakes in England. Yes, he is prone to hyperbole, but the idea is you bury it in the stuff for a few weeks(?) months(?), then put it up on the roof, probably the roof of the chicken house LOL, to dry. Instant antique cupboard or whatever.
forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Edited 4/27/2009 12:05 pm by forestgirl
I'll remember that for my next Antiques Roadshow presentation... lol.
k
forestgirl,
that's one way they age fakes in England
Eeeeh gads don't tell Lataxe 'bout this chicken poop thang. He'll be pestering me for some.
By the way, did you know that the volume of their squawking is in direct proportion to the size of the egg they're laying? It's great real early in the morning, wakes up the crotchety old lady next door (she's at least 4 years older than me).
It concerns me somewhat cuz she has a shotgun.
Regards,Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
"It concerns me somewhat cuz she has a shotgun." Yikes! Yep, I had chickens at my boarding stable in California (eons ago). Rhode Island Reds. They could set up a racket, for sure! My favorite memory is when one of them caught a cold. Ever hear a chicken sneeze? It's f-u-n-n-y!!!forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
I too had Rhode Island reds, many moons ago.
When they got to the stewing age I would put them in a 5 Gal bucket. The lid had a 2 1/2" hole in it. When the old hen stuck her head out to see what was going on, WACK went the sharp hedge trimmers. Sure saved a lot of blood spatter.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Oh, yuck! Mine lived out their natural lives, probably met their demise at the talons of a hawk or teeth of a canine, not sure which. I opted for Barred Plymouth Rock hens the last year I had the stable. They weren't as much fun, but put on a pretty good comedy act, trying to roost on the "rail" of a stock gate, which isn't round, but rather folded over metal yielding a very thin surface for any kind of grip. "rock-a-bye chicken" -- back and forth they'd go, then finally give up and go somewhere else. Dumb and Dumber.....forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Chicken poop.
Chicken poop!? You been up too late? :-)
Whatcha bin feedin them thangs anyways? I spose ye separate the white stuff too right?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
Edited 4/27/2009 7:09 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Edited 4/27/2009 7:09 am ET by KiddervilleAcres
Ok, another vote for bleach and sun...
I guess chicken poop has a high ammonia content... probably work. Kinda spendy and smelly though. I think I'll see what chlorine does for me first.
k
Bleach.
Used to be an oil based stain that had bleach listed as an ingredient. Was called Cape Cod Gray or something like that. Prolly don't sell it anymore, too many VOCs?
Just slob some bleach on a piece and set it in the sun for a few days.
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I thought vinegar and steel wool was the formula...seems to make sense if the stain streak from any nail heads are the color your going for.
I had definitely heard vinegar and sun before somewhere. Someone over on Breaktime was pretty certain that tsp and then oxalic acid would grey it out right quick, maybe more that I might want...
Probably more than one way to skin this cat.
k
Probably more than one way to skin this cat.
"Probably more than one way to skin this catfish." the original saying.forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-)
Seems like vinager and steelwool would turn it black, redwood has a lot of tannins in it. See what color of Cabot's exterior stain looks good and do the whole deck. Another trick is to make up a batch of thinned down cement and apply that. Let it dry and brush off the residue with a stiff broom. Kinda nasty and you would need to experiment with it.
I would go with Cabot's first.
Tom
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