I just glued up a cherry panel and found a couple of areas where dark grey to black speckles have appeared. The speckles appeared after wiping off the excess yellow glue with wet paper towels. I’m assuming this is mold? If so, why would it just appear after having been wet? Should I discard the piece, or is it still usable? Appearance wise, I’m not too concerned as I plan to glaze and tone it, so the speckled areas shouldn’t be too noticeable. I could also use it for a different part of the nightstand, the book shelf part, where it will be much less conspicuous. Provided however,that the wood is still usable or salvageable with some kind of treatment?
Thanks in adavance
Edited 9/7/2009 9:15 pm ET by dperfe
Edited 9/7/2009 9:29 pm ET by dperfe
Replies
Is there any chance of posting a photo of it?
Regards,
Bob @ Kidderville Acres
A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!
I did the same thing a couple of years ago... It's probably the tannic acid reacting with minerals (iron) in the tap water. Use distilled water instead, and keep steel wool and sharpening swarf away from cherry and oak. Nobody will ever notice those little flecks, if they're the same size as what I saw. No worries! :)
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/dev
I second the opinion that this is probably iron contamination. It could be from the water or it could be from using steel wool on the wood.
John White
Shop Manager for FWW Magazine, 1998-2007
Pure Oxalic acid does a GREAT job on oak to make those spots go away.
Not sure about cherry.
Thanks for the info all
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