I am trying to locate a Fine Woodworking article from many years ago that described woodwork for a bank that came out too dark and the solution was to seal off the bank and spray a chemical/fume into the room to lighten the wood (Oak, I think)
Everything I have found so far is in regards to ammonia fumes to darken Oak. Is there a way to lighten Oak?
Replies
The article you speak of can be found in Tauntons compilation called
Finishing and refinishing.
The copy I'm quoting from is from 1986. It is;
Fernan Banks on Ammonia, page 44, by George Frank. It is also in his book
Adventures in Wood Finishing page 29.
It is however for darkening oak with ammonia gas (fuming) not lightening it.
Have you colored the wood?
Depending on what you have colored the wood with will make a difference. If it was only dyed, you could wash much of it with it's solvent and re-sand.
Stains will take considerably more sanding to remove.
Once down to bare wood this could be followed with a bleach. Clorox will work slightly and oxalic acid more so. There are also the two part AB bleaches that are very strong and should only be a last resort.
Good luck.
Peter
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