Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jun 19, 2010 11:15pm | #1

   If you want it a lighter natural wood color you will have to strip and refinish.  Notice I did not say "sand and refinish"  Sanding doesn't generally leave wood in good condition for restaining, since it leaves areas where stain and finish have benetrated most deeply intact.  Chemical stain is by far the best way to remove old finish, and will often remove the old stain.  Sometimes you do need to follow on with some bleach to remove dye remaining in the wood after the stain binder has been stripped off. 

   Otherwise to get a lighter color you would have to essentially paint over the existing finish, with sufficiently opaque material that the darker stain color would be hidded, along with the original grain  .

1. 
   woodctr | Jun 19, 2010 11:41pm | #2

   Thanks for great information.  The piece has only been stained, with no other finish on it,  Do you know of a good chemical rinse that I could apply to remove the original stain?

   thanks

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jun 20, 2010 08:28am | #3

   A paint stripper containing methyl chloride will work fastest.   You should be able to find one about anywhere.  Work with PLENTY of ventilation, not just an open window or two.

1. 
   cahudson42 | Jun 20, 2010 08:59am | #4

   Bleaching possibility?

   Steve,

   Since there is only the stain, might a "Deck Wash' -  containing hypochlorite - essentially a strong bottled bleach - be worh trying first on an inconsipuous place?

   Less aggressiv than methyl chloide?.

   Might lighten it enough? Easy to then wash off, let dry, then lightly sand the raised grain?

1. 
   HowardAcheson | Jun 23, 2010 10:33pm | #5

   The assumption is that the "stain" was an oil based pigment stain.  Oil based stains contain an amount of resin (varnish) to adhere the pigment to the wood.  A bleach will not remove it.  A chemical paint stripper will do the job.