Replies

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 11, 2008 06:49am | #1

   Prime + paint

1. 
   knottyguy | Jul 11, 2008 03:49pm | #2

   Yes, that is a pain, good question.  I've tried it all too, I thinks ooops worked ok but I usually take a cabinet scraper to it. It's a little quicker but not totally effective. There has to be a better way to mark them. I hope someone has a good answer here and also comes up with a good alternative. I'm waiting for an answer on this too. Thanks

1. 
   SteveSchoene | Jul 11, 2008 04:59pm | #4

   My answer above was only a little facecious.  Materials with grade stamps are just not meant to be finished with a clear finish for more reasons than just having a grade stamp. 

1. 
   bilyo | Jul 11, 2008 07:15pm | #5

   To all those that said that dimension lumber isn't ment for furniture or to be clear coated; I only partially agree.  Treated lumber is excellent for a lot of exterior uses; some of which you might like to look as good a possible.  In this case, I rebuilt my deck and have some pieces with the grade stamp showing.  I want to put on a light stain and waterproof sealer and would prefer that the grade stamp wasn't there.  Any experience with this would be appreciated.

   Thanks,

   Bill

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 12, 2008 04:24pm | #6

   Can you put the grade stamp facing "in" so it isn't visible?

2. 
   bilyo | Jul 14, 2008 12:30am | #9

   For the deck, had I been more mindful of it during construction, I probably could have done something different.  But, its done now and I would like to remove a couple of stamps that are showing.  Sanding it off, of course, will make the wood take stain differently than the rest.  So, I want to avoid that if I can.  I also have some door panels of rough sawn exterior plywood.  Some grade stamps on the inside (back side of the plywood) of these show when the doors are open.  Again, if I had been thinking farther ahead,  I probably could have avoided the problem.  But also would probably have had to buy another sheet of plywood to do so.

   Thanks for any suggestions,

   Bill

3. 
   KeithNewton | Jul 15, 2008 05:20am | #10

   A nice sharp block plane should do a nice job, and maybe quicker than sanding.

4. 
   bilyo | Jul 15, 2008 09:22pm | #11

   I was hoping to find a solvent or something that would disolve for fade it out like bleach.  Some the stamps are in places that make sanding or planing very difficult.

   Thanks,

   Bill 

5. 
   oldusty | Jul 15, 2008 10:07pm | #12

   how about paint stripper ?

6. 
   bilyo | Jul 16, 2008 04:48am | #13

   Great idea!  I tried everything else I had on the shelf in the way of solvents.  Two cans of paint stripper are sitting right there.  Why didn't I try that too?  Oh well.  I'll let you know.

   Bill

7. 
   saschafer | Jul 16, 2008 06:02am | #14

   If the paint stripper doesn't do the trick, you might try deck stripper, which is lye based. It's nasty stuff to work with (but actually better from an environmental point of view), and it takes off pretty much everything (including skin). Don't use a good natural-bristle paintbrush to apply it with (don't ask me how I know that).-Steve

8. 
   bilyo | Jul 19, 2008 03:22am | #15

   The paint stripper was about 95% successful.  It left just a ghost of the stamp image.  Saschafer suggested deck stripper.  I haven't had an opportunity to get some yet but will do so the next time I make a Lowes run (these days I let my list grow a little longer before I go).  In any case, I think the paint stripper does well enough.  I'll let you know later if the deck stripper works any better or further fades the image after using the paint stripper.  Thanks to everyone.

   Bill

9. 
   oldusty | Jul 12, 2008 10:02pm | #8

   bilyo,

           Let me ask you this , is this an ink type thing stamped onto the material or a sticker applied , I think it's ink . Just for clarification is the mark indicating the brand and type or the actual grade as in " select and better " or " FAS " or both ?

           I have seen ink stamped with the mill name or logo like " NW.Hardwoods" but never the actual grade . Typically the marks are at or near the end of the board ,heck the first 6" are risky because of checking depending on the specie often times it just gets cut off , I have belt sanded a few off solid stock . Have only seen an ink stamp on Baltic Birch and it's likes as far as plywoods go .

                dusty

10. 
    jvk | Jul 13, 2011 08:13pm | #17

    If I'm not mistaken, p.t. should be allowed to sit and dryout for 6 mos or so before staining.  If you sand them out now, 6 mos from now it'll stain out the same as the rest

2. 
   Dave45 | Jul 11, 2008 04:09pm | #3

   Lumber and plywood with grade stamps usually isn't intended for use in furniture or cabinetry.  The lumber I use has no markings on the surfaces and only rarely on the end of a board.  The cabinet grade ply has markings on the edges, only.

   On the rare occasion when I use grade stamped lumber, I run it thru the planer since the stamp ink bleeds into the wood.

3. 
   sykesville | Jul 12, 2008 04:25pm | #7

   saw.

4. 
   Bob De Roche | Jul 13, 2011 07:16pm | #16

   Remove Grade Stamp on Plywood

   Try Goop - the hand cleaner.

5. 
   roc | Jul 13, 2011 09:33pm | #18

   Believe it or not

   Getting rid of this ink is the main reason I bought my first cabinet scraper. Scrapers don't work well on soft wood. It took way longer that I expected and left a visible divot. At this stage, since you have tried everything else, I can only suggest using a small nuclear device. Placed far enough away it should bleach everything uniformly without damaging your project (too much). Could take some tricky calculations and some trial runs. Post photos in any case and let us know how that works.

1. 
   joinerswork | Jul 14, 2011 07:34am | #19

   roc,

   Along the lines of "you might be a redneck if":

   Things might be a little ssss..lll...ooo...www in the forum, if...we're posting replies to a question first asked THREE YEARS ago.  Just sayin'

   Ray

1. 
   roc | Jul 14, 2011 10:04am | #20

   Yu. . . uuu . .
   uuup

   (: )

6. 
   HowardAcheson | Jul 14, 2011 10:08am | #21

   Sounds like you are buying construction grade lumber or lumber products.  Cabinet grade woods wil not have ink stamps on the lumber.  If anything, the stamps will be on the end grain.

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 14, 2011 12:49pm | #22

   nitric acid

   can some times be used in the removal of ink stains

   ron

1. 
   roc | Jul 14, 2011 10:00pm | #23

   Nitric acid

   Dangerous ? Fumes etc. Passivate it after ?

1. 
   user-64052 | Jul 14, 2011 10:47pm | #24

   it is what does the job

   usually chemical or acids should be treated with precautions. can't remember having to neutralize it. also works good on maple for making it look aged

   it has neen a few years since I had to use it.  I do have any info if I have to deal with it. if It neds to be neutralized.

   My neighbour here in the industrial complex always seems to have a couple of kegs of it(similiar looking to beer kegs,)

   I think that it was used in dying h/maple in  violins and guitars  at one time

   ron