Bleaching wood

[whisky-dave]

I've taken most of the varnish off of some stair banisters and two hand rails that had a dark varnish on them, most of the remaining wood still isn't as light in colour as I'd like it. I was hoping to find something in a high street B&Q or somewhere. I've found a few suppliers of chemicals like oxalic acid and hydrogen peroxide and sodium hydroxide, but I'd like something a bit easier and perhaps safer, some can of something that says "I lighten and bleach wood" on it. I'm not sure what wood it is, but assuming it;'s not expensive wood. Any suggestions......

[The Natural Philosopher]

None of the aboce are especially dangerous

Oxalic acid=Rhubarb (leaves?) Hydrogen peroxide= hair bleach Sodium hydroxide..well that is a tad excessive: it's caustic soda but isn't a huge issue though it will belach (and rot) fabrics.

I think you left one out - sodium hypchorite IIRC is standard houshold bleach.

However, really all this farting about with cheap wood seems pointless.

Paint them or get hardwood ones made or something. Life's too short.

[stuart noble]

The only bleach that might work is the 2 part caustic/peroxide type, and that will lighten the wood itself but not any stains or varnish that may be left from the stripping.

The peroxide in woodworking bleach is about 30 times stronger than hair products and stings like crazy. Not something I'd recommend unless you're going to take precautions

[Andy Wade]

Rustin's Wood Bleach kit worked for me:

[mail]

Dear All Caustic products (ie sodium or potassium hydroxide) are used to extract hemicelluloses from the surface of the wood and thus change the structure of the outer parts. For that reason I do not use them (execept in the lab to extract the hemicelluloses!). If I were to lighten the wood I would consider the chlorine based ones but agree with the post that lightening wood like this is a questionable objective. If you want them light - paint them. They were never designed to be seen as wood in the first place so to so so now x years later is not really in keeping with the original building. Who knows in 50 years time someone may say liken the action to the way in which in the 1950s all the Victorian panelled doors were covered up with hardboard! Rant over.. BTW oxalic acid is pretty nasty stuff and if there are any children around --- care Chris

[m1ss_wh1te]

Ask the Bradford 4 about H2O2?

[stuart noble]

Yeah, well they bought masses of hairdressing strength, which says it all really.

[stuart noble]

IME ordinary household bleach has no effect on wood, other than to darken it slightly if you use the "thick" versions which contain caustic soda. Milton sterilising fluid is pure hypochlorite I think but, as I say, does nothing IME.

Rant away! I stripped and bleached mine. Douglas fir spindles and a mahogany handrail. The Victorians painted them because the wood was cheap. Now it isn't, so I can impress my friends and have cheese and wine parties on the stairs :-)

Can be fatal by ingestion IIRC. IME children are so conservative and cautious about food and drink that it's difficult to believe they would just pick up something unfamiliar and eat it.

[The Natural Philosopher]

Try buying it in sufficient concentration..

Heck you can make gunpowder out of bird shit.

That doesn't make it unsafe to spread on the roses.

[The Natural Philosopher]

It is still compared with the time to do all that..

huh?

[Mark]

Yes, they wanted to bleach their long hair?

[Rod]

I thought at least some of the H2O2 had been bought in High Wycombe (and nearby). Don't want to be left out... :-)

[whisky-dave]

Only if you tell them not to eat it. I bet of I did tell any kids to eat it because it's good for them they'd never touch the stuff again. ;-)

(anyone see that program on negistive suggestion last night ?)

[whisky-dave]

[whisky-dave]

I'd take precautions, gloves, goggles, white coat, steel toe capped boots and the all important comdon ;-)

[stuart noble]

One problem with brushing spindles crossways is that the peroxide can flick off the bristles and end up further away than you might think. You won't see where exactly until it dries. Spotted carpets etc. The other thing to remember is that you really need 2 synthetic brushes (Pound Shop type) and 2 plastic containers to decant into. Keep part a and b separate because the peroxide bottle will swell if there's any hint of cross contamination. The white coat would be a good idea :-)

[Owain]

Would it be better to apply it using a pressure washer from a safe distance?

Owain

[stuart noble]

The mind boggles. Perhaps you should have included a smiley, just in case