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17/08/2004 8:52 PM

Whitening Red Oak - Help

We are renovating our home and put in some nice oak hardwood flooring.
The flooring is quite white (I understand that 'red oak' can often be
quite white) with a neutral finish (no noticeable stain tint). We
decided to go with Oak doors and trim to match. The trim I used to
test my finishing (a 'neutral' oak stain/sealer) matched fine. When I
started finishing the doors, however, I noticed that the doors where
much more red in color than the trim and floors. With the stain
applied, it ended up more golden oak look that I had anticipated, and
thus didn't match the floors as anticipated. I do not claim to be a
finishing pro, and am looking for a way to 'whiten' red oak. I have
actually tried some household bleach, which seems to somewhat do the
trick. (sounds crazy, I know!) The local paint stores I have talked
to didn't seem to know too much about the issue.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

Edgar ([email protected]) (remove .nospam)


This topic has 6 replies

jJ

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

20/08/2004 6:39 AM

[email protected] (Edgar) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> We are renovating our home and put in some nice oak hardwood flooring.
> The flooring is quite white (I understand that 'red oak' can often be
> quite white) with a neutral finish (no noticeable stain tint). We
> decided to go with Oak doors and trim to match. The trim I used to
> test my finishing (a 'neutral' oak stain/sealer) matched fine. When I
> started finishing the doors, however, I noticed that the doors where
> much more red in color than the trim and floors. With the stain
> applied, it ended up more golden oak look that I had anticipated, and
> thus didn't match the floors as anticipated. I do not claim to be a
> finishing pro, and am looking for a way to 'whiten' red oak. I have
> actually tried some household bleach, which seems to somewhat do the
> trick. (sounds crazy, I know!) The local paint stores I have talked
> to didn't seem to know too much about the issue.
>
> Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
> Edgar ([email protected]) (remove .nospam)

Hello, It sounds to me like you have a water based finish on the
floors and are using oil on the other. Is this right? Jana

tv

tweaked

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

25/08/2004 11:35 AM

[email protected] (Jana) wrote in
news:[email protected]:

>
> Hello, It sounds to me like you have a water based finish on the
> floors and are using oil on the other. Is this right? Jana
>

My thought as well. Water base finish without an oil sealer will 'wash-out'
over the years.
I don't think its attractive and have reverted to using an oil sealer
before applying water finish.


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fF

[email protected] (Fred the Red Shirt)

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

18/08/2004 11:31 AM

[email protected] (Edgar) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> We are renovating our home and put in some nice oak hardwood flooring.
> The flooring is quite white ... With the stain
> applied, it ended up more golden oak look that I had anticipated, and
> thus didn't match the floors as anticipated. I do not claim to be a
> finishing pro, and am looking for a way to 'whiten' red oak. I have
> actually tried some household bleach, which seems to somewhat do the
> trick. (sounds crazy, I know!) The local paint stores I have talked
> to didn't seem to know too much about the issue.
>

There are wood bleaches and it is surprising the paint stores didn't
carry them. Generally they come in two varieties, oxalic acid and
a two part bleach, made by combining sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
peroxide solutions right befor use.

If the household bleach does the job I suggest sticking with it.

--

FF

nn

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

19/08/2004 8:42 AM

Swimming pool bleach is suggested also as it's stronger than household
but same type of stuff. I tried A&B but it was almost at end of shelf
life and worked marginally.

On 18 Aug 2004 11:31:40 -0700, [email protected] (Fred the Red
Shirt) wrote:

>[email protected] (Edgar) wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
>> We are renovating our home and put in some nice oak hardwood flooring.
>> The flooring is quite white ... With the stain
>> applied, it ended up more golden oak look that I had anticipated, and
>> thus didn't match the floors as anticipated. I do not claim to be a
>> finishing pro, and am looking for a way to 'whiten' red oak. I have
>> actually tried some household bleach, which seems to somewhat do the
>> trick. (sounds crazy, I know!) The local paint stores I have talked
>> to didn't seem to know too much about the issue.
>>
>
>There are wood bleaches and it is surprising the paint stores didn't
>carry them. Generally they come in two varieties, oxalic acid and
>a two part bleach, made by combining sodium hydroxide and hydrogen
>peroxide solutions right befor use.
>
>If the household bleach does the job I suggest sticking with it.

nn

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

18/08/2004 9:47 AM

Believe www.homesteadfinishing.com has an article on "bleaching". A
two part bleach will possibly do what you're after as might a swimming
pool bleach (name escapes at the moment). Test on scraps!

On 17 Aug 2004 20:52:36 -0700, [email protected] (Edgar) wrote:

>We are renovating our home and put in some nice oak hardwood flooring.
> The flooring is quite white (I understand that 'red oak' can often be
>quite white) with a neutral finish (no noticeable stain tint). We
>decided to go with Oak doors and trim to match. The trim I used to
>test my finishing (a 'neutral' oak stain/sealer) matched fine. When I
>started finishing the doors, however, I noticed that the doors where
>much more red in color than the trim and floors. With the stain
>applied, it ended up more golden oak look that I had anticipated, and
>thus didn't match the floors as anticipated. I do not claim to be a
>finishing pro, and am looking for a way to 'whiten' red oak. I have
>actually tried some household bleach, which seems to somewhat do the
>trick. (sounds crazy, I know!) The local paint stores I have talked
>to didn't seem to know too much about the issue.
>
>Any help would be greatly appreciated.
>
>Edgar ([email protected]) (remove .nospam)

tt

"toller"

in reply to [email protected] (Edgar) on 17/08/2004 8:52 PM

18/08/2004 6:20 PM

I bought a bleach at HD that whitens oak. It might be a little pricy for a
whold floor though.


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