lf

llama

15/07/2003 5:06 PM

iron bolts stain oak?

Hello all,
I need to attach two curves of red oak together at a central
crossover so as to form a 'X' shape. I've heard that iron
bolts stain oak due to its acidity or something like that.
Is this true? I built a futon frame before with a red oak
cross member and the dowel nuts I had in there seemed to
stain the oak, but I'm not sure if it was due to the nuts
or not. If they do stain, is it metal in general or just
iron (in the form of steel)? ie would i be able to avoid
staining with brass or zinc-plated bolts?

thanks,
andrew


This topic has 6 replies

RM

Rodney Myrvaagnes

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

15/07/2003 6:18 PM

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 17:06:35 -0400, llama <fake@do_not.use> wrote:

>Hello all,
> I need to attach two curves of red oak together at a central
>crossover so as to form a 'X' shape. I've heard that iron
>bolts stain oak due to its acidity or something like that.
>Is this true? I built a futon frame before with a red oak
>cross member and the dowel nuts I had in there seemed to
>stain the oak, but I'm not sure if it was due to the nuts
>or not. If they do stain, is it metal in general or just
>iron (in the form of steel)? ie would i be able to avoid
>staining with brass or zinc-plated bolts?


Ferrous metal (iron, steel) will make black stains in oak because of
the tannin content of the oak. Exactly like the traditional black
stain made with tannin and iron filings.

Brass would be ok. Zinc plated would be ok if no pinholes in the zinc
plating. I would use brass.





Rodney Myrvaagnes J36 Gjo/a

"That idiot Leibniz, who wants to teach me about the infinitesimally small! Has he therefore forgotten that I am the wife of Frederick I? How can he imagine that I am unacquainted with my own husband?"

cC

[email protected] (Charlie Self)

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

15/07/2003 9:35 PM

llama fake asks:

>I need to attach two curves of red oak together at a central
>crossover so as to form a 'X' shape. I've heard that iron
>bolts stain oak due to its acidity or something like that.
>Is this true? I built a futon frame before with a red oak
>cross member and the dowel nuts I had in there seemed to
>stain the oak, but I'm not sure if it was due to the nuts
>or not. If they do stain, is it metal in general or just
>iron (in the form of steel)? ie would i be able to avoid
>staining with brass or zinc-plated bolts?

If brass is strong enough, go with it. If not, go stainless. Ferrous metals
combine with tannic acids in oak to make for ugly black stains.

Charlie Self

Facts are stupid things.
Ronald Reagan





jJ

[email protected] (JimC622911)

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

16/07/2003 1:00 AM

I've got some glulam beams in my house that were left too long in the rain
before the roof went on. I've got the black stain surrounding the steel
hardware joining the beams and the posts. Is there a good way to clean this
stain up? Sanding will take an awfully long time. Use a wood bleacher? Some
other product utilizing a chemical reaction that fades or does away with the
black color? TIA

LH

"Lew Hodgett"

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

16/07/2003 1:18 AM

llama writes:

> I need to attach two curves of red oak together at a central
>crossover so as to form a 'X' shape. I've heard that iron
>bolts stain oak due to its acidity or something like that.
>Is this true?

Yes.

> ie would i be able to avoid
>staining with brass or zinc-plated bolts?

It only costs a modest amount to go first class.

Silicon bronze would be my choice.

A couple of years after installation, you will understand why bronze vs red
brass or heavens forbid, zinc plate or even galvanized.

Bronze is available from almost any good hardware store that is located
around boats or on the web from Jamestown Distributors in Rhode Island.

HTH


--
Lew

S/A: Challenge, The Bullet Proof Boat, (Under Construction in the Southland)
Visit: <http://home.earthlink.net/~lewhodgett> for Pictures

Li

Lenny

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

15/07/2003 11:18 PM

Brass

On Tue, 15 Jul 2003 17:06:35 -0400, llama <fake@do_not.use> wrote:

>Hello all,
> I need to attach two curves of red oak together at a central
>crossover so as to form a 'X' shape. I've heard that iron
>bolts stain oak due to its acidity or something like that.
>Is this true? I built a futon frame before with a red oak
>cross member and the dowel nuts I had in there seemed to
>stain the oak, but I'm not sure if it was due to the nuts
>or not. If they do stain, is it metal in general or just
>iron (in the form of steel)? ie would i be able to avoid
>staining with brass or zinc-plated bolts?
>
>thanks,
>andrew

sD

[email protected] (Doug Miller)

in reply to llama on 15/07/2003 5:06 PM

16/07/2003 1:08 AM

In article <[email protected]>, [email protected] (JimC622911) wrote:
>I've got some glulam beams in my house that were left too long in the rain
>before the roof went on. I've got the black stain surrounding the steel
>hardware joining the beams and the posts. Is there a good way to clean this
>stain up? Sanding will take an awfully long time. Use a wood bleacher? Some
>other product utilizing a chemical reaction that fades or does away with the
>black color? TIA

Try oxalic acid.

--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)

Save the baby humans - stop partial-birth abortion NOW


You’ve reached the end of replies