Thread: Bleached Sheoak?

Haven't done it but it sounds interesting. Would love to see the results. Spencer how did you miss the competition, twice??

OMFG! i can't believe that at all!! i literally spend hours each night on this website and go into every forum... but that one. i always forget.. U beaut if you're reading this i promise i'll check it everyday from now on..

Yer it'd be interesting to see how the grain colours once bleached. I asked my dad if he had done it or seen it (he's a floor sander) and his quick answer was why the hell would you it's to good the way it is.. followed by no i haven't but you should try it.. we got scraps of it at work so i may actually give it a try this weekend.. i'll keep you posted.

I would be interested in seeing the results too. I like she oak. It might also be interesting dyed black or ebonized.


(Missing a win twice must be some sort of record. )

There is loads of information out there about bleaching timbers. Just google bleaching timber and see what comes up.

Why anyone would want to do this to any wood is a little beyond me but the potential appearance of bleached wood can be simulated using photographic software by playing with the brightness, vibrance and saturation.

BobL has a made a good point of showing how the timber would look.
I cannot understand why the need to bleach a timber that with its natural hues is in itself a nice presentation.

Some timbers can be enhanced by bleaching but surely not with Sheoak.

Cheers

I think Its legitimate to want to bleach whatever. Its only wood. If you want a certain look you try for a certain look.

There are some valid structural/wearing reasons for bleaching eg it can make it a little harder and better wearing, which is the same reason why wood might be painted, but as for it being "only wood" . . . . .

Originally Posted by BobL

There are some valid structural/wearing reasons for bleaching eg it can make it a little harder and better wearing, which is the same reason why wood might be painted, but as for it being "only wood" . . . . .

I just mean that there is enough of it to try an experiment with it. I through enough curlies out.

I reckon bleaching is a valid option for sheoak.
In W.A. we suffer from a distinct lack of light coloured hardwoods, so if the grain pattern/figure is retained I can imagine dying to a golden oak or any other colour after bleaching would look very nice. Also the orangey colour doesn't always match in with furniture from other timber.
I've seen Jarrah bleached to match Tas. Oak, or coloured to match any other timber. Sometimes it's a case of using what you've got.
You could go totally radical and bleach back to white and use a bright coloured (red, blue, green, purple etc) glaze!

Originally Posted by stuffy

I reckon bleaching is a valid option for sheoak.
In W.A. we suffer from a distinct lack of light coloured hardwoods

Funny, I'm really glad we have some gutsy colours to play with. Light coloured wood is like light coloured beer. There's too much blandness in the world already than to go out of ones way do it deliberately

i think that a few of you may be taking this suggestion/idea to heart. i think stuffy has a really good point about our hard woods, they're all quite dark and rich in colour and as much as i absolutely love sheoak (favorite timber), too much of it can be quite overwhelming and be a bit of a put off. Sometimes i think this is due to the intensity to the colour of it, hence bleaching to dull the colour down a little. Being lighter still with that amazing grain pattern i think would be a perfect combination.

an example as stuffy suggested was bleached jarrah, my dad is a floor sander and has laid plenty of jarrah and has bleached pleanty too.. as a bleached timber i think it looks amazing! nice yellow/honey blond colouring.. Not to say that jarrah as is isn't amazing, that too is one of my favorite timbers..

I will try out the test over the weekend and will post up the results.

Originally Posted by spencer411

i think that a few of you may be taking this suggestion/idea to heart. i think stuffy has a really good point about our hard woods, they're all quite dark and rich in colour and as much as i absolutely love sheoak (favorite timber), too much of it can be quite overwhelming and be a bit of a put off.

I think your comments with the overwhelming aspect of Sheoak is spot on and have stated on numerous occasions here on the forum.

A good craftsman can use this timber to good effect and tastefully without it being over the top but to do so I've often seen and also have done so myself is to marry it up with a contrast like Marri or Jarrah.I can understand that to bleach may be a means to achieve this if no access to other light hued timber is on hand.

Good luck with your bleaching trial hope it turns out ok

Cheers

Originally Posted by tea lady

Its only wood.

Them's fightin words to some folk here