Thread: bleaching oregon

La, dunno the answer but I'd try oxygen bleach (aka napisan, etc) as well as chlorine bleach. Just make sure you rinse them off thoroughly to neutralise the solution.


Cheers.................Sean

Oxalic acid is the preferred bleach for timber. It's in the book (bible)

Cheers - Neil

Hello La,
Last night dragged out my old (1965) Readers Digest Do-it-Youself manual. A VERY handy book, even though it is ancient. Neil's suggestion - the bible - is probably best.

The RD book says
1. wipe on ammonia and while still wet, apply hydrogen peroxide, wait 24 hours and repeat if not light enough.
or 2. Oxalic acid will bleach lightly - put peroxide over it for stonger effect.
3. Use condy's crystals solution (strength not important) followed by peroxide.

Just some thoughts - soounds like a couple of treatments with oxalic acid might be simplest, but if that does not work maybe one of the above?

Let us know how it goes.
Cheers
And remember to use gloves when handling the peroxide and to use the ammonia in a well ventilated area.

cheers guys...

but where do i get this stuff from...

oxalic acid

or condy's crystals and peroxide

la Huerta, around this neck of the woods oxalic acid is sold as Starbrite. People use it to clean stained gel coats on glass fibre boats and a host of other things. I must check to see who makes the stuff but obviously I don't know whether you can get it in Australia.

Here's the link for Starbrite: http://www.starbrite.com

They seem to have a wide array of products and unfortunately I can't remember the particular name of the oxalic acid stuff. Probably hull cleaner or something?!

Sorry! Should have done my research before mentioning oxalic acid. It is sold locally with another name, but that's right, can;t thnk of it. It is a pretty common product I think - I was using something a few weeks ago and happened to notice that it was actually oxalic acid. Will scratch whats left of my hair and see if I can activate a specific memory for you! I'm getting good at memory these days - know my name, most of my phone number and my age is already on the forum so I don;t have to remember it any more.....
Jeff ( I am quite certain)

Most are available from your local chemist.

Don't use condy's crystals it will chemically react with the timber and turn it dark brown. This was used on pine and other timbers to create a false walnut colour. Also be aware that it is a very strong oxidising agent.

Used to be available in snake bite kits many years ago.

A certain someone, who shall remain nameless, in the 60's put condy's crystals, along with a few bottle of Trix and some soap flakes, in a certain fountain in an unnamed Nth Qld town and turned the foreshore of said town into a massive mauve cloud of foam that lasted for a number of days.

that fountain idea sounds like more fun than bleaching timber...!

i was talking to someone this arvo and rekkons peroxide is at bunning or supermarkets, maybe...would this stuff be worth a shot on it's own ...or i'll just have to find out...



now , what was the ingredients for that fountain thingy, oh yeh there it is...

La H

Just checked the Digest Handyman book again - suggests chloride of lime OR oxalic acid will bleach slightly, putting peroxide over either will bleach more strongly. Lime chloride is, I think, garden lime - but am happy to be corrected on that one. If it is pick it up at bunnies while you are getting the peroxide.

When I was a lad and liked surfing, used gallons of peroxide on my hair - looked great but maybe that was the reason for all my hair falling out????

Happy bleaching
Jeff

I purchased some oxalic acid at my local Mitre 10 store.

It works Ok but no where near as well as the Hydrogen peroxide and ammonia.

As mentioned by woodsprite you use them as a pair. One neutralises the other and both bleach so when you apply one, it starts to bleach the other then takes over and you can then dry off the surface and continue without leaving anything behind that stuffs up your finishing. Use same amounts each application.

Chemists are your best bet for the products but it comes in varying strengths. What you use on your hair will be far too weak you need the strongest concentration you can get. Same goes with the ammonia usually its sold in weak form as its pretty potent.

If you can't get it from a chemist your only chance is a chemical wholesaler. Last time I went looking for some it was only available in 20 litre containers and was over $100. I only needed a small amount and lucked out at the local Tech college chemical lab as I had a contact.

Oxalic acid is in the paint section of your hardware store, probably most commonly marketed for cleaning decks & outdoor timber.


Cheers.................Sean