Finish gone green

[Fumbler]

I finished up an item yesterday and used EEE, followed up with 2 coats of Shellawax glow, but the finish seems to have gone green. The timber is Northern Silky Oak, from a 75yr old cot. Can anyone suggest why it went green?

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[Drillit]

You may not have removed all the EEE when you burnished it, which would be aggravated by the Glow, IMHO. You may have to strip and start again. Drillit.

[Skew ChiDAMN!!]

It looks like the discolouration is in areas where there are micro-cracks and/or open pores/veins? Perhaps a build-up of the EEE or Glow that was tainted somehow?

Did you remove all the fine dust (by blowing down or wiping off) between sanding and applying the EEE?

Did you ensure all excess amounts of EEE were fully removed before applying the Glow?

Did you use a clean bit of rag for both the application of the EEE and the Glow? (Using the same spot on the rag for both can cause similar effects, particularly if there's accidental fleeting contact with a bit of metal - eg. a bush or the tailspur - during polishing. Typically much greyer, though...)

If the answers to the above are all 'yes,' then I'm stumped... unless it's something seeping out of the timber. At 70yo I wouldn't expect it, but I guess it could've been oiled or had a solvent applied much more recently and that is rising to the surface?

[Gary H]

I use EEE and Glow all the time (mainly because my CA finishes are crap :D). After seeing your post I grabbed a piece of Silky Oak and tried to get a green tinge on it by leaving EEE, then Glow, then EEE and Glow, all with no buffing or burnishing at all. Even a thick coat of EEE smothered in Glow and then just left to dry, could not get any hint of colour. So, after my very basic experimenting, I feel it is in no way connected to those finishes. Sure you didn't use a piece of green cloth? :wink: I think Skew might be right and that it's something in the timber. So, re-sand and see if you get the same result, or claim it was deliberate effort to get an unusual effect and make it more valuable! :2tsup:

Cheers, Gary H

[Fumbler]

Cheers all, I will sand back as the snug fit ain’t so snug anymore.

yes, I wiped with metho first, both still and at speed and the put the finish on. I have looked and yes I did use a green rag, so I guess culprit has been found so I will need to 1. Sand back and then use a white rag, and then make a new coupling piece. Might use a contrasting piece of silver ash.

Funny though as it took overnight to come through, here’s a pic 10min post finish.

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