DMoening wrote:
I've been a bit curious about the fesiability regarding aging oak due to this thread.
The following is a very unscientific experiment.
Use and follow all the warnings and precautions provided.
I rummaged through my previous projects test boards and found a couple possible options.
Left to right:
Bicromate of Potash - it's used by furniture restores and I had some inherited from my father.
Lye - extremely hazardous, use at your own risk. I've used it in a dilute state before to turn Cherry a wonderful deep red.
Metal Etch - it's an acid so thought it might work.
Barkeepers Friend - this is Oxalic Acid ... it's a bleach.
Lemon Juice concentrate - no idea what the pH is.
White Vinegar - 5%
Apple Cider Vinegar - 5% ... in case something else in the ingredients might be effective
I soaked each section with a small wadded up paper towel, then allowed to dry for ~45 minutes.
The section with Lye changed immediately, as did the Bicromate of Potash
A closer look reveals that the section with Lye is a greenish gray, the Bicromate of Potash turned the oak a wonderful deep brown.
The Oxalic Acid and vinegars did as expected - they bleached the wood.
In conclusion, I think you could find a dilute solution of lye that would provide the level of grayness desired to approximate a "weathered wood" appearance.
That's awesome Dan, many thanks for doing those tests!
That lye solution looks a little risky. "Too much color". You suggested a thinner solution, but, what was the mix you used there?
From your pictures, it looks like the "Barkeeper's Friend" did the best job of bleaching the wood. If I can get it that pale, it should be easy to put a light silver/grey stain over it. I think the key will be to get all the golden color out of the oak before the stain.
I was looking up "BarKeepers Friend", and I see that oxalic acid is the key ingredient. I was surprised to see that there's no bleach in it.. I never saw that brand in the store, but it looks like it's available around here. I usually use "Comet" for that kind of cleaning.
I have a little bit of muriatic acid. I wonder what that will do?
But anyways, thanks again for those pics, I really appreciate it!