Q:

I am making a table top of Pecan and during sanding i have noticed what looks like sticker stains running across a couple of the boards approx 12-14 inches apart. sanding does not seem to take them out.  Do you have a fix so they don’t show up on the finished surface. I plan to stain. Choice of topcoat is flexible at this time, no high gloss. I was planning a Danish Oil.

http://forums.taunton.com/fw-experts/messages?msg=1141.1

A:

Most sticker stains go quite deep into the surface, so it’s practically impossible to remove ’em by removing wood. (Unless you like bowl shapes. Ha, ha.)

Other than trying to blend in the colors during staining (which is very doable using dye powders and making your own wood colors with water or some other suitable solvent), the only method I know of that will remove sticker stains is to bleach the wood. Unfortunately, bleaching will remove some, or sometimes all, of the color of the plank. If you don’t mind a lighter-colored tabletop (and perhaps the base, too, to harmonize the project), you can use a mild application of two-part wood bleach. If you bleach it in a higher concentration and with two or more applications, you’ll get an almost-white tabletop. But a mild application (over the entire tabletop) might remove most of the stain while leaving a blush of original color on the pecan. It could look quite stunning.

It’s your choice to touch-up with stain or bleach. I, personally, am loathe to stain anything, especially something as beautiful as pecan, but there you go. It’s a personal decision, and the decision to stain or bleach should reflect what you think looks best.

Hopes this helps, or perhaps open us up for some more dialogue.