I need to remove green stains on oak door
Hi everyone… long time no type.
I have a situation that has me perplexed. I am dealing with two secondary exterior doors. They are in a vestibule but not the weather side of the room. They separate the vestibule from the general dining area of a restaurant.
The doors are white oak with no stain, just clear poly. In many places where the poly has worn off there are green stains developing. They look like I would expect them to be from brass or copper in contact with the wood but that is not the case. I am assuming they are some sort of mold and some trial attempts with steel wool and various grit sandpaper are not yielding any fast or effective results.
Suggestions or experiences with a similar situation would be appreciated. Wood bleach or other ideas for effective and quick removal. If the restoration gets too labor intensive they might as well buy new doors. These are both 15-lite doors… true divided lites. big pain in the rear.
Replies
Pete,
Sometimes Oxalic acid will work, especially on Oak. Test first.
-Paul
Thanks Paul
"Poly Worn Off"
The poly is likely worn off where there is contact - push plates or handles and edges of the doors. I would ask what is used to clean the doors? Being a restuarant, they will have (let's hope) a cleaning regimen, and the doors are part of it. My guess is that the coloration is a reaction to the cleaning products.
You may be able to recreate the effect on scraps and then find ways to reverse it without carrying on a full blown experiment amongst the patrons.
David Sochar
Acorn Woodworks
I was sure it was discoloration from the window cleaner before I went to see it. Once I saw it, I realized it was likely something more.
There's always a possibility that applying any kind of liquid would migrate under the edges of the finish and cause more problems. Also, a bleach might remove the green but also some color/patina/. . . so that the treated areas still don't look like the untreated. As long as the owners understand and accept the risks . . .
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