*
Help…!
I have just made a beautiful oak butcherblock table top. It is large (50″ x 80″ x 1 3/4″ thick) and made of alternating white and red oak strips. I made it in two parts so it could be wide belt sanded and joined the two halves with biscuits. It is beautiful.
Unfortunately, while using pipeclamps for the last glue joint (to glue the two halves together), the plastic end cap came off the treaded end og one of the pipes. I thought nothing of thisd small plastic cap lying on the wood, until I picked it up to find an ugly black oil stain into the oak. I used mineral spirits to dilute the oil and that helped some, but it is still there. I plan to finish sand the oak, and lightly stain it before the final tung oil finish. Does anyone know what I can do to rid the oak top of the remains of thi8s ugly oil stain??
Thanks, Charles
Replies
*
I suspect that your "oil" stain is really a stain caused by the reaction of the tannin in oak with the iron in your clamps. If so, it can be difficult to remove. You can try a oxalic acid cleaner that you get at your paint or marine supply store. Follow the directions but you may have to sand quite a bit afterward.
If it is truly oil/grease, mineral spirits may help somewhat but it might also force the grease further into the wood. Try to dab it up with a mineral spirit dampened rag or paper towel. Keep a clean face of the towel to the mark.
*Thanks Howard,It really is oil from treading of the new black iron pipe of the pipe clamps. Treating with mineral spirits, then sanding did wonders. It is now almost invisible and, considering the contrasting effect5 of alternating white and red oak, it looks OK. Considering the possibility of residual oil in the wood, I guess I should now consider oil stain instead of a water-based dye stain. That's OK.Thanks again,Charles
This forum post is now archived. Commenting has been disabled