Beedster Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Further to my post below [url="http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32949"]http://basschat.co.uk/index.php?showtopic=32949[/url] I've stripped most of the paint and lacquer from the Tele body, but there is a dark brown stain in the grain that won't shift with either sandpaper or paint stripper (in fact I'm in danger of changing the shape of the bass if I sand any more ). So the question is, can I bleach this stain out? I'm really after a natural finish on this bass as the grain is pretty spectacular, and I'd hate to have to put a solid finish on it just because I couldn't get the stain out, but I can't think of anything else to do. Help....... Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 there's some advice [url="http://antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/using_wood_bleach.htm"]here[/url] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 [quote name='ahpook' post='342404' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:33 PM']there's some advice [url="http://antiquerestorers.com/Articles/jeff/using_wood_bleach.htm"]here[/url][/quote] Crikey, swimming pool chlorine on my 35 year old bass Cheers aphook, much appreciated. Have you used such bleach on a bass before? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
neepheid Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 According to the book I have about these things (Restoring & Finishing Wood by Mick Allen - ISBN 0-7136-7657-4) you can use oxalic acid to try and bleach out stains. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ahpook Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 (edited) [quote name='Beedster' post='342417' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:39 PM']Crikey, swimming pool chlorine on my 35 year old bass Cheers aphook, much appreciated. Have you used such bleach on a bass before? Chris[/quote] never, sorry...i was just a-googlin' you could try some diy research at your local library. Edited December 1, 2008 by ahpook Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 1, 2008 Author Share Posted December 1, 2008 [quote name='ahpook' post='342430' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:52 PM']never, sorry...i was just a-googlin' you could try some diy research at your local library.[/quote] I'd have to pay the fines from when I was a kid (plus interest no doubt)! Isn't swimming pool bleach pretty much dilute Domestos? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
YouMa Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 Be careful you need to try test bits first,or you will just get a yellow mark on your bass as the cellulose in the wood fibres mixes with the bleach.So deffo try some experimenting first. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hamster Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 [quote name='neepheid' post='342429' date='Dec 1 2008, 09:50 PM']According to the book I have about these things (Restoring & Finishing Wood by Mick Allen - ISBN 0-7136-7657-4) you can use oxalic acid to try and bleach out stains.[/quote] So you could do it by boiling your bass in a vat of rhubarb? Deffo one for a professional luthiers advice. If doing it at home I'd have a go with hydrogen peroxide which imho would do the least damage to the wood. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SteveO Posted December 1, 2008 Share Posted December 1, 2008 (edited) Never used it on a guitar, but for bleaching wood we use [url="http://www.jernia.no/Produkter/Produktvisning?key=78012"]this[/url]. OK, I know what you're thinking, it may be impractical to order from Norway, but maybe B&Q do something similar. it's a 2 part peroxide bleach, and is very good. They use it over here mainly to get rid of sun-ageing of wood (when it goes that pus-yellow colour) and it removes very deep stains without affecting the wood. The before and after picture is [u]not[/u] an exageration. Oh, and it doesn't bleach the wood (make it go white), once it's done it's stuff it just looks like a new bit of freshly sawn wood. [edit] hmmm the info in ahpook's link says that peroxide is used to lighten the natural colour of the wood, i.e. to take away the natural colour and turn it white, so either that info's wrong or this stuff is a weak solution. [/edit] Edited December 1, 2008 by SteveO Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisAngryman Posted December 2, 2008 Share Posted December 2, 2008 another product i sell Liberon wood bleach Draws out any stain or dye in the timber, this is a sh*tty job though and very messy again as said above try it on a area no that visable www.brewers.co.uk see where you nearest branch is and they should stock it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 2, 2008 Author Share Posted December 2, 2008 Thanks very much guys, gonna try Liberon as there's a store right by me Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 MB1. ....Can i bleach wood?...... Yes!...but i can imagine it'll make your eyes water! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 [quote name='Beedster' post='343618' date='Dec 2 2008, 10:33 PM']Thanks very much guys, gonna try Liberon as there's a store right by me Chris[/quote] And it didn't work....... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisAngryman Posted December 3, 2008 Share Posted December 3, 2008 why didn't it work? is there anything on the surface stopping the bleach from penetrating the wood. how many applications did you try? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 3, 2008 Author Share Posted December 3, 2008 [quote name='chrisAngryman' post='344888' date='Dec 3 2008, 10:52 PM']why didn't it work? is there anything on the surface stopping the bleach from penetrating the wood. how many applications did you try?[/quote] Hi Chris Thanks for your reply. I've sanded the surface pretty thoroughly and have applied several coats of bleach. I'm a bit worried that the previous owner has used something pretty powerful to stain the body as nothing is touching it? Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chrisAngryman Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 beedster, i will call liberon tomorrow and try to find out any more information,You may want to try coateing it in the bleach and covering it in cling film to allow the wood to sweat this works on most areas of application. do you have any pic's? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MB1 Posted December 4, 2008 Share Posted December 4, 2008 [quote name='Beedster' post='344914' date='Dec 3 2008, 11:07 PM']Hi Chris Thanks for your reply. I've sanded the surface pretty thoroughly and have applied several coats of bleach. I'm a bit worried that the previous owner has used something pretty powerful to stain the body as nothing is touching it? Chris[/quote] MB1. May be in need of a good coat of SIMS (The Martin Variety!) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 [quote name='chrisAngryman' post='345741' date='Dec 4 2008, 05:31 PM']beedster, i will call liberon tomorrow and try to find out any more information,You may want to try coateing it in the bleach and covering it in cling film to allow the wood to sweat this works on most areas of application. do you have any pic's?[/quote] Hi Chris Sorry, I've only just seen this post. I applied several coats of bleach and nothing happened, although the bass as a whole is now slightly lighter in shade which, somewhat ironically, only heightens the cointrast between the stained grain and the remainder of the body. However, it doesn't look too bad and as I'm reluctant to apply any more chemicals to a 35 year old lump of wood or to take any more of it off with sandpaper, I'm going to try a bit of Danish oil to see how the bass looks in a natural oiled finish. Many thanks for your help, have no fear I will be asking you more questions very soon Chris Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Beedster Posted December 7, 2008 Author Share Posted December 7, 2008 [quote name='MB1' post='345837' date='Dec 4 2008, 07:29 PM']MB1. May be in need of a good coat of SIMS (The Martin Variety!)[/quote] This one I'm doing myself mate (although it could still happen) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.