DIY Wood Bleach For A Lighter Hue
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 17 ก.ย. 2024
- www.AsWoodTurns...
After seeing several examples of turning projects that had been bleached, I decided to try bleaching wood myself. I researched on the internet and found some great resources especially from AAW.
I also checked for commercial wood bleach products. Most of these turned out to be wood cleaners based on oxalic acid.
The solution I settled on is a two part solution. One part is a lye (sodium hydroxide) solution. The second part is hydrogen peroxide, a pool sanitizer. The tricky part was finding sources for both chemicals. For the lye, Amazon has pure lye crystals in their soap making section. For the hydrogen peroxide, a 27% solution is sold at swimming pool suppliers. Drug store hydrogen peroxide may say 27% but is actually more dilute.
Preparation
The 1.5 teaspoons lye crystals are added to 1/2 cup water and stored in a well marked plastic container with a good plastic lid. Safety Note: Always add the crystals to water not vice versa. The vice versa is likely to spatter lye.
The 27% hydrogen peroxide is used as is.
Since both of these chemicals are potentially dangerous, pay attention to personal and property protection. Working outdoors with gloves, goggles, and protected surfaces is recommended.
Application
Mix equal parts of the lye solution and hydrogen peroxide in a plastic or glass container and apply to the wood to be bleached with either a cheap brush or dipping. Allow to dry. The solution will likely bubble.
For these items, I applied the mixed solution four times. Results vary with the wood species, wood preparation, and grain orientation.
When bleached, I applied household cleaning vinegar(acid) to neutralize the lye, a base. From the research, this step is optional.
My thin cross-grain disks from pear wood warped and cracked when the solution was applied.
Enjoy!
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thanks for the explanation of bleaching Alan..the little apricot piece looks really neat.
You're welcome Mark. Thank you for your patience while I completed the video.
Alan
I have been wood bleaching for years. The wood is fine. You can neutralize the bleach with the vinegar and then rinse with water before final finishing. If you do any work with dye, bleaching is an excellent way to eliminate the effect of the wood's color on the dye. I see so many postings of dyed pieces that have colors distorted by the wood color. Blues turn out teal. Reds turn orange. Greens just look garish to me.
You can still buy two part wood bleach but it is getting more difficult to find. Most of the products recommend equal parts of solution "A" and solution "B" (hydrogen peroxide and lye, or vise versa). Christian Burchard and Betty Scarpino are two notable turners who bleach their projects extensively. Nicely done, Alan. Joe
Thanks for pitching in with your experience.
Alan
Good video Alan. Oxalic acid works great also. Thanks for what you do and for sharing it with us.
Thanks for your share.
Alan
Very good information Alan, that looks like a great prep step for a wood burning project. Should provide great contrast, I'll be giving it a go this winter.
I had not thought of that. My only concern is the additional whiteness may catch more soot from the pyrography. Hmmm.
Alan
Thanks for the video and safety. I really can't think I would use it but I might.
Just remember it for when that perfect project presents itself.
Alan
Great video.... interesting ...every interesting!!! Many good public comments too. I've bleached oak, mahogany and some really, really old teak... with just straight laundry bleach and have had mostly good results. I never used vinegar to kill it off but just lots of water washes... Not a lot of warping...……….and results varied. Thanks again.
Thanks for sharing your experience.
I doubt vinegar would serve when using chlorine bleach. Chemically, vinegar (an acid) would neutralize a base (the lye). I'm not sure what chemical reaction would be between vinegar and chlorine, other than a good rinse.
Alan
BTW... Mitsuko is my wife. I have no idea what she did to get her name on MY YT but... Since I really don't Google or any other monster company to get into my computer more than they are already...I just quit trying to change the name....(FYI)
Nice video AlN with a detailed explanation. I have been bleaching wood carvings and use Zinsser Wood Bleach but never repeated the process more than twice. Your method appears to make the turning more white as you mentioned.
From the research, the number of applications and the degree of blondness achieved depends on species. So your results are consistent.
Thanks for pitching in.
Alan
Very Interesting Alan, I wonder how this would work on darker wood...say Walnut or Mahogany.
I think it is worth experimenting. Perhaps first on a piece of scrap.
Alan
you can use thin single use nitrile gloves or thicker long sleeved PVC gloves for working with lye or acids. you can also use these in combination. don't use latex unless it's for bacteria or harmless dirt, it doesn't protect against anything.
Good information
Merry Christmas
Alan
Very Interesting! I wonder however if the wood will deteriorate in time? When you treat fibers with chlorine bleach and don't neutralise it, the fabric does deteriorate slowly. However in this case it is not chlorine, so I don't know. I guess it will eat into the wood for some time until depleted.
I treated these pieces with vinegar (acetic acid) which works to neutralize the lye( a base). I'm not worried.
Alan
Nice
Thank you.
Alan
👍,, thanks for sharing
You are welcome
Alan
So what would be the mixing ratios for a larger quantity ? For wood floors?
That would be great research. Let me know how it goes.
Alan
Hi Alan, It was a bit difficult to see as the sun was behind you but a good video. Not sure I will try it though. Cheers, Huw
Shooting outside is awful. However, the pictures on the side should help.
Just keep in in mind for when the time is right.
Alan
One of the items you dyed looked like a PVC union (joins 4 pipes together). Do you have a video on making this? I have a friend who is a plumber and it would make a great Christmas gift for him.
Just released it. :)
Alan
@@AsWoodTurns thanks.
Thanks for doing all the research and the presentation Alan. I'm not sure if I'll ever be brave enough to try; my street name is Wuss 😁 -Mike
Keep it in mind until you get that anti Wuss shot. :)
Alan
Recommend goggles and a face shield when handling lye. This would standard industrial practice. A single flake will burn a hole in your skin. Eye contact is usually irreparable.
Very good to know and do.
Alan
Good, well explained demo. Did you neutralize each time before bleaching again? Or did you wait to do the vinegar, then water, after all the bleaching was done?
I applied the vinegar only at the end. Some research indicated this as optional anyway.
Alan
👍,, thanks for sharing
You are welcome Mitchell
Alan