a walnut question

[alex e.]

I don't know if this is possible but I'll ask:

On a dark colored piece of wood is it possible to "bleach" or lighten the color of it?
I am looking for a certain color and being darker might hinder it.Just exploring options right now.
As always,any input is appreciated,Alex E

[The other DWS]

Various woodworkers supply's sell a wood bleach that will lighten the color.

   If I recall correctly one of the old Dixie catalogues had a home brew solution that you could put on wood and then expose it to sunlight---might have been lemon (citric acid)  or something similar.  maybe something with oxalic acid in it.

In any case it has to be carefully neutralized.

Here,  I just did a quick web-check and this might help you,  I got this from   ASK.com   "what is wood bleach?

"http://www.woodcentral.com/bparticles/woodbleach.shtml

here's another that might help
http://www.craftsman-style.info/finishing/007-bleaching.htm

[keweenaw]

You can bleach it with oxalic acid but I wouldn't do this.   Might be fine for a table top but not for a gunstock.  It's much better to get a piece of wood as light as you like than to take a dark one and lighten it.  Color on walnut is influenced by the background color of the wood, the stain or dye you use and the finish you use.  Changing color is pretty easy with a dye but lightening is another matter.

Tom

[flehto]

Many years ago I bought a Mannlicher[Schoenauer and didn't like the stock color so removed the finish and bleached the walnut w/ oxalic acid. the result was a "white" stock"  to which I applied polyurethane varnish and the reult was a nice yellow stock. Sold the rifle 3 years ago but first removed the polyurethane  varnish and recolored  it w/ a reddish brown stain that nearly duplicated the original color. Would I bleach the stock again?...No....Fred

[g.pennell]

Might it be a piece of English walnut?  I've used English that is so light in color folks mistake it for curly maple.

Greg

[Mark Elliott]

If you want a light colored stock, I would use maple.   There is no need to ruin a perfectly good piece of walnut.   If you don't want to buy a new stock, maybe someone would trade with you.   

Mark E.

[Stophel]

Holy cow, we're already staining maple to look like walnut, now they're wanting to bleach walnut to look like maple! Where does the madness end?

 

[FALout]

As stated, bleaching will lighten the color.  BUT, once done, your stuck with it.  As walnut is exposed to sunlight, it lightens on its own.  If you ever look at more modern firearms that may have one side lighter then the other... that is the side that was exposed the most, maybe hanging on a rack on a wall.  Some folks would lighten walnut and then stain so as to get more of an orange color, seen that done on a few Frank Lloyd Wright (Wrong by those of us in the know) projects.

If your matching to older stock parts, it's a tough experimental thing.  Best results will require wood with matching pore sizes and grain.

[alex e.]

Thanks guys, I kinda talked myself out of the idea after reading a few posts.I was looking to get a Blondish  Euro. walnut look,but was going to restain it,[as if that made sense],I'll just experiment with what i have.
Alex.

[black ed]

some times, not always you can "sun bleach a dark wood. I have used bright light to "lighten" up the color and have had it finish well with the lightend color. BUT, if the wood is disturbed" Sanded or scraped again you will loose the lightend surface wood and be back to the darker substrate. I have done this with cedar, mahogany, walnut and a few others both in planking and plywood....

[smylee grouch]

Try the Brownells catalog, Montezuma, Iowa.  I think they used to sell a product that did just that.   Gary

[Kermit]

Finish with anything that doesn't have a UV inhibitor in it, and then use it in the bright sunshine a lot. In between uses, put it in front of a sunny window exposing all sides from day to day. You'll be surprised how much black walnut will lighten.