removing black stains from oak

[Manny]

Hi
I've got an oak drawer front( from a kitchen unit) which by mistake has been left in the shed for a few months and has now got little black stains under the varnish. They seem to go quite deep so I guess the Thing to do is to try and bleach them - any other suggestions

 

[Dewy]

That's probably the tannin in the oak reacting with any iron in the shed.
Not a lot you can do about it. Oak is very susceptible to it.

 

[Alf]

Manny,

David Charlesworth has a small bit about removing stains with oxalic(?) acid in his column in this month's F&C. Might be worth a quick browse in Smith's if you don't subscribe? I don't have it by me, or I'd give you a quick run down (and check which evil liquid it is)

Cheers, Alf

 

[Manny]

Thanks Alf
Have not read that, I'll check it out

 

[Anonymous]

I used some oxalic acid on some water/aged/stained oak to get rid of water marks and some metal marks, not with much success, maybe a bit too hasty. Quite dangerous stuff.
Jaco - forgot to log in