The Golden State: Where & How to Live, Secure, Visit, Enjoy and Thrive in California

Furniture Finishing

Staining Over Old Surfaces.—The use cf spirit aniline stain over old surfaces has long been the practice in cheaper work, and the best method of application is by adding to a coating of lacquer or shellac enough stain dissolved in alcohol to give the correct shade. Oil aniline can be dissolved in turpentine and added to varnish, or dissolved in toluol and added to all lacquers. These materials are seldom used unless the work will not admit of the cost of removing and refinishing. Pigment in oil or japan is also added to varnish or enamel coats. There is little to recommend this kind of refinishing, but the cost of some refinishing is more than the value of the piece, yet it is desired to change the color of the finish. In the case of oak made to imitate mahogany, it is necessary to use color in japan and added to varnish to give sufficient covering to hide the prominent grain of the oak. A more thorough method is to use a ground coat of red and grain over this before varnishing. See index for Chaining.

BLEACHING WOOD

There are many cases both in finishing and refinishing where it is necessary to use some form of bleaching solution in order to make the wood lighter. In the case of walnut, it is bleached to make what is known as the French walnut finish. Gum and oak are sometimes bleached before finishing, but the use of a bleaching solution will be of more use in refinishing where it is necessary to bleach the wood to make a lighter shade, thus taking out a dark stain.
The acid solutions are injurious to the lungs when sanding the wood afterward and the alkali solutions require some acid wash over them to neutralize the alkali so you can finish over them. If one will wash off the acid with water after bleaching and before sanding, the dust will contain very little acid. Bleaching lacquer may be used to bleach walnut.

BLEACHING FORMULAS

Oxalic acid crystals, dissolved in as much warm water as will take the crystals up in solution, make the best bleaching formula. One pound of sal soda in a quart of water makes another effective bleach. Peroxide of hydrogen is very effective on small ink spots or stains, but is rather expensive on large surfaces.

Application.—Any of these bleaches can be applied with a brush and allowed to dry. A second application, and sometimes a third is necessary in refinishing. The surface can be sanded off, but it is better to wash off the solution and allow to dry before sanding. Sanding is necessary because the grain will be raised considerably. After washing off the bleaching solution and before sanding, a very thin wash coat of shellac can be brushed over to stiffen the fibers before sanding.