Bleaching Phillipine Mahogany

[lpaulcarter]

I'm not having any luck finding a product to use to bleach out the colour of some mahogany I'm refinishing. It's VERY red, and was obviously bleached, then stained a golden colour before it was originally varnished. This section has had to be stripped down to bare wood, and of course now it doesn't come any where near to matching the surrounding area.

None of the products that have been suggested to me on another thread are available in Canada (or at least in my part of the country - Sidney, BC). For that matter, none of the Interlux stains that I would need to use if I was successful in bleaching the wood are available in Canada either. The companies that make them don't want to put French on the labels, so they can't be imported.

One of the fellows I talked to in a building supply store suggested oxalic acid. This is the active ingredient in some teak cleaners, so I'm wondering if it would work to bleach the red mahogany without causing any other problems.

Assuming I can bleach the wood, the next issue will be what to use for stain. I don't think interior furniture stain will hold up to the rigors of the marine environment. What else is there?

 

[Radioactive]

There are several methods, and at least one using oxalic acid. The actual product you use will be determined by what's availabie to you, in your area ( no point in me suggesting brands... ).

Internet search using the phrase, "how to bleach wood". I got many, good results, including how to use oxalic acid.

I can't help w/ stain. I don't use it...

 

[Matt Mosbacher]

When I had a Correct Craft Islander ski boat years ago, It had bleached mahagony as trim. To bleach it to original. I used number one and number two bleach. I got it from a supplier of refinishing supplies.

 

[yzer]

Go to the hardware store and get an oxalic acid wood bleach. Use blue tape and plastic to seal off any nearby areas you do not want to bleach. In addition, the classic Chris-Craft company used a stain on top of bleached wood to achieve their famous "blonde" mahogany. I use a stain made by Sandusky for this purpose, but others have good luck with Interlux 1643 stain.

If you cannot buy these stains in Canada, look for a neutral filler stain that is white to light yellow-golden in color and start experimenting from there. With the Sandusky stain I use, the color contributed by eight coats of Pettit BAK-V-SPAR varnish (amber color) contributes an important part of the overall look and color of the blonde or neutral stained wood.

Re: another of your questions. I was at the boat this weekend and checked "red" stain can used on my boat. It's Interlux Chris-Craft Mahogany 573.