bleaching veneer

lbdavis · #1 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Can my cockpit sole be saved?

I used a heat gun and scraped the varnish off the end of one:

If I bleach these with some oxalic acid, will they look much better?

LB

sailingdog · #2 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

They probably will... but only by trying it will you really know. What did you spill on them? Might be worth sanding them very, very lightly with a very fine grade of sandpaper, if they are indeed veneer.

artbyjody · #3 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

You can look at the edges which are not very clear in the photo... if they still have the holly versus teak motif on the edges - it is actually solid... and you can sand at will and stain and get almost 90% perfection out of it... its veneer if the edges have some kind of plywood or doesn't continue the teak - holly grain...I think from the pics its solid and not veneer...

lbdavis · #4 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Sadly, they are veneer:

Here's the piece from my v-berth sole. I'd love to think I could restore to this level:

Do you think I could hand sand with a 220-grit? If so, should I bleach first?

Freesail99 · #5 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

I would use bleach first and then 300 or 400 wet sand paper. It is much finer and will last a lot longer then normal sandpaper.

artbyjody · #6 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

What Freesail said.. wet sand ... put a good Min Wax covering on it... it'll look awesome.. BTW I did a bit of a test with the minwax poly clear, on some projects and left them out to weather...(PNW rain rain rain)... they upheld really well...it'll do you right...

lbdavis · #7 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Minwax? Really? I sure like the sound of that (read price). Is that my best option for protecting this harshly treated surface?

I'll go with the bleach then wet sand and post some pics when its done.

BTW, Dawg, nothing was spilled per se, just a lot of neglect by the PO.

sailingdog · #8 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

LB-

Look forward to seeing the newly rejuvenated sole.

artbyjody · #9 (**permalink**) 03-27-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by lbdavis

Minwax? Really? I sure like the sound of that (read price). Is that my best option for protecting this harshly treated surface?

I'll go with the bleach then wet sand and post some pics when its done.

BTW, Dawg, nothing was spilled per se, just a lot of neglect by the PO.

I SWEAR by it.. seriously - you can not go wrong...

GBurton · #10 (**permalink**) 03-28-2008

Gym seal works well too