Expert: Eileen Cronk - 4/21/2009

Question
I stripped an older table that was painted with thick oil based white paint.  All the paint has been removed and the wood underneath is a nice reddish pine.  The problem is that there is straks of black that are ingrained in the wood that no amount of sanding or stripper can remove.  I have also tried oxalic acid and this has had very limited success.  What are these black marks? Are they removable or is this why the piece was painted in the first place?
Thank you

Answer
Hi Nancy
Nice to hear from you.
It looks like you are having your first experience with mineral streaks in pine.
There is absolutely nothing that can be done about this.
As you guessed this is likely the reason the table was painted.
It can be camouflaged fairly successfully with a lacquer toner spray and if you don't want to repaint after all your work (I wouldn't), this is what I would do.
Great question
Regards
Eileen