Expert: Eileen Cronk - 8/26/2007

Question
Dear Eileen,
Thank you for your constant thorough and concise advise.
1.  We have 1979 oak kitchen cabinets in a dark walnut coffee stain from manufacturer, Kabincraft.  I have already stripped them and lightly sanded them, but cannot totally get the dark stain embedded in the grain.  How should I proceed here?
2. I also now have some whitish blemish spots on one of the insert panel of the doors (which I think are made of oak veneer).  What can I do here so that the golden oak stain will take properly?
Thank you so much.
Gladys


Answer
Hi Gladys
Thank you for the kind remarks.
It makes this job worthwhile.
Gladys I fear you will never get the dark color out of the grain. Its just the way oak is.
If you want to try some bleach, it may help.
Try a test area on the back of a door.
First try simple household bleach full strength.
Who knows..it may help.
If that fails, you can purchase wood bleach at the hardware. Its 2 bottles you mix together at time of use.
The final thing to try is oxalic acid.
Certainly a lot of messing around I know.
Is there any chance the white blemish is where you sanded the veneer away? If thats the case, the stain will not stick because you are into veneer glue.
Try rubbing the spot with a rag dipped in hot vinegar.
Don't go to heavy with the vinegar or you could loosen the surrounding veneer. Just carefully rub the spot.
Good Luck and get back to me if needed
Regards
Eileen