Bleaching
Wood-Turned Vessels
by Nick Cook
Note:
The following directions work well for the bleaching process of vessels
turned from wood with a moderate to high moisture content.
- Materials
Heavy
duty rubber gloves
Plastic container (old bowl or butter bucket)
Cheap 1" or 2" paint brush (sponge or nylon)
Old measuring cup
Safety glasses
Old aluminum baking pan 11" x 14" or larger
Two-parts wood bleach (i.e., Klean strip or Dalys)
-
Mixing
Clean surface to be bleached (mixture of 50/50 mix of solution A and solution B)
Mix enough for two coats (mixture weakens after 3-4 hours)
-
Application
Wear gloves and safety glasses when applying the mixture
Cover the entire surface to be bleached with the mixture while vessel is in aluminum pan
Set the vessel in sun or under heat lamp (high wattage)
After surface is dried, apply second coat of mixture
Repeat process until the desired texture or color is attained
-
Reapplication
If surface appears blotchy or uneven, apply a uniform coat of solution B only
After an additional 2 to 3 hours, if wood is still too dark, apply a second coat of a new mixture of solutions A and B
-
Sanding
Allow the vessel to dry for 12 to 24 hours out of direct sunlight
Sand lightly with 400 grit sand paper
-
Finish
Use only lacquer type finishes on bleached vessels