Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

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XQSME
Posts: 48
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:19 pm
Location: Llangorse SC

Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by XQSME »

Good afternoon

I have a few patches of slightly soft wood....should I use a DIY shop wood hardener and wood filler or is there anything particular to suggest (on a budget) or any other ingenious methods.

Also , and I ams sure there is plenty of discussion about this , any tips to remove the black patches where damp has penetrated my Albacore?

thanks

Tim
1965 Albacore No 1775 "XQSME"
previous = 1962 Wayfarer W170 "Peter Pan"
Flying Fifteen
Twister
Graham L
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:11 am

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by Graham L »

Hi Tim

Can't comment on the wood hardener, but I treated the black patches on my Albacore with oxalic acid that a got from a fellow restorer in crystal form. You just put them a few at a time in a small amount of water and keep stirring and adding until they no longer dissolve. I then applied the solution to the dark patches over a couple of days with 3-4 applications and it took the marks out. I applied it using an old toothbrush, but make sure you use gloves and goggles as you need to protect your skin and eyes.

After treatment, make sure you thoroughly rinse the treated areas with fresh water and allow the wood to dry completely before applying varnish, otherwise the acid will stain your new finish over a period of time. It worked well for me.

If you have any solution left, make sure it is well sealed and labeled, because it looks like water and has no odour.

Hope this helps.

Graham

Albacore 5893 & 5894(being restored)
Michael Brigg
Posts: 1663
Joined: Fri Jul 06, 2007 7:11 pm
Location: Gosport, UK

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by Michael Brigg »

A lot has been already said before on here...

viewtopic.php?f=23&t=6131&p=52248&hilit ... cid#p52248
Michael Brigg
XQSME
Posts: 48
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:19 pm
Location: Llangorse SC

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by XQSME »

Thankyou both , a little worried by the frequent references to oxalic acid leaving a grey patch , any way of avoiding this?
1965 Albacore No 1775 "XQSME"
previous = 1962 Wayfarer W170 "Peter Pan"
Flying Fifteen
Twister
Rupert
Posts: 6255
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:40 pm
Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by Rupert »

I use ronseal wood hardener, as it is quicker to go off than the cuprinol one. Kind of fossilises the wood, though.
Rupert
XQSME
Posts: 48
Joined: Wed Sep 16, 2015 6:19 pm
Location: Llangorse SC

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by XQSME »

Thanks Rupert , "Fossilises the wood"?
1965 Albacore No 1775 "XQSME"
previous = 1962 Wayfarer W170 "Peter Pan"
Flying Fifteen
Twister
roger
Posts: 3031
Joined: Mon Sep 20, 2004 12:08 pm
Location: Frome Somerset UK

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by roger »

Oxalic acid can be bought on bee keeping sites as well.
Hornet 191 Shoestring,
Hornet 595 Demon awaiting restoration
Hornet 610 Final Fling
Hornet 353
Rupert
Posts: 6255
Joined: Thu Sep 16, 2004 8:40 pm
Location: Cotswold Water Park

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by Rupert »

XQSME wrote:Thanks Rupert , "Fossilises the wood"?
The wood ends up very stiff and loose fibres go black. Hardens it, I guess, just like it says on the tin. Works wonders for solidifying bits before filling. Our Puffin was basically dead 7 years ago but I didn't want to make my daughter sad, so the inside is a large part wood hardener. I keep on expecting to hear a shattering noise one day, but so far, so good!
Rupert
Graham L
Posts: 18
Joined: Tue Mar 08, 2011 10:11 am

Re: Soft and blackened needs hardening and restoring

Post by Graham L »

Just coming back on the question about grey patches from the oxalic acid.

In my case the answer is I didn't have any because I thoroughly washed the area after treatment. It is now 5 years since I varnished the boat and there are no marks where I treated the wood.

Hope this helps.

Graham
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