Smartening up Rough bit of Ply ?

[STATUE]

This ply has remained bare for 50 years inside the cabin.

I want to varnish it, basically to smarten it up. - BUT as you can imagine the is a little embedded dirt, some ingrained black marks (probably former damp marks), etc.

Should I try bleach or stain ?

 

[FlyingGoose]

Perhaps a light sand will get them out ,

 

[Refueler]

Trouble with sanding old ply - is that you cannot sand too much - the veneer layers may not be thick enough.... and end up breaking through to veneer under.
Second tends to splinter so extreme care needed to avoid.

You can buy veneer such as Obechi etc. which can be laminated onto the old ply ... using laminating resin such as Epoxy etc. Once cured ... sanding and then sealing with required stain ... then a good quality varnish to finish ....

Laminating normally best if the old piece can be removed ... placed on sturdy area and the new veneer pressed on while curing ... making sure all new veneer is under pressure ...

 

[penberth3]

This ply has remained bare for 50 years inside the cabin.

I want to varnish it, basically to smarten it up. - BUT as you can imagine the is a little embedded dirt, some ingrained black marks (probably former damp marks), etc.

Should I try bleach or stain ?

A dark varnish? That will make things less obvious.

 

[Poignard]

You might consider painting it white.

 

[Stemar]

Wood bleach? I used it on some stairs that had been partly stained and the rest pretty grubby. They ended up looking like clean pine, and a dose or several of le Tonkinois made them look plenty good enough to be left bare.

 

[Spirit (of Glenans)]

Wood bleach? I used it on some stairs that had been partly stained and the rest pretty grubby. They ended up looking like clean pine, and a dose or several of le Tonkinois made them look plenty good enough to be left bare.

+1. Wood bleach is based on hydrogen peroxide and works well if used according to the instruction.

 

[davidej]

Both but in that order. Bleaching alone will leave it looking very washed out.

Finish off with a few nice coats of varnish or similar the avoid having to repeat in a few years.

 

[Humblebee]

I find oxalic acid is the best stuff for getting rid of any black stains, easily available on the Internet but be sure to follow safety precautions.

 

[Jim@sea]

This ply has remained bare for 50 years inside the cabin.

I want to varnish it, basically to smarten it up. - BUT as you can imagine the is a little embedded dirt, some ingrained black marks (probably former damp marks), etc.

Should I try bleach or stain ?

I had this, I bought some thin sheets of plywood, stuck them on, varnished them, looked like new.

 

[STATUE]

I had this, I bought some thin sheets of plywood, stuck them on, varnished them, looked like new.

Thanks everyone, all good ideas and options for me to ponder. - and do !