Varnish below decks

[Joe_Cole]

I have a problem!

The woodwork in my cabin is in reasonable condition but for a number of black "specks" which appear to be beneath the varnish. They may be mould of some sort. The wood is elm, so it's a fairly light colour. I'm trying to sort it out, but sanding the varnish doesn't seem to get at it.... and if I go much deeper I'm worried that I'll get through the veneer.

I've tried a little oxalic acid, but it doesn't seem to work.

Can anyone recomend a chemical or anything else?

Regards

Joe

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[paintercolin]

Did you make your own oxalic acid solution up? If you used off the shelf teak cleaner ie oxlic acid solution, they aren't all the same. Some seem to work better than others on certain stains. It isn'y necessarily a cheap option but try a few (beg drops from yer mates) Some teak brightners are caustic soda based - it basically burns off the top layer of old/solid wood. You could try one of these.

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[ashanta]

Iv'e mentioned this on previous posts on this subject. You can get Oxalic acid from Pharmacies but there is a purpose made product available at good wood merchants. It comes as two tins, you brush the element from tin1 and leave for a specific period, not long, ten, 15 minutes, then the second element is brushed on. The results were very good on the internal teak of my boat which had severe mould stains. I can't think of the name but as I say a good wood merchant will be able to advise.

Regards.

Peter.

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