Furniture, Wood and Cabinetry Finishing - black spots on stripped cedar chest

Doityourself.com community forum was created to provide answers to all questions related to home improvement and home repair. Doityourself community can help you find information about how-to topics on small fixes to large remodeling projects. With comprehensive how-to content and expertly moderated community forums DoItYourself.com makes it easy to tackle even the most complex home improvement projects.



PDA
lsalmi
05-21-03, 09:48 AM
I recently purchaced a cedar blanket chest at a flea market. This chest I was told dated to the 1920's. The chest was in need of dire repair but I got it at a price I couldn't pass up. Will be using as a coffee table. The skirt around the bottom was poorly patched and missing a leg this will be replaced, I removed it and began to strip the piece. The chest itself is all cedar and no other secondary wood, It also is decorated with copper straps. I have completed the stripping and on the sides,and only the sides I have many black spots the front and back are fine. The wood is otherwise fine. I can not find any info as to what the spotting could be and how if possible to remove them. Thanks

chfite
05-21-03, 06:14 PM
Do the spot appear to be random as if they were a property of the wood or as if they were from something touching the wood?

It they belong there, you may have to learn to love them. Oxalic acid washing the entire piece will lighten it all and may help the black spots.

Frankly, if the stripper did not remove the spots, they likely won't come off.