Squash stain on TEAK

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

Jim Matthews

What did you apply to cleanup the stain?

Questions

David Yoho

What is the current finish? Was this stained or dyed or is it natural? What topcoat was used?

It's hard to suggest how to proceed without knowing what you're dealing with. Obviously this isn't a stain on top of the finish or it would have cleaned away. Either it compromised the topcoat or there was not a hard film finish at all. Perhaps it is an oil finish. We just don't know from your post.

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

Dick Coers

Quickest way to repair on site is make a new one, match the color, and do a quick install. It's nearly impossible to use any color to mask a stain that is darker than the base color surrounding it. Lighter, as in a white water mark, can be toned and faux painted if you have an artistic bent. But black on brown will be impossible until you get the black a lighter color than the surrounding wood. That means a two part bleach and possibly a complete refinish. Nothing possible on site. As I said, a remake is the easiest if we knew what that was.

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

paul in AZ

why not sand it out and refinish?

If the stain is too deep ~so be it. The piece is ruined as it is so there is nothing to lose by trying to sand it out.

You stumped the band

Ellis Walentine

Tara, I just talked to Michael Dresdner, a well known finishing writer and expert. Neither he nor I have had to deal with this type of stain. My first take was oxalic acid, just based on the color of the stain; Michael's was that or lemon juice -- no guarantees. Dick mentioned two-part bleach, which is pretty certain to take all the stain color away. Either way, bleach first, then sand it, then tone it with some blend of dye stain to match the color, then topcoat. It's hard to tell from the photo, but it looks like it might be veneer, not solid teak. If so, do the minimum amount of sanding.

Ellis Walentine, Host

the poor man's method...

David Weaver

..mine at least would be to find the kind of squash that it was, rub some new squash of the same type on the stain for a while and then try to wipe it all off, but I still would have no luck blending it perfectly after that.

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

Barry Irby

I earned pocket money in college repairing furniture. (fifty years ago) The memories were repressed until I recently stumbled across YouTube videos of a fellow doing the same things. When I think of doing the repairs now, after a few seconds I go, NO!

I would try to determine if that top is veneer. If it is, any of the techniques suggested for soaking it with (whatever) might loosen the veneer. Sanding might sand through and probably would before you got all of the stain out. If it's solid teak you have a chance.

I might contact Thomas Johnson in Gorham Maine. The fellow I have been watching, and see if he has any suggestions. There is much to learn by watching him work.

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

John in NM

At a very rough guess, the whiter parts of the stain are probably water soluble, a bit of vinegar or lemon juice might help with that. Flood and remove repeatedly, I would use a wet vac for that rather than a blotter or rag.

I suspect the dark stain is a reaction with tannin in the wood, much like ebonizing. That's tougher to deal with, but some oxalic acid or hydrogen peroxide might help. I think I would try the peroxide first.

That piece is almost certainly veneered. Avoid any deep sanding. I am also a bit worried about lifting the veneer, but then that would be repairable if a further can of worms to deal with.

The other thing is that if any method of lifting or lightening that stain works, it will still be visible. At best you make it light enough to inpaint with some stain and then overcoat the whole thing, equalizing the un-damaged portions with the repair. Bottom line is that its going to look different than it does now, and it will probably not look as the customer wishes. That style of teak furniture is typically very lightly finished, and in my view not appropriate for a dining table.

If the customer is willing to pay for a true fix that looks just like the old one, take the top off and re-veneer it with teak veneer. You'd also have to make new end pieces from solid teak I bet (those are why I think it's veneered). Not a hard job but expensive for such a little stain from a day to day sort of dining accident...

Re: Squash stain on TEAK

Don Stephan

What did you try and how did it work out?