Bleaching with lye and peroxide

What order did you use the two ingredients? What were their concentrations? Was it Kleen-Strip bleach or a homemade combination? What was your technique?

I've had good results with Klean-Strip bleach. 

Ellis Walentine
Host

Thanks so much for the reply!
I used Bill Boehme’s recipe for homemade. Lye first, then 10 minutes later, peroxide (35%). Let dry.
In my Florida condo I couldn’t hose it off, just rinsed with water (I can’t remember if I used vinegar at this point!)
Home, I did hose it off. I decided to repeat the peroxide but not the lye, hoping the peroxide will lift out the yellow. First time it really didn’t.
I just tried that again this morning, and leaving it outside in the sun. Seems maybe a little better, but not completely. 
I wonder if the lye was too concentrated? 
Here is the link, and appreciate your thoughts.
http://www.airbrushingwood.com/uploads/6/4/0/3/64033319/making_yor_own_wood_bleach.pdf

What was the wood species?  I've bleached ash, maple, cherry, walnut, birch, eucalyptus, red oak, and redwood.  Probably some others that are not coming to mind.  You can't bleach poplar.

Right now the coffee table I’m doing is an Ethan Allen maple. 
The server I did last year was an old Thomasville, no idea of species… but I’m sure it was mixed. The frame seemed like maybe pine? Very soft. Except no grain.
Front a burl veneer. Top and sides I don’t know.  
I ended up, after numerous attempts to stain the yellow away, paint washing it. 
Pictures attached. Before, closeup of top before bleaching (I think), before paint washing, after.
The coffee table seems better after another application of peroxide; not completely, just better.
 I think the sun is helping. Maybe I should lower the lye concentration next time?
Rinse with vinegar?
More peroxide?
Thanks so much for thoughts.

In no particular order, here are some thoughts on your project: 

• Bill Boehme's instructions are to use PartA (NaOH) first, followed by Part B (H2O2).
  This is how I used to do it, and it worked for me.

• Klean Strip instructions stipulate mixing the two solutions, not applying them sequentially.

• Gary Guenther (who was a regular poster on our turning forum) offered his instructions online.
  He also recommends mixing the two solutions  just before use. He also says that multiple applications will probably be needed.

• My hunch on your refinishing projects is that there is/was residual finish on the wood which would inhibit the effects of the bleach ingredients. The only way to test that would be to sand an inconspicuous area down to bare wood and try again. I wouldn't recommend this for veneered furniture.

• Your pickling attempt looks about right to me. Maybe that's the best solution.

Cheers,
Ellis Walentine, Host

Thanks so much, appreciate your knowledge and experience!
That could really be true of the first piece, being unable to rinse it off well. This time I was able to; both pieces I sanded after I stripped. I’ll let you know how it ends up.
I am reapplying the peroxide and putting the table in the sun to dry, and it is helping. I couldn’t do that in the condo! And I’ll hose it off and vinegar rinse it too.
Can’t wait to study Gary Guenther’s protocol! 
Curious, did you have to repeat the bleaching? 
Thanks again so much!!

I've bleached up to 6 times to keep removing color.  When doing repeated applications, let each coat completely dry before applying more bleach solution.

Joe, thank you… do use the Lye solution every time (i.e. before the peroxide)?
Do you make your own solution like I did? 
The furniture both times bleached light enough for me. But both ended up with a definite yellow tinge. I did bleach a few times; but I tried just using the peroxide on subsequent bleachings, I read somewhere that someone else had the yellow issue and that’s what they did. For me, still yellow! 
Would love to know if you found this too, and your technique. Thanks again.

I use the 2-part bleach purchased from the paint store.  I mix the two parts before applying it to the wood.