stripping shellac

[HSteier]

I have never bleached any wood other than teak om a boat. What do I use. Does the bleach affect the background color of the wood. Since the carved feet and legs have so much varying end grain and the dye darkens the end grain more, does bleaching take the color out evenly?

Howard Steier

[CBWW]

I really cant tell you how it will effect your piece.  But what do you have to loose?  At this point you will probably have to use alcohol colors to get any color on it that will keep the clarity.  You could just muddy it up with glaze or heavy pigments..  I would have stripped it w/ stripper and not done the alcohol strip.  The Meth Chloride will usually pull color out or give it a stripper burn type look.  The bleach that I have used is the 2 part bleach from Klean strip( I think)  I havent been thrilled with it but it does work if it is fresh.  I have mostly used it on bare walnut to lighten it and then build the color up from there.

[HSteier]

Sometimes you eat the bear and sometimes the bear eats you. This time the bear wins. This is going to have to look like a refinished piece. I'm afraid that more manipulation will not provide any further benefit. If my sister doesn't like the piece she can give it to GoodWill.

Howard Steier