How to Apply Specialty Finishes for Hardwood Trim

Specialty finishes such as bleaching, pickling and antiquing are popular treatments for solid hardwood mouldings and other woodwork throughout the home. White oak is not recommended for bleaching applications because it has a tendency to discolor.

Project: Applying Specialty Finishes
Bleaching is both a popular alternative to staining and is the first step in most antiquing, pickling or coloring projects. The basic processes are universal whether you’re working with millwork, paneling or cabinetry.

Most hardwood species can be bleached to complement a decorative motif, but darker hardwoods like red oak, hickory and ash are particularly suited for this application.

Remember that white oak is not a good candidate for bleaching because it tends to discolor.

Bleached, antiqued, pickled and colored hardwoods often are preferred for decorative applications like mouldings, mantels, paneling, chair rails and decorative millwork. Experts recommend that you avoid bleaching hardwood floors on site. This process often weakens wood fibers, making floors more susceptible to the wear of regular foot traffic. If customers want a bleached hardwood floor or one with a pickled or antique finish, then choose a pre-finished or factory-finished floor.

One effect of bleaching hardwoods is that normal expansion and contraction may expose darker, untreated shades of wood in the space between joints. These gaps occur in all hardwood products, but are more obvious in chemically-lightened woods.

Before starting any bleaching or staining project, practice on a piece of scrap wood of the same species to make sure the sample meets your expectations.

Health and Safety Precautions

Wear protective overalls and gloves.
Wear a mask to protect against dust when sanding, and toxic fumes when finishing.
Stain in a dust-free and well-ventilated work area.
Keep a bucket of clean water and a sponge nearby in case your skin is exposed to bleach or caustic stains.
Clearly mark left-over materials if they aren’t in their original containers.
Keep all stains and finishing materials in a cool, dark environment, away from children and pets.
Follow the proper environmental guidelines when disposing of toxic and/or hazardous chemicals and materials used in staining and finishing.

Essential Supplies
Here are some important materials to make your hardwood bleaching and specialty finish projects easier:

Sandpaper – multiple grits for preparing the surface
Steel Wool -for a perfectly smooth working surface
Tack Rags – for wiping away sanding residue and dust
Brushes – for applying stain to mouldings, corners and carvings
Synthetic Bristle Brushes – for applying bleach
Lint-Free, Pure Cotton Cloths – for finishing (holds more solution than a brush)

The Two-Step Bleaching Process
Bleaching and other finishing techniques require an absolutely smooth work surface. Before beginning any finishing procedure, check the wood for dents, scratches and stains, then sand the surface until smooth, with increasingly finer grits of paper. Clean the wood with a soft brush or tack rag and check the surface again under good light for scratches or blemishes.

Some commercial hardwood bleaching mixes differ from the two-step process described below. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
The preferred method for bleaching hardwoods is a two-step process:

Brushing the wood with caustic soda or ammonia; and
Applying hydrogen peroxide.

In the first step, apply the caustic soda solution with a synthetic brush, evenly and liberally in the direction of the grain. Let the solution set for 10-20 minutes. The longer the set time, the whiter your wood will be. Do NOT let the caustic soda set for more than 20 minutes, however, because it will cause uneven bleaching.

Next, use a clean synthetic brush to apply the hydrogen peroxide. A foaming action will take place as the two solutions react. This is the actual bleaching process, and usually takes 30 minutes to an hour to complete. If the wood is not white enough, apply the hydrogen peroxide again.

When the wood is sufficiently bleached, wash it down with clean running water, using a brush to supplement chemical removal. Dry the hardwood with paper towels and repeat the rinsing process again in 20 minutes. Rinse out all traces of the bleach or you’ll experience problems when finishing. Let the wood dry in a well-ventilated area for at least 24 hours. Do not dry the material in direct sunlight, since this will intensify the bleaching process and lead to uneven coloring.

Preparing Bleached Woods for Finishing
Bleaching causes the wood grain to rise. Smooth the surface again with a 180 grit sandpaper, and wipe away the sanding residue. Now the wood is ready for sealing (if you plan to leave it bleached), or for antiquing, pickling or coloring.

Antiquing
Antiquing makes hardwood look “aged” by distressing the edges, cracks and crevices of the wood.

Before antiquing, seal the surface with a thin coat of white shellac. This will protect the bleached shade of the wood, allowing you to work with the glaze until you’ve achieved the proper look.

Allow the shellac to dry for two hours then lightly sand the surface. Prepare the antique glaze to the desired shade and apply it evenly one section at a time. Use a clean rag to wipe off excess glaze. Remove glaze from sections that experience greater wear to simulate a “worn-in” (or “distressed”) look. Glaze more heavily at normally protected edges and crevices which don’t see as much wear and tear. Use a clean, dry brush to spread the glaze, removing noticeable edges produced by your cloth. With the brush, work the color from the light center to the darker edges, producing a feathered effect. Allow the glaze to dry overnight. Lightly sand, clean and apply a coat of shellac.

Make sure the wood is clean and dry, then brush on a top coat of polyurethane, lacquer, shellac or water-based sealer. These popular finishes come in three sheens: gloss, semi-gloss and satin. (See Finishing Hardwoods)

Finish the entire wood surface, not just visible areas, and allow it to dry overnight. Apply a second coat of finish in the same manner. Repeat sanding of the woodwork, applying multiple coats until the wood achieves the desired luster.

When doing multiple sanding and finishing cycles, do not re-sand the wood until it is completely dry.
Use a 220 grit sandpaper instead of steel wool when sanding water-based finishes because undetected steel fibers can cause rust marks.

Pickling
Pickling highlights the pores and crevices of wood by adding a stain that contrasts with the bleached finish. Start by sponging the application surface with clean water. Allow the water to dry, then lightly sand the surface with a 150 grit paper to smooth the raised grain. Evenly apply a light oil stain, and wipe off the excess with a cloth. Let this dry for 12 hours. Pickling will take full effect as the stain adheres to the lightly raised wood grains. Seal the stained surface with a thin coat of a non-yellowing polyurethane.

Make sure the wood is clean and dry, then brush on a top coat of polyurethane, lacquer, shellac or water-based sealer. These popular finishes come in three sheens: gloss, semi-gloss and satin.

When doing multiple sanding and finishing cycles, do not re-sand the wood until it is completely dry.
Use a 220 grit sandpaper instead of steel wool when sanding water-based finishes because undetected steel fibers can cause rust marks.

How to Apply Specialty Finishes for Hardwood Trim

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American Hardwood Information Center

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