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Just tried a 1:1 mix of linseed oil and turpentine on an oak table from the 1920s.
It pulled up a weird gray stain I've never seen before, almost like a ghost image. Has anyone run into this with old oil finishes?
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sarahsullivan5d ago
Honestly that sounds like the solvent mix is pulling up old wax or polish. Tbh a 1:1 ratio is pretty strong for a first test on old wood. You might have better luck starting with way more turpentine, like a 4:1 mix, to go slower. That gray ghost is probably gunk that soaked in over the decades.
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nancys905d ago
Read an article once about old finishes turning gray when you hit them with strong solvents. @sarahsullivan is right about the ratio being too hot. That ghost image is probably a ton of old dirt and wax that got pulled to the surface all at once. You might need to clean the whole area gently now to even it out.
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