Oxalic acid on wooden spokes

I'm finishing my wooden wheels a natural color.  I think Hudson used oak for their wheels in 1923?
Has anyone used oxalic acid as a last step to take out any of the black streaks left by the paint in
the grain of the oak?  If so, how did you use it and neutralize it after its use.  I plan to use it before I
use wood sealer.
Robert

Comments

  • ESSX28-1
    ESSX28-1 Senior Contributor
    I thought they used hickory for their spokes.

  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    I would be wary of using any sort of acid compound on old wood.  As Dave said, Hudson  used Hickory for their spokes.  I doubt that natural finish was ever an option, but it's your choice.  
  • Thanks for the advice guys. Has anyone use clear coat instead of marine spar varnish on the wood?
  • Geoff
    Geoff Senior Contributor
    An epoxy  sealer/varnish would be  a good choice, like International paints Everdure.   This  is applied with a 50/50 mix of sealer and hardener which soaks into the wood and chemically hardens. 
  • I heard that the epoxy sealer has a tendency to crack when the spoke flexes but the marine spar varnish will flex without cracking.This is where I am in the process