Black flecks under hardwax oil finish?

[wsrhue]

I Have a table that is supposed to ship out this week. It was finished five weeks ago and has been wrapped in a blanket. When I took the blanket off to do a final rub down and inspection, I started noticing grey - black flecks. The top is veneered white oak that is bleached. It has Saicos white color wax and followed by Saicos ward wax oil top coat. I have made quite a few bleached white oak tables in this manor. I have never encountered this problem before. I'm not sure what is causing these specks. All I can think of is mold under the the finish? My shop is not heated or cooled and I'm on the coast so its high humidity.

I'm expecting to have to do a complete refinish. Has any one ever experienced this or have any ideas?

 

[Oka]

If you recently did any kind of sanding on dark wood in the last couple of weeks, it is possible some of the dust might have been resident in the area.
I remember when we made a boat factory for Robalo they actually sprayed in a different area when doing black because of dust contamination.

 

[wsrhue]

If you recently did any kind of sanding on dark wood in the last couple of weeks, it is possible some of the dust might have been resident in the area.
I remember when we made a boat factory for Robalo they actually sprayed in a different area when doing black because of dust contamination.

It seems more like a discoloration of the wood than a piece of dust. I believe if it was dust I'd be able to pick it out or scrape it out of the finish with a razor blade.

 

[Henry W]

I have read of folks reporting (on another forum) that this sort of thing may happen with a transfer of metal particles onto the wood surface (from grinding or polishing of metal) and then the particles reacting with their finish materials to create a stain. Is that a possibility? Likely these were ferrous metals, not Al (as least as I recall the discussion).

 

[Tarhead]

Steel Wool particles reacting with the tannins in the Oak?

 

[bob vaughan]

Get a good magnifying glass and shine a flashlight beam parallel to the table top surface. That should tell you whether or not the specks are on the surface or under the finish.

 

[striker]

Grasping at straws here, but wondering if you wipe with oxalic acid if it would react with flecks and lessen/remove them.

 

[llucas]

Hmmm...the blueish tint does speak of metal contamination...Maybe it was always in the wood? and brought to light by the finishing process?...or as Mark says...steel wool and tannins.

 

[wsrhue]

Grasping at straws here, but wondering if you wipe with oxalic acid if it would react with flecks and lessen/remove them.

This might be worth a try. I'll let you know if it helps.

 

[wsrhue]

Grasping at straws here, but wondering if you wipe with oxalic acid if it would react with flecks and lessen/remove them.

The oxalic acid did the trick. I used a toothpick to apply it to each speck. So happy not to have to do a total refinish.

 

[Henry W]

The oxalic acid did the trick. I used a toothpick to apply it to each speck. So happy not to have to do a total refinish.

and you're sure you didn't miss a speck?
Great, glad that worked - any thoughts on the likely source of the stain? Metal from steel wool? Others?

 

[wsrhue]

and you're sure you didn't miss a speck?
Great, glad that worked - any thoughts on the likely source of the stain? Metal from steel wool? Others?

I would guess that it's from metal, but for he life of me I don't know how it got there. The flecks were not in jut one place and I do not use steel wool.