Oak staining

[pembswoodrecycling]

I put these oak bollards in the ground yesterday, untreated, and here's what happened...

 

I know about iron reacting with oak, but why has this happened? Iron in the soil?

 

Is there anything to be done to recover this?

I'm thinking in terms of belt sanding the staining off and treating with an oil.

 

All thoughts welcome :-)

[Mortimer Firewood]

Is there post mix in the hole

[agg221]

Definitely iron staining. Removing it - oxalic acid should take it out. Do wear rubber gloves as it's toxic.

 

Alec

[pembswoodrecycling]

There is postcrete in the hole.

Where can I get oxalic acid from?

[agg221]

Oxalic acid can be had cheaply from a decent chandlers (noting your location - Milford Haven?) or a proper chemists, not just a pharmacy - they will have a catalogue, probably Sigma Aldrich, and will be able to get it in although it won't be cheap that way. Or there's always the dreaded Ebay. About a fiver for a kilo delivered - dissolve it up in warm water, brush on with a stiff brush and leave, then rinse.

 

Alec

[pembswoodrecycling]

Thanks for your help agg221, there's plenty of chandlers down here for me to try.

Will it remove stains completely?

Even the dark ones at the bottom?

[agg221]

Thanks for your help agg221, there's plenty of chandlers down here for me to try.

Will it remove stains completely?

Even the dark ones at the bottom?

 

It should get rid of them completely.

 

Alec

[pembswoodrecycling]

Thanks Alec.

What do you use to neutralise afterwards?

[agg221]

I don't bother - oak is acidic anyway and if you have rinsed reasonably well it will be fine, and be neutralised when it hits the concrete. If you particularly want to, probably sodium bicarbonate is the cheapest and easiest to get hold of, from the supermarket.

 

Alec