Removing oil stains from wood.

T

Turtle 2

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Anyone know how to get oil out of wood? I'm restoring an old boat. The plywood board below the fuel tank (diesel) and hydralic steering cylinder has had oil and diesel leaked on it for years. I would like to varnish the board as it was originally but the end under the hydralic steering valve is almost black with oil stain. Any ideas appreciated.
Jim
 
I've varnished white oak and Phillipine mahogany that had motor oil stains. Mineral spirits got much of the oil out, but some stain remained where the oil really soaked in. However, the remaining stain didn't seem to effect the new varnish at all. It just looked like a little "patina."

Plywood is going to do a better job of absorbing the oil and diesel than solid wood. Probably not a good idea to use solvents on plywood at the risk of weakening the glues and delaminating the plywood.

If detergent clean-up and sanding doesn't work, I'd replace the plywood.
 
I think I would try the following -- first, a good water-based spray cleaner to remove the excess, then wiping with clean mineral spirits and allow to dry thoroughly, then if it's still more stained than you want try oxalic acid (wood bleach) dissolved in fairly hot water. Follow all directions, lots of ventilation, and eye protection along with rubber gloves for the oxalic acid.
 
Thanks for the ideas. If I can get more of the stain out so it is somewhat even across the length of the board I'll give the vanish a try. Yazer, did you varnish the oil stained wood in your normal manner or did you use some special sealer first?
Jim
 
quote:
Originally posted by Turtle 2

Thanks for the ideas. If I can get more of the stain out so it is somewhat even across the length of the board I'll give the vanish a try. Yazer, did you varnish the oil stained wood in your normal manner or did you use some special sealer first?
Jim

Click to expand...

These were spots and splotches from motor oil spilled on old fir decking. I used the usual sealer first: a couple of coats of Pettit Clear Sealer followed by the varnish. I didn't use any stain on this wood.

If you use mineral spirits during the clean up be sure to give it a couple of days to dry completely before putting on sealer or varnish.

The other thing you might consider is bilge paint. I've heard that some of it is formulated to tolerate oil and fuel pretty well.
 
use mineral spirits to wash of as much as possible then coat heavily with baking soda. Let the soda sit for a day or so and spread some more and let sit.Do as often as the soda keeps working. Brush the soda in a bit for best contact. A shop vac and water wash off the soda easily.
 
Update: I sprayed the board with Simple Green for several hours today and now some of the wood grain is showing under the blackest of the stain. Tomorrow I'll rinse it off with a steam cleaner and try the mineral spirits. The board is vertical so I'm not sure if the baking soda would stick long enough to have any effect. I just painted the bildge a couple of days ago with bildge paint so as a last resort I could go that route.

Jim
 
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