Dark streaks in black walnut after planing

[MarkDarby]

hi all. I’m planing some black walnut. This is the first time I’ve worked with this wood. Im getting black streaks near the small knot holes. I have used a card scraper and 80 grit sandpaper to ‘erase’ these-without success. Any ideas on how to get rid of these - or prevent them in the first place? Thanks, Mark

 

[bob vaughan]

That's usually called a mineral streak. Water ran into the pith channel of that small limb after the limb was removed. Whatever was in the water stained the wood fibers surrounding the pith channel (knot hole). I'm afraid that it is part of the wood and cannot be removed. Sorry.

 

[jlwest]

It might blend in when finish is applied.

 

[Martin Roper]

Would oxalic acid lighten those streaks?

 

[Bill E]

The dark streaks in the walnut are probably caused by old rusty nail or mineral streaks in wood.Try bleaching the area with a small detailed brush.
Bill E

 

[MarkDarby]

Thanks everyone. I’ll. Try bleaching that small area before l finish it. It’s not that bad, so if it doesn’t work, I’ll not be upset.

 

[Willemjm]

The bottom part with the knots, looks like an Alien with a hangover.

Personally, I would leave that as is, it is part of the natural beauty of Walnut.

I once got an almost perfect image of an owl in the grain of a turned Walnut platter.

 

[cyclopentadiene]

Add finish and call it character

 

[MarkDarby]

Add finish and call it character

Exactly what my wife said. She likes it that way...

 

[cyclopentadiene]

I have never found walnut with no inclusions of any type. It often has those honeycomb sections. Epoxy mixed with sanding dust covers these very well. I actually seek out pieces that are rift or quarter sawn as the darker and lighter grain pattern looks better with finish and over time looks even better.

 

[HITCH-]

Thanks everyone. I’ll. Try bleaching that small area before l finish it. It’s not that bad, so if it doesn’t work, I’ll not be upset.

I think that it would be very difficult to contain the bleach to only the darkened area, and that the result could be more noticeable than if it were left alone.

 

[bob vaughan]

From time to time mineral streaks show up from the ambrosia beetle. If it isn't too bad, I'll go ahead and use the board. Below is an example. Its there, for sure, but it doesn't appear to be too distracting of a surface defect once the finish is applied.

 

[Willemjm]

From time to time mineral streaks show up from the ambrosia beetle. If it isn't too bad, I'll go ahead and use the board. Below is an example. Its there, for sure, but it doesn't appear to be too distracting of a surface defect once the finish is applied.

We have customers who pay lots of money for those Ambrosia streaks.

 

[bob vaughan]

We have customers who pay lots of money for those Ambrosia streaks.

That's probably because they don't know what those streaks really are.

 

[Willemjm]

That's probably because they don't know what those streaks really are.

Natural defects are in fashion, at a price premium.

 

[bob vaughan]

Natural defects are in fashion, at a price premium.

That's always good news. It keeps our economy strong.

 

[cyclopentadiene]

We have customers who pay lots of money for those Ambrosia streaks.View attachment 221687

Very nice job on the black cabinets underneath.

 

[Echd]

We have customers who pay lots of money for those Ambrosia streaks.View attachment 221687

Very attractive. Looking at painting and refacing my cabinets like that. I just have to get over my terminal laziness problem of late.

 

[Kinger]

I tend to like those streaks as they add more coloring to the piece. I don't think twice about them.