Chris Pye pierced carving.

[aulddiy]

I've taken a liking for the article Chris Pye wrote in WI, a pierced carving of a fish in water grass. However he finishes the fish with bleach, and refers back to a previous article. I do n't have the article nor know how its done.
Anyone help me out?

[wildhare]

I would ASSUME he was referring to wood bleach, not the bleach you use for whitening clothes.
You might try searching this site under bleach or Chris Pye.
Wanda

[BobD]

Chris doesn't really go into a lot of detail on his technique. Basically, he just says to test the bleach on scrap to get a feel for how it reacts with wood, and then apply the bleach to the fish. Try to keep the bleach off the background.

Another alternative to the bleach would be a white stain.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

[wildhare]

Go up towards the top where it says search in the green box. Click on it. It will come up with a box you can fill in bleach. It will bring up all the articles with bleach in them.
There is one in particular about lightening wood.
Wanda

[aulddiy]

Originally Posted by BobD

Chris doesn't really go into a lot of detail on his technique. Basically, he just says to test the bleach on scrap to get a feel for how it reacts with wood, and then apply the bleach to the fish. Try to keep the bleach off the background.

Another alternative to the bleach would be a white stain.

Bob Duncan
Technical Editor

Thats the problem Bob. I havea two part wood bleach, which on trial bits of wood lightened it. But the fish is a blue grey colour.

[aulddiy]

Originally Posted by wildhare

I would ASSUME he was referring to wood bleach, not the bleach you use for whitening clothes.
You might try searching this site under bleach or Chris Pye.
Wanda

A problem with that approach Wanda, three lettered words are rejected in a search on this site.
So I've written an email to Chris Pye and hope to get the full story. I 'm using wood bleach . Thanks for the suggestions.

In the meantime I'm increasing the strength of the bleach.

[aulddiy]

Well a stronger mixture did two things, it fascinated my dog and cleared my head. On the wood no change.

[Robert Cahill]

Vicki Bishop did an article in issue 37 on doing a Santa using wood bleach. she used Klean Strip Wood Bleach and left it on for eight hours..she bleached it 3 times before neutralizing with white vinegar.

[aulddiy]

Thanks For that. I think that was before I carved, issues 36. I'll try emailing her.

[aulddiy]

There I have it, Viki Bishop was kind enough to email me with her way of bleaching, thanks Viki and all the others who tried.