Replies

1. 
   Treetalk_ | Feb 22, 2002 03:33am | #1

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   Hey Jon
   I dont know how big an area it is that youll be trying to repair but first thing Id do is find an area somewhere else ; say a closet where you can experiment on before doing the hi profile area.Ive done a lot of log restorations and sometimes you just have to be Julia Child and try some combos and recipes.Start with some stains and Id figure to match 165 years of soot,living and god knows what other activity happened in the place.Probably spmething real dark like MinWax Jacobean might get ya started.Oldtimers used everything from diluted creasote.pine tar cut down with kerosene...mmm...lets see shoe polish(this actually worked for me one time) to even paint which is the easiest to finely tune to the correct hue.Soot was probably the main colorant as Ive usually found.You didnt say... is the wood inside or outside?I actually built one kit home with logs from Montana shipped all the way here to WV(which is like taking sand to the beach) and the lady is fighting a losing battle trying to keep it new peeled pine lite brown.I keep on tellinh herlook in the woods there arent any brown trees!!! just grey ones.And every side of your house will be a diffrent shade becuz of exposure.Hope any of this babble helps.

1. 
   David_Doud | Feb 22, 2002 04:15am | #2

   *Treetalk has it analyzed well - you might consider a thorough cleaning of the larger area (bucket+soap+scrub brush+elbow grease and rinse, this will tend to blend the areas in itself), followed by spot treatment, followed by a general treatment of the wall - I like raw linseed oil - stain can be added - if the areas are outside, I wouldn't do anything, they'll blend in a year or two - part of the 'patina' is the dirt of the ages, the other main factor is oxidation, several years of oxidation can be achieved in a short time with the application of heat - attack carefully with a heat gun - b Please, do not burn your cabin down - DOUD

2. 
   John_Randall | Feb 22, 2002 04:15am | #3

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   I am working on an 1835 log (pine) house that someone has taken a chisel to and exposed "new" wood. I need to know if there is some way that I can color the "new" wood to closely match the grey/black color of the aged logs.