Oak doors

[Welderpaul]

Oak doors in my house have been finished in Osmo oil by the builder and over 8 years have gone really orange. I'd like to sand them back and coat them with something that won't darken.

I've assumed they are an oak veneer door and therefore wafer thin and will sand straight through to whatever is underneath. I took one off this week as I'm decorating my girls bedroom and the door is as heavy as hell.

What's the chance of it being solid oak and i will be able to sand it?

 

[gaz1]

take your catch out and have a look inside of the catch hole

if its vaneer you can see it if not it will also show it

 

[Munkul]

If they were veneered, they probably wouldn't need finished in osmo oil?

 

[Ton-up]

Osmo door oil is meant for veneered doors.

 

[brightspark]

solid block wood doors but oak veneer daughters are and coated with osmo oil

 

[MattF]

Any coating will darken somewhat over time, as likely will the wood itself.

 

[addjunkie]

Engineered oak doors, 8mm maybe 10mm down each side, and very thin veneer.

 

[dobbslc]

My doors might be the same as yours and if they are be VERY careful how far you sand them!

I managed to sand through the veneer in seconds, it is that thin!



On the above picture you can just make out how thin it is on the right hand side of a strip I cut off the bottom of a door. It is well under one millimetre.
You need to zoom in to see it.
Yes these are also bloody heavy.

 

[Ali]

Try an abrasive pad (scotch brite) on the finish before you touch it with a sander. That might be enough to take the colour off before re-coating.

 

[Turbo]

Sand the top edge of the door and you will find out.

But not likely an interior door will be solid oak. Probably mdf or chipboard which is also heavy.

 

[gaz1]

there is another way to tell if its oak or not and thats drilling it on the hinge side so you can hide it afterwards

but to give you an idea what your playing with with oak vaneer

it is mm that your playing with the doors i fitted are proper oak doors and they are really heavy compared to block or vaneer internal doors

 

[cheb]

They look like the doors in my house, the Dordogne range by Howdens. Are there any serial numbers or product codes on the top or bottom of the door?

 

[Gareth J]

Before giving up on the osmo, if you have some left, try rubbing it gently down with a scotchbrite or even just the rough bit of a kitchen sponge and wiping on another layer of osmo. On one side, or a small area. Just to see if the finish is better

 

[Munkul]

Osmo door oil is meant for veneered doors.

Ahh right, i didn't know that.

 

[frank horton]

our oak door veneer is 10mm thick.....parts of the sales pitch.....
darkening is character...

 

[Smallfry]

Having worked in the furniture industry, making and finishing, but in solid wood and not veneer. Oil will always turn oak orange. Linseed oil is the worst by far. Looks awful IMO.

Problem with veneer, is that it depends how thick it is, and whether it can be sanded out without breaking through. We always used thinners and wire wool to get it off, but the danger is that it may affect the adhesive underneath.

For table tops, we used water based 2K products which are meant for floors, and do not turn orange. ISTR they are not suitable for veneer though. Basin no visible was one, can't remember the other offhand. Expensive though.

Alternatively B & Q do a nice range of paint colours .....................

 

[Mick Annick]

Ahh right, i didn't know that.

Me neither

 

[reb78]

Problem with veneer, is that it depends how thick it is, and whether it can be sanded out without breaking through. We always used thinners and wire wool to get it off, but the danger is that it may affect the adhesive underneath.

Just a gentle go over with wire wool might be enough?

 

[Smallfry]

Just a gentle go over with wire wool might be enough?

Give it a try. You will need the coarse stuff. Might help with a bit of white spirit, but try it dry first.

Wear gloves though, as it can be like cheesecutter wire.

 

[Welderpaul]

Great, thanks for your thoughts everyone. A mine of experience and information on here!

Sounds like despite the weight they are veneered doors. I have some scotchbrite pads here so i'll have an exploratory rub on the back of one.