Very old barn beam help

[Susanjoyce]

I live in a pre-1866 barn repurposed (badly) into a house. The original hand-hewn hickory beams form the 'bones' of the house--some still have the bark on them. I want to highlight them without altering their nature (I.e., no sanding, no gloss, etc.) Right now they just look dirty and dry, and their cracks collect dirt. I started brushing them with boiled linseed oil, but I really don't like the final effect. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, and Happy New Year!

 

[dave1949]

Maybe a very lightly done air blasting with ground corn cobs? Would be a messy job, but it would clean the wood and down into the cracks too.

 

[retiredmgn]

I live in a pre-1866 barn repurposed (badly) into a house. The original hand-hewn hickory beams form the 'bones' of the house--some still have the bark on them. I want to highlight them without altering their nature (I.e., no sanding, no gloss, etc.) Right now they just look dirty and dry, and their cracks collect dirt. I started brushing them with boiled linseed oil, but I really don't like the final effect. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, and Happy New Year!

You're not going to get away from 'dirty and dry' unless you're willing to sand and seal. This activity, when handled properly, can result in an aged look.
I agree fresh oil based finishes can produce a greasy look. If you can, get a copy of, "Adventures in Wood Finishing", by George Frank. When I was in the antique refinishing business that book was my bible. He developed a method to emulsify carnuba wax in water. It would produce a, 'dry luster', on wood which was unique to any other treatment I came across.
If your aversion to sanding is loss of patina have your MD give you a subscription for Potassium Permanganate. It oxidizes the wood and provides patina. A comprehensive list of chemicals and their use for aging wood can be found in Wallace Nutting's books, "Furniture Treasury".

 

[dmccarty]

I had to look up Potassium Permanganate since it sounded interesting. And it is. Looks like Lowes and other places have it for sale.

Later,
Dan

 

[JD 4520]

I live in a pre-1866 barn repurposed (badly) into a house. The original hand-hewn hickory beams form the 'bones' of the house--some still have the bark on them. I want to highlight them without altering their nature (I.e., no sanding, no gloss, etc.) Right now they just look dirty and dry, and their cracks collect dirt. I started brushing them with boiled linseed oil, but I really don't like the final effect. Does anyone have any suggestions? Thanks, and Happy New Year!

Pictures of this beauty would be great to share. Shoulda like you have a real beauty in disguise. The right kind and pigment of stain would be the best with a little prep work. The referenced book is a great start.

 

[forgeblast]

Pictures would be awesome! love to see what it looks like. Did they try to seal it at all or is it bare wood?

 

[Fossil Farm]

If you can, get a copy of, "Adventures in Wood Finishing", by George Frank

Looks like Amazon has this book available in various price categories if it is the correct one.

 

[retiredmgn]

I had to look up Potassium Permanganate since it sounded interesting. And it is. Looks like Lowes and other places have it for sale.

Later,
Dan

Interesting. I haven't bought any in 25 years. Back then it required a note from your doctor.
Still have a jar in the finish cabinet. Big scary red skull and crossbones on the label.

 

[Cliff_Johns]

Personally, I'd wash them. Let them Dry. Then I'd put a light coat of wax on them, without buffing it out too much (otherwise they could get too shiny.)

That should keep them looking nice and allow them to be dusted instead of washed in the future.

You could also use compressed air to clean them rather than washing them if it's mostly dirt rather then grime.

Cliff

 

[Susanjoyce]

Thanks for the suggestions! I've ordered the book and will be checking out the potassium at Lowe's my next trip there.

I'll post pix as soon as the camera battery recharges.

I love these old beams, with every saw stroke showing. The barn was originally a threshing barn, later remade to use as a dairy barn. I heard from the town historian today, who seems to believe that it was built in 1817, but I'm pretty sure that's not right--he said it was used as a Baptist meeting house, and I think that place was two farms down. I've got this place pretty well documented, and it was always described as the old Shufelt farm, with no mention of Baptist meetings. But I hope he's right--more research at the Recorder's office after New Year's.

My problem with the linseed oil is that it immediately darkens the wood and makes it look blotchy. Months later it looks better, but I don't want to wait months. I've been scrubbing the beams with water, but even too harsh scrubbing can remove some of the bark and saw marks. And of course, the beams are two stories high and there are lots of them.

I was reading today about using a 50/50 mix of varnish and linseed oil, which I'm going to try on one beam. I also thought of Val Oil, my father's old standby,--it's not even made any more.