I know this topic has been covered before, but I'd be interested in opinions on frame cleaning options once a frame has been erected?

My preference is planed and raised in the dry! Then minimum hand finishing to get rid of lines and scuffs once closed in. Oiling is beneficial as makes cleaning easier, plus I suppose slows down the drying process. But it does make the timbers slippery and trickier to raise and I feel leaves an un-natural yellow-ish tinge.

I have finished a barn conversion recently where the old timbers are quite filthy (lying in mud, mouldy, algae etc) and some of the new oak sections had been outside for quite sometime before being closed in. It needs sympathetic cleaning. Everything is nice and dry now but it looks a bit scruffy and needs consolidating.

Lime/Chalk blasting has been tested, but the client is not keen on the finish. Can anybody suggest an alternative? How effective is chemical cleaning (both cost and finish?).

All of the frames we have had cleaned have been grit blasted, on to rough sawn finish. Luckily we managed to find a very professional chap who has been able to reach just the right balance of cleaning vs ripping the grain to shreds. I know some blast cleaners can get a bit carried away and leave the timber looking like you've dragged it off a beach. I was a bit nervous at first but this chap uses top notch kit and softer (?!) grit. To prove to me he could be gentle with it he took paint off a bit of cardboard without damaging the card. Impressive stuff. Still the overall effect is a bit too clean for my eye, and we generally try and keep the timber as clean as possible (we collect our own timber directly from the mill to minimise the number of times it is lifted by forks), and then try to pursued clients to leave them. To my eye the natural patina of timber that's been weathered for a few weeks and has the odd framing mark is part of the charm, but not all clients see it that way and sometimes stubborn marks are inevitable.

We have also had some success with steam cleaning on light marking and stains.

I recently discussed acid cleaning with a lady, but have never used it on one of my frames. The only thing I was thinking with it would be the necessity to ensure complete coverage, otherwise one would assume a very patchy finish is the result?

TTFN.

J.

Have a look at this video:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xvNRgTIcvdk

I've looked into it a bit and almost got into a business using these machines as I think they're so good - the dry ice leaves no mess (only what comes off the wood etc) and can be set for any application (will clean smoke damaged paper or anti foul off boats!)

Anyway, see what you think - I don't know about cost, but imagine 'Cheap no good, good no cheap' applies!

Ant