How to remove white/yellow streaks in Merbau grain?

petebest52

I am building a flyover roof for my patio with merbau posts and beam. I just used Cabot’s timber prep followed by Cabot’s deck clean, following the instructions to the letter. Both the posts and beam now have yellowish deposits in the grain which I cannot get off. I have tried hot soapy water. I have tried another application of timber prep followed by deck clean, but nothing working so far. It’s almost chalky and can be shifted with a sharp blade, but sadly not a bristly brush.

has anyone experienced this before? 

any suggestions? 

i want to oil them but am hesitant until I have resolved this issue.

please see pics of both wet and dry wood

MitchellMc

Hi @petebest52,

Those white flecks are a natural trait of Merbau rather than something caused by the products you’ve used. I have them in my Merbau deck, and they appear on raw Merbau timber, which hasn't had any cleaning or oiling, and will still be somewhat visible after your oil coat. On the raw product, they are not as noticeable. They can sometimes harden and appear like a residue, but unfortunately, they can’t really be “removed” as such since they’re part of the timber’s composition. Scrubbing or repeated cleaning usually won’t make much difference and can risk over-washing the wood. Lightly sanding the affected areas can help smooth them out, but you’ll generally find that once the timber is fully dry and you apply your oil, the streaks darken slightly and blend in with the natural colour variations of Merbau. It’s best to wait until the surface is completely dry before oiling so the finish penetrates properly. 

Were you going to use a natural oil or one tinted to a Merbau colour? An oil tinted to Merbau will likely colour the streaks better.

Please let me know if you have any questions.

Mitchell