Morris Minor Owners Club

hi everyone
i have been trying to inprove my moggy traveller without to much success! i stripped back all the wook and had a couple of pieces replaced...varnished it. when i looked the next day quite alot of black was showing back again...damp? oh dear...do i have to rub it back down again or is this normal and acceptable? if i rub it back how do i get it dry enough to re varnish?
i bought some old english white metal paint for the hubs..and this appears to be to white. the old looked a nice rich creamy colour. this is a thin whitey colour! what is the paint they used originally on the hubs? could i get some yellow and mix it in to improvise?
with thanks
Lucy

Hi Lucy, The paint you need is called Old English White Number 2 It's a bit "yellower" than OEW Number 1. Regarding the wood if you want to remove the water marks (brown/black stains, yes you'll have to remove the varnish again I'm afraid and treat with a wood bleacher - available from your local hardware store. This bleaches the wood lighter and removes all the stains. But be careful not to get it near the paint as it can mark it. Mask off the painted areas first.

Fresh lemon juice works too, but it takes a few applications to get rid of the black marks. If you can get a proper wood bleach (oxalic acid ?) I expect it'll be more effective but I couldn't find any in a big DIY store.

Once you've got the black marks out I'd recommend giving it a couple of coats of clear Cuprinol wood preservative before varnishing.

Yes - oxalic acid is the bleacher. Then when dry (keep it indoors!) soak it through with Cuprinol 5 star treatment - several times. Then apply oil - not varnish, which only traps in moisture. I use Teak Oil - others use Danish Oil etc etc.